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The Spirit of the Hat:
or,
The Government of the Quakers among themselves, &c.
{Page 9}

Dear Friend,
What is made known and manifested in me, concerning the great Apostacy in this day, and what I have seen and heard I am made willing to communicate the same, to testifie unto the truth thereof.

It pleased the Lord, about twenty years ago, to visit this nation with his loving-kindness, in sending forth a Spiritual-Ministry, in the midst of Wars and Fightings, to turn us from Darkness to Light, and to bring us out of the Strife into the Patience of Jesus, into his Love and Meekness, to good for evil.

XR5008 This Seed being sown, prospered in the hearts of many, and brought forth Victory through Judgement, and the Spirit of Burning: And the Lord was wonderfully with them in this Dispensation, {Page 10} that very many came off from the barren Mountain and out of the sandy Desarts, and were here refreshed, without Money, without Price, and the Bread was broken freely to the Hungry, and Water given freely to the thirsty: And not only so, but likewise our Vessels were filled with the same, whereby our hearts were made glad, and caused the Springs of Life to break forth out of our Bellies, and the Bread of Life to dwell within us, that we needed not to go forth out of our own Houses, having the Anointing within us to supply the wants of our Souls, and lead us into all Truth.

And the Lord did daily add unto the Church, and raised up many to go forth in the Power to Preach the Everlasting Gospel, whereby the Church multiplyed and encreased to the astonishment of the Nations.

How low and humble were they in their Spirits! how few were they in Words! Their yea was yea, and their nay, nay!

Ah! let me take up a Lamentation! how are the Mighty fallen! how have the Stars ceased to give their Light! how are the poor distressed, and the young Ones bruised, by the high Mountains and lofty Cedars, whose Habitations were once in Heaven, but now upon the high places of the Earth, to impose upon the Conscience, and to establish an Arbitrary Power by a Law; these are the armed Beasts, and the many Antichrists, which break the Unity in Spirit, and the Bond of Peace. This brings in Divisions, causeth Differences, Contentions and Emulations: It roots up the Good and eats as doth a Canker, whereby the Unity is divided, {Page 11} and the Peace is broken. But the Unity that the Lord approves of, is for every one to act according to his measure and growth in the Truth.

All are not strong, therefore all cannot be in the same Exercise, no more than a Child can be found in the exercise of a Man: So that the disuniting-Spirit doth not barely lie in being of another Mind and Judgement but in the imposing of its Judgment and Practice: which appears plainly by Paul, who clearly judged that the ground of the Differences in the Church, lay very much in the judging one another in Meats and Drinks, &c.

It is the great Promise of the Father in these latter Dayes, That he will write his Laws in our Hearts, and put his Spirit into our inward Parts, to lead us into all Truth, and out of all appearances, which his Spirit manifests in us to be in the Imitation, and after the Traditions of men.

Is it then reasonable for the Spiritual Man to be found in the practice of doing, before a Law Written, but rather wait at the Feet of Jesus till God reveals. And he that walks according to this Rule, shall know his Doctrine, and be led to behold his Glory, and Witness an unity in Spirit with his Brother, though in a different Excercise.

How doth this differ from the World’s, and the Foxoman Unity, which is to yield subjection to the Order of the Body, (so called) though no manifestation within. And this Unity they glory in; by this is their Kingdom upheld; from this they are able to boast, Who is able to make War with us? Who can stand before us? Do not all fall that have risen up against us? Are not these the high-swelling words of proud Babel, whose towring {Page 12} thoughts must be abased? whose practice hath been to crush the tender Ones, in their Bodies, Souls, and Spirits. This Language hath mine ears heard, this practice hath mine eyes seen, to the grief and wounding of my Soul.

This combined Unity I have no pleasure in; its Nature is known by its Image, its Birth by the excercise of its Power.

My Friend observe; What difference is there in these things between George Fox and the Papists? the one saith, No Liberty out of the Church; the other, No Liberty out of the Power. Saith the Papist, What Liberty to the Sectary? No, What Liberty to the Independent? No: Liberty (saith he) is in the Truth. The difference lies onely here, The one hath greater power to compel than the other.

The Papists say, Believe as the Church believes: So likewise saith G. Fox; but I say nay, I am not to believe a thing barely because the Church believes it, but because it’s manifested in me, else I am so to wait till God reveals it. I was told the above said by two there present.

The Church of Rome claims a power of Excommunication (of them) that will not submit to their decent and comely Order, though in it self the thing be merely Circumstantial, Ceremonial, or (as they tearm it) indifferent; and their reason is, it Judgeth the Power, and smites at the Authority, and (say they) it’s an Inlet to Division and thereby is Unity violated.

