VVHom the Lord hath called out of the World's Ways and Manners, and chosen to himself, and found faith­ful according to the Proportion of Faith, and Mea­sure of his Grace received, how to walk, Oh! let us hold fast that which we have receive, that none may take our Crown: Oh! let us keep to our first Love, let us do our first Works, and be rightly zeal­ous for the Lords Honour; and so with a good Conscience towards God, and in the sweet Spirit of Peace, seeking good one towards another, as good Examples and wholesome Paterns in our Practices. Oh! let us keep our good Order in the Truth, and Unity of the Spi­rit, even as we received of Christ Jesus in the begining,1 Joh. 1.7. that we should walk in the Light, as he is in the Light (so shall we have fellowship one with another) which Light is one in us all, and the one only true and living Way, leading to the Knowledge and living Obedience of the one, true and living God, that in his own living Spirit of Truth, we might Worship him, and in all whol­som Service hold forth his holy and reverend Name to be one in us all, who are gathered into it, serving the Lord with one Heart, one Soul, one Mind and one Consent.—And in the beginning of our Day, you that were then born and brought forth in the Truth, you know the Harmony of our Unity was our Beauty and Comliness, yea, our Strength and Compleatness, so far as we obtained then; and so 'tis now, blessed be the Lord, can we with one Heart say, who by his heavenly Power have been from the beginning kept upon his Everlasting Foundation of true Unity, held in his Spirit, which is the Bond of our Peace, to this very Day and Time, in which the Lord hath suffered Blindness, in part, to happen to some, through their own Neglect of Watchfulness, and declining their first Love by the Enemy's Subtilty prevailing, who came out amongst us, and had a part in the Belief and Discovery of the Way of Truth; but now, some only have the Sheeps cloathing, and others have lost that too, [Page 4]who through a prejudiced Mind are alienated from that Unity of Spi­rit & bond of Peace, in which we keep our wholesome practices, which we have received in the Ʋnity & Order of the Gospel of Peace & Truth of Chri [...], Jesus, in the fellowship of the Spirit, in Bowels of Mercy, being like­minded, and of one accord,2 Phil. 1.4. in whasoever things are True, Just, Honest, and of good Report; not that we should think of them only, but be in the Practice of them (as we are) and feel the God of Peace with us therein,1 Cor. 1.6. & 10. who are confirmed in the Testimony of Christ Jesus, the one Guide, Way and Rule we are to walk after, where all speak one thing, that there be no Dis­sention amongst us, but to be knit together in one Mind and in one Judgment; this we have received of Christ Jesus, our Lord, King and only Law giver, that we might walk so in subjection to his Rule and Government, that all things might be done Decently and in Order; for our God is the God of Order, in all the Churches of his Saints, and not the God of Confusion, blessed be his Name; but to our bur­den and grief, we find among some, a contrary Spirit that will not subject to Unity in wholesome Practices amongst us, and that will needs interpose to destroy Unity in some places, and obtrude it self to confound our wholesome Order and Practices received amongst us, as a Church and People. And through this contrary Spirit, and pre­judiced Mind, the Accuser of the Brethren is broken out, under a specious pretence, crying out, Liberty of Conscience, Liberty of Con­science, in opposition to those needful, convenient and wholesome Practices exercised amongst us, in outward things, to which we are called, as a People that are distinguished from the World's dark Ways and Corrupt Manners, in keeping our Consciences void of Offence towards God and Man, in keeping both in the Power and Form of Godliness.

