FIrst, In the North of England there was a few Religious People, that could find no Satisfaction to their Immortal Souls, amongst the several Will-Worshipers [having been amongst them] Met often together, to wait upon God, with frequent Prayers unto him, That they might attain to that Holyness of Life the [Page 2] Saints Injoyed, Recorded in the Holy Scriptures; Crying unto God as did Holy David, Psalm. 42.1. As the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks, so panteth my Soul after thee, O God.

And it pleased God to satisfie their Thirsting and Breathing Souls, by giving them more Grace, which was Purchased for us all, by the Suffer­ings and Death of his dear Son, our Saviour, Christ Jesus, which descovered the way of Truth unto them, whereby they were enabled to walk in the delightful Path of Righteousness to pleas God, and so received power (through the alone help of this Inward and Spiritual Grace) to overcome all the Tempta­tions of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Yea, the Lord discovered unto them so much of his Divine Power, and Love, in their Assemblies, that their Bodies was made to Trem­ble, [Page 3]as Moses, Habakkuk, &c. at the power of Gods Presence, which some Rude People Seeing, called them, in Scorn, Quakers, Isa. 66.5. Jer. 33.9.

2. About the Year 1653. God sent some of them, to Declare to People, what God had done for their Souls, Declaring sometimes in Market-places, sometimes in Steeple-Houses, and Meet­tings; and many Thousands were Converted to the Truth, as it is in Jesus: That a worhy Man in the South, who was Converted to the Truth, through the power of their Ministry, Write a little Book, which he called The Principles of Truth, saith in p. 14.15. &c. By this Gift of God in our Hearts, we further Believe, That Christ Jesus Rose again from the Dead, according to the Scriptures, and Sits at Gods Right Hand in a Glorious Body; and we Believe, That our low Estate and humble Bodies shall be made [Page 4]like unto his Glorious Body, through the working of his Mighty Power, whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself, and that this Mortality shall put on Im­mortality. For though we Believe that Christ Jesus hath Lighted every Man with his Light, whereby Man may come to know himself Lost and Ʋndone, as be­fore is said, yet therefore is not every Man Saved, though the Grace that ap­pears to all Men is Sufficient in it self; but some have the Grace of God bestowed upon them in vain, not liking to retain God in their Knowledge, though some­thing within them shews them what is Good, but they reject the Councel of God within, or against themselves, to their own Destruction, Luke 7.30. (see the Margin) and yet it doth not follow, that the Grace is Insufficient of it self, no more than it follows, that Christs Death is In­sufficient, because he tasted Death for e­very Man, and yet every Man is not Saved. Neither doth Regeneration, or [Page 5]the Believing in the Light of Christ within, make void the Death and Suf­ferings of Christ without at Jerusalem, no more than Believing the Scripture Testimony without, concerning Christ's Death, make void the Work of Regenera­tion and Mortification within; But as the Apostle saith in another Case, so I say in this, For as the Man is not with­out the Woman, neither is the Woman without the Man in the Lord: Even so is not the Death and Sufferings of Christ without at Jerusalem, to be made void and of none effect by any thing within, neither doth the Light within make that of none effect without, but both in the Lord answer his Will: For though there is, and may be, a Knowledge, and Belief, of what Christ Did and Suffered without the Gates, in his own Body, upon the Tree, and yet Sin alive in the Heart, and the Work of Regeneration not known, yet it can't be so where the Light within is be­lieved on and obeyed, so as to have its per­fect [Page 6]Work in the Heart, to Regenerate, and make all things New, and to be of God, this Man can never make void what Christ hath done and suffered without, and yet this New-Birth, or Christ formed within, and dwelling in the Heart by Faith, doth not limit or confine Christ to be only within, and not without also; but both within and without, according to the Good Pleasure of the Father to Re­veal and make him Known. For he Fills all things, and the Heaven of Heavens cannot Contain him; and yet he is at Gods Right Hand, far above all Heavens, in a Glorious Body.

But to return, They, for their faith­ful witnessing to the Truth, Suffered many Stonings, Finings, and Im­prisonments [Page 8](from Cruel Men) yet God never forsook them, so that they Sung Praises unto his Holy Name, when in Dungeons.