Behold a resemblance thereof, it hath been often {Page 13} said unto me, The Hat is nothing, but it is out of the comely Order, it judgeth Friends who are in the Power, who testifie against it, and it breaks the Unity; and therefore we cannot suffer such to Marry or Bury, nor to partake of any Privilege as a Member of the Body; and this is in the substance Excommunication: for Excommunication chiefly lies in a man’s being deprived of the Benefis, and put out of the protection of the Law, as also from being a Member of the Church.

The severity is the same with us, for where could I Marry or Bury, if we were an intire Nation? Or how can I take a Wife without a Witness? Or how can I have a Witness, if to be one is lyable to the same misery.

Selected Bodies ought to be found in the exercise of Moderation, Tenderness, and Mercy, as if they were a Nation. I alwayes find, when once such put forth their hands to afflict for Conscience sake, as their Power groweth strong, so doth their Oppression.

But perhaps they would say, We do not eject for Conscience-sake, but because of an obstinate Will, which oppose the Friends.

The Papists justifie themselves by saying of the same. I remember a Judge likewise made the same reply when a Friend mentioned Conscience. Certainly it cannot be an evil in one, and right in the other, no more than it is cruelty in the Papists Persecutions and just in the Protestants.

It will be a noble Example in those that stand upon the Advantage-ground to Act in Moderation, Tenderness and Mercy. And although it is the policy of the World’s Churches, &c. under a {Page 14} pretence for Unity, not to hear the tender Conscience, yet the Church of Truth will; and where they are found, will account them as Brethren, and not to think it a sufficient ground to refuse them after admonition, if they Persist, but to wait till God persuades them. And this is the Royal Law of Liberty, the other is the Yoke of Bondage, from which we are not to be entangled after the Traditions of Men.

This great Charter of Liberty is violated, and greatly broken in many particulars: If I have a cause before the Elders, but especially if I am a Dissenter, it’s frequently urg’d, give it to Friends; if I do not, a further snare is offered, namely; Dost thou believe Us to be in the Power of God? If i I say Yea, then, What wilt thou not leave it to the Power of God in Friends? Thou art in confusion to believe Us to be in the Power, and yet durst not trust to the Judgment of the Power. To my knowledge, this is a capital Crime accounted.

What greater usurpation can there be than this To claim my right from me into their Breasts? For though the Elders may be preserved in the Power this Year or Season, they may apostatize from the Truth, and yet claim the same prerogative over my Propriety; hereby a Tyranny may be entail’d upon my self by laying of such a Foundation.

A most incomparable Instance is the Church of Rome, who was in the Power and Glory of God; howbeit through pride she lost it, yet gain’d, through subtilty, the Prerogative before mentioned, To give up unto Her Judgement, and to believe as She believes, to the destruction of many thousands: So that it clearly appears, The Spirit that claims such a {Page 15} Power, under pretence of being in the Power, is the Spirit of exaltation: and I know, that those Persons that have been most confident in the claim, under the same pretence, have committed great mistakes; and thereby Truth hath been depressed, and Error cherished.

I suppose I may affirm that in all Ages, Truth hath not been persecuted as Truth, but as Error; I could instance, that many in the great Assemblies in London, have not only been dissatisfied with the rest of their Brethrens Actings, though they made use of the Name of the Lord. Both these cannot be right, yet both claim the same Power in Judgment: otherwise submit (through fear) unto the Judgement of the more eminent, though it doth not at all correspond with their understandings. If one part of the Body be lyable to mistakes, why not the other? And if the Spirit, as they are a Body, is to be Judge and Determiner of Things; by what Spirit shall I know which is in the right? how needful is it therefore to be joined to our own, in the particular, considering how lyable man is to err; yea, in petty matters. And I know, an Oppressive Act done by a Select Body, having power, is by very few clearly discerned; but when done by a private Person, every weak-sighted Man can then discover it to be an Oppressive Act: And so the evil Actions of great Ones are judged less Criminal, and the Persons less Faulty than in justice they ought to be.

The Churches of Men are still setting up themselves one above another; but the Assemblies of the true Church are all equal, having Christ the Light equally present with and in them; and {Page 16} therefore Friends of one place, cannot say they have power over Friends in another place, seeing all may be liable to have Christ the Light alike, in and among them; else Christ his Spirit, in several places, should be above, and under themselves: But Christ in each Assembly of the Faithful is their Head; and this head they do not leave, to set up a fleshly head to themselves, whether it consists of one or many of them; seeing Antichrist doth as strongly invade Christ’s Headship in many, as in one Man; in a Councel, as in a Pope; in George Fox and the Body, as either.