Now that the Simple may not be ensnared, nor the Weak unstable minded deceived, nor the Unwatchful at unawares overtaken, through the crafty insinuations of this accusing, opposing, dividing Spirit, that is at work in this our day, to confound Order, against the peace­able Government of Christ, amongst his People; therefore in Duty to the Lord, and to clear my Conscience, for the sake of those be­fore-mentioned, are these few Lines writ; Wherefore in Humility of Soul, as before the Lord, I beseech you, tender Ones, in seri­ousness, and fear towards God, weigh the Matter: This Dividing, Accusing, Prejudicial Worker, would introduce a Belief, That an Apostacy is entering, and we are gone from the Beginning, or first Principle, [Page 5]and the Power lost; and now Forms are setting up, and Imposition on Con­sciences, and the like: And amongst whom is all this, say they, but amongst us who are in Ʋnity of Spirit, both in Faith and Practices, with sincere minds towards God, are preserved in subjection, peaceably in Unity, and wholesome comely Order that speaks forth our God to be the God of Order; and 'tis amongst these, and such that they imagine this Fearful Imposture, and Arbitrary Rule, imposing Prescriptions and Laws on the tender Consciences of the Weak, is now gotten up to Exercise, and so the Liberty of the tender Conscience is lost: And you say, They are entangled with a yoke of Bondage again, who would divide the Heritage of God at this day. Pray Friends, let us in this consider whether these in this Blindness, which God hath suffered through their Perjudiced Mind, justly to hapen in them, by which are they not putting Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness, while they are striving in the stifness of their Wills to rule, placing their own Wills for Conscience, and would have a Liberty therein, which Christ never set free to any that are in a Preverse, Gain-saying, Op­sing, Willful Spirit, void of the Reason of Truth, and the Fellow­ship that is in it, and so are led by a Mis-guided Conscience; for we never understood that Conscience to be rightly guided, that was not renewed and regulated by the Light of Christ Jesus, which is one in all Consciences, and leads into the Sameness of Mind,1 Cor. 1.6. not only in Faith, but also in found Judgment and Practice (and so the Testimony of Christ Jesus hath been confirmed in us) the true Rectifier and Guide of the Conscience void of Offence; but now where Self-will is put from Conscience, 'tis sensibly felt to be a gross Mistake. And such are (in Christian Charity) to be pitied and better informed, and indeed much Travel bath been for that, so that the Mis-led in a contrary Judgment might be helped and reduced back in­to Unity and our peaceable Fellowship, in our wholesome Practices, in the outward Affairs of Truth; but that which adds to our Sorrow, that though they still cry, The tender Consciences, yet woful Experience demonstrates it far otherwise, where Prejudice hath so hardened, that there is not so much softness left for the Reason of Truth to take Impression, or to receive that which pretains to Love and good Works, which is one end and product of our Meetings, distinctly and respe­ctively the Men Friends, who discharge their places, to whom the Godly Women alwayes give the Pre-eminence, as Brethren and Wo­men Friends in their places, not seeking Rule over one another, but that we may be Furtherers of one anothers Joy, and be each others [Page 6]Crown of rejoycing in the Lord, meets in the Fear of the Lord, as in the Light of Christ Jesus in our Consciences, we received so to walk and do according to the Order of his Spirit, in which Christ is Present in our so meeting together; and the faithful can seal to the Testimony of it, to the Glory of his Name forever.

But wherein doth this great and heavy Imposition on tender Con­sciences consist? One thing is, say some, Womens Meetings are impo­sed: Why do you compel any contrary to their Freedom? No; all are left to the Measure of Truth in them, which is one and the same in all Consciences; but Informing, Instructing and Exhorting, that every one be found in the Unity of our Duty, according to our Measure of the Light of Christ Jesus, received to walk in it, as Members of his Body to discharge our Office, and Servants in Christs Family to do our Service, as the good Women of old were Helpers in the Work of the Gospel, in such things as are proper to us, as visiting and Re­lieving the Sick, the Poor more especially and Destitute amongst us, that they be helped, as also the Poor Widdows, and Fatherless Or­phans, that the Distressed in all things be rightly answered, the Chil­dren at Nurse be rightly educated, and well brought up, in order to a future well-being in the Creation. Again, we being met together, the Elder Women to instruct the Younger to all wholesome things, Loving their own Husbands and Children, to be Discret, Chaste, So­ber, keeping at Home, that the Word of God we profess be not Blasphemed, &c. with many other Matters pertinent to us, as a Meet­ing, whom the Lord blesseth with his Power and Presence, to sustain and bear us up against all our Oppossors.