3. Their Message, and Labour, was to turn Peoples Minds to the Gift, or Talent, of Light or Grace in their own Souls (the way to Life) that it might be every ones Chief Teacher, and Leader, into all Truth, Neh. 9.20. John 1.9. Tit. 2.11. 1 Cor. 12.7. Rom. 1.19. Which caused the said J. C. to Write, What unwearied Pains Truth made many to take; to run too and fro, to Inform and Fore-warn their Relations and Acquain­tance, least they should neglect the Day of their Visitation; and they knowing the Truth should be Guilty of their Blood, because they had not fore-warned them, is known to many Witnesses. See Truths Progress.

4. They waited upon God in Silence, (in all their Meetings) their Minds fixed on Gods Grace; and out of Earthly Thoughts. And none Spake until Gods Spirit Moved any one to Speak. Durst not Pray or Preach mearly from Head Knowledge.

For, sayeth the said J. C. How careful were those that came to Witness the [Truth] at the begining, to keep Low and Humble, that they might not be drawn from their Own Measurs, least their [Own] Words should become their Burthen, and they be Condemned in themselves, for uttering that [as in the Name of God] which came not from the Spirit of the Living God. And saieth R. Barckley, in Page 453 in his Works, To Pray and Preach without the Spirit, is an offence to God; not profitable.

5. They Met from House to House, and sometimes in Orchards, and did [Page 10]not limit themselves to Licensed Meeting-Houses; and were for Meet­ing in a great Town, rather than in a private Village.

6. They did not like to Lye a Night in such a place, where the People provided more variety of Food for them, than the Family used to do for themselves being very Temperate. For Temperance (saith the Wise) Aug­ments things that are Pleasant; and ordinary Fare is made equal in Sweetness to the greatest Dainties.

7. They did not concern them­selves in giving in their Names, or Voices, for the Electing of Parliament Men: Their Kingdom not being of this World.

8. They were come to the Full­filling of that Scripture Prophesie, of Learning War no more, so could neither [Page 11]Fight with Carnal Weapons, nor hire Men to Fight: Trusting only upon God to Deliver them out of the Hands of all Enemies; Yea, Loved their Enemies.

9. They were always true to their Words and Promises unto all; Yea, when in Prison, for Truths sake, the Jaylors would sometimes Trust us with the Keys of the Prison (though many Fellons there) having the same Confidence in us, as Pharoah's Jaylor had in Joseph. For, saith the Wise, He that breaks his Promise, forfeits his Faith, (which was the Security) and so is become as an Infidel, unto him to whom be Promised.

10. They, when cast into Prison for good Conscience sake, or their Goods taken from them for their Testimony, greatly Rejoyced that God had counted them worthy to [Page 12]Suffer for his Name, without repining against their Persecutors, nor durst they ask their Goods again, Luke 6.30. nor go to Law to gain them, or use Law Tricks to avoid their Suffer­ing, trusting in God alone for their Deliverance, 2. Cor. 12.9.

11. They bore a Conscientious Testimony against the oppression of Tyths; and being cast into Prison for the same, could not give Money to Lawyers, Jaylors, &c. for Liberty, waiting Gods time for Deliverance. Nor could they consult with Lawyers to save their Goods from the Claym­ers of Tyths. For in so doing, saith R.B. page 209, 529. they lose the Glory of their Sufferings, by not appearing as the Innocent followers of Christ.

12. They durst not use Vain, and Idle Words, Foolish Jesting, nor Wagers, either for Money, or Goods. [Page 13]Their Words being few and Savory, Ministering Grace to the Hearers, Mat. 12.36. Having a Bridle for their Tongue, for God sees all our Actions, Prov. 15.3.

13. They gave a good Example, as to plainness in Apparel, account­ing such Professors in Religion Proud, that wore Party-Coloured Stuff, or such as was Striped, or Shining, or Flowered; and that wore Long-Scarfs, Silk-Gowns, Curled Periwigs, High Heads, Rich Hats, or other costly Array, 1 Tim. 9.10. Knowing that such Examples strengthened the Proud Spirit in others, which the Lord is about to bring down. For Truth, saith J. C. made many Burn their Pic­tures, Laces, and other needless Attire and Superfluities.