The Spirit of Antichrist in G. Fox, &c, would wrest from me what I am not willing to part withal, to wit, my Conscience, under no less penalty than Excommunication; which is as far as in them lies, the loss of both Heaven and Earth: of Heaven by Excommunication, of Earth by Deprivation; and this without redemption, unless complying with his or their Will and Pleasure; and for no other cause, than for the ommittance of a very small Ceremony, which they hold necessary to Salvation; like the circumcision of old, who preached, Unless they were circumcised, they could not be saved. But perhaps they will say, We do not excommunicate thee, yet we cannot own thee in thy error. I answer, It’s one thing not to own a man in a particular, and another thing so to disown him as wholly to exclude him from protection: For if I am once accepted of as a Member, and after cast off as not being a Member, I shall leave it to the sober what to call it. Perhaps they will say, This casting off was not for the thing, (as indeed it hath been said unto me) but for the {Page 17} contempt. I may rather say, Sure the greater the cruelty, to lay an Injunction upon so small a matter, that draweth after it so deep a censure as to cast a man out of the Church. Suppose a Magistrate did command a trivial matter, and should proceed against the Infringers of this Command as Traitors; it were much to be doubted, whether the Command did not partake more of Cruelty, than the Disobedience of Contempt: For where Authority shall so far lose it self, as to lay so great a weight upon so small a matter, it rendereth it self contemptible; and then it’s no marvel if it be condemned, having made it self contemptible. What will our Lord do unto these that shall be found beating their Fellow-servants, and driving them from their Dwellings?

Again, Whosoever squares his actions in things religious by the Spirit’s requiring, he is a bad spirit, &c. Whosoever would be governed by the great Law, To do as we would be done unto, he is out of the Truth; He that will not do what others would have him to do, his is wilful, stubborn, and obstinate.

If the Body saith, It is to be so or not so, (though two thirds of them are otherwise minded, yet are silent) and if it shall happen for one to oppose the thing with much moderation, and the said two thirds shall in their spirit unite with him, yet notwithstanding a few of the combined Elders will bring him to the Bar, and unless he will own Condemnation, Judgment shall pass against him, with such an imperious Authority, that the others dare not open their mouths, so that their arbitrary {Page 18} Commands they can impose upon their Fellow-Members. They proceeed further, saying, He that will not submit to the Body, opposeth God and his Truth; And they make the Body the Touch-stone, saying, This is according, or not according to Truth, as the body hath Unity or not Unity with it; and so by this practice the Spirit of the Lord is to be tried, and judged by the Body. This hath two parts, to deprive us of the Law of the Spirit, and to bring in a tyrannical Government; it would lead us from the Rule within, to subject us to a Rule without.

It is asserted in Print, that if I believe the Light within me directs me to a thing and the Body shall not have unity with it, it is safer for me to rely upon the judgment of the Body XR5174. I remember about a dozen of the great ones subscribed a Paper XR7117 to this effect, and sent it to Hartford, but it was there much disliked: There was this also in it, That if any person had (as he thought) a command from God, to do a thing, or to put forth a thing in Print, he must first come and lay it before the Body, and as they judg, he must submit. Is not this an arbitrary Government, bounded by no Law, but what G.F. and a few more please? Herein the ground of our Liberties is taken from us, (to wit) To live, act, and judg according to the Law within. In this is the distribution of Justice, and he that is overawed by a power without, stifles and strangles true Judgment, which ariseth in himself; by this is Justice and true Judgement, obstructed and violated. It’s the highest usurpation of our just Liberties; For when such Principles are established, they are not easily laid down, they have encroached {Page 19}Jurisdiction where none was, taking upon them a Power to judg and domineer over the Innocent, over the Conscientious, over the tender in Spirit, by new Laws which the Spirit never gave forth, nor hath unity withal, nor many of the Body, which through fear oppose these things. They go higher, they say, Their Judgement is God’s, and their Acts are as binding as God’s, it proceeding from the Spirit of the Lord in the Body: Their Judgements are so positive from God and for God, and their Censures so severe, which causeth a faint-heartedness in the weaker, to speak according to their measure lest they should displease the Body, and be brought to Judgment. It is a dangerous evil for any man, men, or Councel, to make him or them Lords, or Lawgivers in the Church: Christ himself being the immediate Lawgiver, and Judg in this the Day of his Power. Men have commonly thought, that to preserve the Church in peace, is to suppress errour; whereas to preserve them in Faith and Love, with the Father, Word and Spirit, this is rather to preserve the Church.

How many persons, under the pretence of healing the Body, wound it still deeper, and under pretence of preserving its Peace, hurry it into endless Dissentions or reduce People to a Formal Faith! Doth not the abovesaid Body practice the same? Yea. Ah! how do they build up that which they once pulled down; and do that themselves which they condemn in others! Ah! That they would suffer the Word only to be the Rule in the Kingdom, and the Light thereof alone to shine {Page 20} there, and not walk in the light of their own Fire, and in the Sparks such they themselves have kindled, whereby they may lie down in sorrow, whilst they neglect the true Light, which lighteth every man that come into the World.