Again, It is Imposition (saith the Workers of Dissention) for Marriages to offer their Intentions to the, Consideration of the Womens Meeting. But pray consider, in the Reason of Truth, a Marriage hath an equal Concern in the Woman, as in the Man; and 'tis as reasonable to consider the Woman may have as near a Concern in that matter with the Woman, as the Men on the other Part. And farther 'tis said, 'Tis Imposition to go more than once to the Brethrens Meeting. But say we, that are in our wholesome Practices in these Matters, and our Consciences bear us witness in the sight of God, our Eye is to the Honour of his Truth therein, therefore cannot encourage or allow People we are concerned with, to hasten or run together in Marriage, without due Care and Weightiness, and that we are satisfied they are clear in all things touching their Marriage; as they ought to be, and for which end there ought to be a special care over Young People, to [Page 7]whom the Aged had need to be Examples, both of Gravity and good Order, that Christ's Yoke be not cast off by either, nor any false Li­berty of the Flesh set up, encouraged or soothed among us; where­fore when they have proposed their Intentions to one Meeting, for them to consider, 'tis but reasonable they have time to make Inquiry and Search into the Matter, so as they may be satisfied, that all things are sweet and savory, that so as far as we can; we may be approved of by all in such publick Affairs. Yea, But you will have such to come the second time, who are known to be clear. Yea, 'tis but reasonable that such should manifest their Patience and Subjection, as good Examples to others, in these Needful and wholsome Practices, that are of good Report. And therefore we cannot approve such in their willful En­deavours, to confound the Unity of our Order in this matter, under pretence of a burden to their Conscience; for it was no burden to come once; for that Meeting in it self being Good, Just, Honest, and of good Report, answering the Light of Christ Jesus, which is one in all Consciences; as well in the Ignorant, Blind, Mis-guided and Erring, because they will not be informed, the Light is the same there to reprove and inform, as it is in the Conscience ruled and guided by the Light: Therefore pray consider how that can contract a burden, (viz.) the going twice to such a Meeting, as before-mentioned, how it can cause a burden on the Conscience that is rightly informed, though it may be weak, but rather contradicts the Self-will that brings Bondage, and blinds the Consciences: And are not such rather by their opposing Will justly under the Reproof of the Church, and that Endeavours may be, that the understanding of such be opened, and brought to a better Information in their Consciences? For from the beginning we believe God's Witness in all Consciences is one, & its Reproofs of one Nature and Tendance, and its Instructions tending to one and the same end, and leads all, as they are guided by it, into one Way which allows of no false Liberty. Yea, but you are gone from the Beginning; for you had not this Way in the Beginning, say the Opposers. Pray consider, above twenty six Years ago, in the South Parts we were a very little handful of People, gathered into the Belief of the Light of Christ Jesus; so as it is that very Principle of Life in us, that we through Obedience to it might come to know God, as it is Eternal Life to know him, and rightly to worship him in his Spirit, and to be led by him into all Truth, and in Testimony of his own Spirit, in these our Practices, which since the Lord hath called us to, as we are a People called and gathered by the Lord. Pray Consider, I speak the [Page 8]Truth of my Knowledge, and my Conscience beareth me witness in what I have or shall say in this Matter, according to my small Portion and Measure, in the Unity of the Grace received (I give God the Glory, in Humility of Soul before him, for my Preservation to this Day) for pray, consider, through the smallness of Number, in the beginning, we were not so capable as now for Order in outward af­fairs, nor was there then such occasion as now, but then the Grace of God grew amongst us, and the mighty Arm of his Power was mani­fested, by which many were gathered to believe in the Light of Jesus Christ, it being that, and no other Name given under Heaven, by which men must be saved. Now in our little measure of Faith, in this One Way, One Name, One Truth, we were as in a threefold Cord of God's Love, joyned together; and as we encreased in Number, then occasion begun of Services, of several kinds, which we were called in the Truth to consider of, which are not so proper here to mention, but this one of Marriage. Before we were or could be ga­thered into the Order of Men and Womens Meeting: Upon the weight of the matter, a necessity did appear, that Friends in the Uni­ty of the Spirit and Wisdom of God should consider of a Way where­in this matter might be transacted among our selves, in wholesome Savoury Order, as the Truth might in no wise be Scandalized, but the Testimony of Truth born in it to the World: The most convenient Method then seen, for Truth's sake, was, that Persons declared their Intentions in our publick Meeting; after Friends were satisfied in their Marrying, they took each other in