14. They bore a Testimony also against such Professors of the Truth, [Page 14]as Delighted in Feasting at Mar­riages, &c. And that were for Rich Furniture in their Houses, Cloathing the Walls in them with Stuff, Brass, Pewter, &c. while many poor, honest People wanted convenient Cloathing for their Backs. For, if God has given thee abundance, do not cast how to enlarge thy Barn, Shop, &c. but repaire immediately to the Bellies of such as are needy, and oppressed with want (to such people I mean, as are Honest and in want, and have not Heares to seek Relief of the Parish) and make them the Store-Houses of thine Encrease. Whatsoever is given in this kind, is not Lost, but Lent; the Lord himself will Repay thee an Hundred sold; so as thou gives it not in Vain Glory, to be seen of Men.

15. They durst not give Flatter­ing Titles unto Men or Women, to their Faces; as my Lord, your Worship, [Page 15]Sir, Master, or Mistress, except to such as was really their Masters or Mistres­ses, nor much Bowing to them, antiently called Worship, knowing that it exalted the Proud Spirit in them the more.

16. Those of them that were Tradesmen, having got sufficient to maintain themselves, strived not for much Riches, (knowing it to be a Snare) left their Trades, or the most part thereof, to the Younger, or their Apprentices. Not at all (saith I. C.) affecting great things for themselves, nor to get a Name in the Earth, but to stand approved in Gods Sight, which they valu­ed beyond the judgment of the Wise, and the Honourable in the Earth, or of any of the Sons of Men, is also fully known to them that were Converted in the beginning. See also Chap. 13. Sect. 7 and 8 in No Cross no Crown.

17. They could, in much Love, be­gin and finish all concerns relating to their Society, as to Marriages, Relief of the Poor, Admonishing Evil Per­sons, end Differences, &c. to prevent Suits at Law. At the end of their Religious Meetings (a Religious Meeting being a Church, Rom. 16.3, 5. Col. 45.) where the least esteemed of in the Church, had Liberty to Judge, 1 Cor. 6.4. Leaving every Meet­ing to their own Power. See W. P's. Rejoynder to John Faldo.

But of latter times some have swerv­ed from the said good Order in the Churches, which caused another worthy Man, an Antient Labourer in Christs Vine-yard, to give in his Testimony (amongst others) part thereof is as follows, viz. ‘We Be­lieve in his Name [Christ Jesus] and he only is our Lord, Lawgiver, and the Shepherd of his Sheep; and they [Page 17]hear his Voice, and the Voice of a Stranger, they will not follow.’

18. They did cast none out of their Religious Society, but such as the World saw them to be great Sinners. And if at any time they declared that such Persons had cut themselves off from their Society, by often, and wil­ful Sinning against God, yet, not­withstanding, did not make it their business to render them Odious to all People; but in Christian Love labour to win them to the Truth again, know­ing there was hopes, while the parties saw themselves to be Sinners.

Remembering what our Lord Teacheth us, by his Example (of Charity to Persons and Churches) in his Epistle sent to the Seven Churches of Asia. The Good that was found in them he approved of, and Encouraged, and reproved only the Evil. He did not over-look the Good in them, be­cause of the Evil, neither did he ap­prove of the Evil, because of the Good: But, saith he, I have somewhat against thee, Repent, &c.

Let us learn to be like-Minded, least any, by false and confused Judg­ment, heap Judgment and Condem­nation upon their own Heads. Tak­ing the advice of the said J. C. who saith, I Exhort all to come to the Light and Spirit of Christ within them, to shew unto them their miscarriages, and whether they hold the Truth, as it was in the be­gining.

Lastly, Let none that are Guilty, think to wipe their Mouths, and say, These things concern not me. Well, to the Witness in thee thou art brought, from whence there is no Appeal; for if that con­demns thee, God is greater. See Truths Propress, pag. 10.

Concluding in the Words of R. B. p. 683. That the Evil either in Opinion, or Practise, ought neither to be Spared, En­couraged, nor Fomented, under any pre­tence of Love whatsoever.