the publick Meeting: But after our Meetings grew more Numerous, and also disorderly Spirits began to get up, which were not subject to the Truth, such would intrude into our Meetings, to take each other; so then a Necessity in Truth required a further Method, for a more particular and strict Care in this case: In all which we are not gone from the Light and Power of God, and first Principle; but in these and other things we have been in our good Order and Practices, and sweet Fellow­ship managed by it; and I hope the tender in Conscience will consi­der, that are impartially Minded, that 'tis no Imposition to inform and perswade the Ignorant and Willful to subject in this or any other matter, that is Honest, Just, Savoury and of good Report, and law­ful to conform to, in the Unity of Love to practise, being no other but what is consonant to the Conscience, swayed and regulated by the Light of Christ Jesus, in which is the true Liberty of the Con­science, whether weak strong: For I hope all will conclude, that [Page 9]if the weak, in their little measure of Light, be kept Conformable to the Truth, that by the Light they cannot be led in their little mea­sure to oppose the strong in their greater measure; and may see fur­ther, that 'tis not reasonable in Truth; for the Light cannot contra­dict it self, and 'tis the same in the strong as in the weak; But 'tis greatly to be lamented at this day, that to any that have known the Lord, and at any time fellowship among his People, the Cross of Christ should become so ineffectual, that such Blindness is happened, that they should put Self-opposing-will for a tender Conscience: I do not say, they know it; but whether they do or no, I Pray God open their Understandings, and subdue that perverse wilful Spirit and cross Self­ish humor, that works in opposition to a General Good and Peaceable Subjection amongst the People of the Lord and Church of Christ. Surely these, though they may cry, Liberty of Conscience, and pre­tend for tender Consciences too, yet they are not fit Subjects for that Liberty that Christ redeems to, and sets free in, to serve him with a Conscience purged from Dead Works; nay, they that set themselves, in their wilful prejudiced Opposition, against our Peaceable practising in the Church of God, Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are ho­nest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things pretain to Love, whatsoever things are of good report, Phil. 48. in which the God of Peace is with us now; that which is opposing our Unity there­in; would affright the simple ones with amazing expressions of Imposi­tion, &c. on weak Consciences, and going from the Spirit of Life and Power into the Form; but blessed be the Lord that we have kept our Habitation in the Power, and held our Unity in that Spirit that gives us Life, thereby to live to God, and not to our selves, to serve him in that Form of Godliness, which the Power hath brought forth amongst us, to live in the Unity of, and in his Spirit, the Founda­tion of our Preservation, in Peace and Consolation to this very day; and the Faith of such remains firm in God's everlasting Power, even as we received in the beginning of the breaking forth of the Day of the Lord, in which his ancient Arm and excellent Everlasting Name was revealed, which is above every Name, into which a Number was ga­thered to believe and meet in, and the Lord was there, and is to this very day in the midst of them, as Thousands, and ten Thousands can speak to the Testimony of it; Oh! Glory, Obedience, and everlast­ing Dominion be ascribed to his honourable and everlasting Name over all forever; For the Kingdom of our God and his Christ, on whose Shoulders the Government is laid, shall prevail throug all Clouds of [Page 10]oppsition, and Mists of thick Darkness, that have risen out of a mis-guided understanding, through a prejudided mind, even to ensnare the weak and simple, and deceive the unstable Soul, drawing from our Christian Unitv, which is purely held in the Spirit.

And so, inasmuch as the Envious Worker is suffered to proceed, that would even raze out the Foundation of Christ's Kingdom and Government, under which his Subjects do only own their Christian Freedom and true Liberty of Conscience; and whatsoever may be insinuated to the contrary, by the Enemy of our Souls Well-fare in the particular, and the Churches Peace in the general, which God may suffer, it is for the Tryal of our Patience, and Manifestation and Confirmation of our Faith and Love one to another, and that it is in the Election in Christ Jesus which cannot be deceived, whereby we are strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his might is our confi­dence, that all shall work together for good to the Called, Chosen and Faithful, according to his purpose in Christ, and effectual work­ing of his Grace; And that the Lord in his Power and due time, will arise to clear the Inocency of his People, and Confound and lay Waste all that which works in Opposition to the Prosperity and Unity of his Truth, and peaceable Government of Christ in his Church, which is formed in the Power of God.

So all Glory we ascribe to the one pure Power, in which we believed in the be­ginning, as the Foundation of Christ's Government and Kingdom that shall never have end.