In the true Church, Unity stands in diversities; But in the false, Unity will not stand without Uniformity. And it is greatly to be lamented how that very many will do nothing without the Authority of the Body, though it be never so clear in them; and this sets up the Body above Christ XR4567.

XR5333 And because a further Dispensation is not relished by the Elders, the which they hide from the Inferiours, lest their glory should be eclipsed, and draw the rest from dependence upon them: They content themselves with this limited Ministration, and set up Tabernacles here for their Residence; which is above, and beside the Spirit of the Lord’s teaching, which leads us to know and follow the Lord. These are they that stop Israels travel out of all appearances, which his Spirit leads not to; These are they that lay stumbling blocks in the way of their Journey; These are they that will not have the Lord’s People, Prophets; that their Persons may be still had in admiration for advantage sake: else, what meaneth it that certain Persons are appointed to spend the whole time in speaking in every Meeting, and all the rest to come as Hearers, neglecting the Gift in themselves, and waiting upon their Lips. When as oftentimes fresh Springs arise in particulars, to make glad and comfort the Hearts of others: But through the long Declarations and Discouragement, withal {Page 21} the Springs are stopt, and the tender nipt. Ah! God will visit you for these things. And certainly if this Babylonian practice had not been exercised, his precious Truth had been published in the mouths of thousands more, and 10000 more to the knowledge thereof would have been brought; a greater growth in the Truth witnessed, and the Mind and Will of the Lord more revealed; a greater discovery of the Man of Sin within and without us, by the transcendent brightness of the Everlasting Day, which will again break forth, and recover the ground which hath been lost; open the Mysteries which are yet hidden, break the Serpent’s head, and wound the Leviathan Amen, Halelujah.

Moreover, as others before them set up the Scriptures above the Spirit, in having that to be the Tryal, Touch-stone, Standard of Doctrine Worship, and of all Spirits; so do they greatly err in setting up the Body above the Spirit, in having the Spirit tried by the Body; the one saith, The Scripture is the Rule; but in truth their Meanings they make the Rule: The other saith, The Spirit (and not the Scripture) is the Rule; but the Dictates of the the Body they make the Rule. For if I walk according to my Measure, and my Measure is my Rule, and it differs from the judgement of the Body; by their Rule I am to deny my Motion, because it answers not the mind of the Body; for they lay down this as an infallible Rule, That the Body will have a true sense, feeling, and understanding of Motions, Visions, Revelations Doctrines, &c. and therefore safest to make Her my Touch-stone in all things relating to God.

Ah! that she would return from whence she is {Page 22} fallen, and repent, that the Crown may again be set upon Her head.

The same Arguments which the Pope, &c makes use of to support himself, the Body useth ; and severe judgement is denounced against him that shall speak a word against the Authority of the Body, as it is against him that shall speak against the Power and Authority of Rome. And as it was and is a common practice for the Pope to esteem Drunkards, Whoremongers, &c far better than Non-conformists, even so it is with the Body at Devonshire-House.

If a Non-conformist endeavors to bring to light the viciousness of the Priest, they will have waves to prevent him, either to raise some Accusations, or some other cunning Evasions. The Body practiseth the same, as I could instance, and may, when occasion offers.

I have heard, from a credible hand ¹, what a solemn Meeting there was appointed by G.F. and others of the Elders, to judge and Condemn several Men and Women of good report; and shelter cover, and hide the wanton Practices of others: and the more effectually to discourage persons from discovering these wanton and unclean Ministers; to some they would say, Let it fall, bad Spirits will get it, and reflect upon good Friends; to others, Thou art an unclean Spirit, raking in Mire and Dirt, to lay open the Miscarriages of others; By which means the Adulterer goes free; onely perhaps private reproof passeth upon him.

Consider, O Friends! is it right to cover the Whoredoms of the wanton Ministry, &c. and unclean Strumpets? And judge so openly the mistake {Page 23} of a person, when the Actions were true, and in the same House. Is not this apparently to discourage persons from discovering these things, and encouraging of the other in their filthy and defiled Conversations? whom God will judge. He that justifieth the Wicked, and condemned the Innocent, is a abomination to the Lord.

Again those that forbore the custom of their Hats in Prayer, could not partake of the Rights as a member, until Renunciation thereof, and for no other cause; when Zealots for that form (though guilty of uncleaness, and other vile abominations, and the persons accused for the same, yet) allow’d to minister as a Teacher, and employed in the Service for the Body.

Such was the rigidness, That persons only suspected to favor the forbearers of the Hat, must bear a publick testimony against them and their Spirit, or else be lyable to be disown’d. If they were not drunk with an Arbitrary Power, they might sure find out a medium (for the omittance of so small a Ceremony) between an Ejection and an Approbation, between owning a person, and not giving him a liberty to exercise his Conscience.

If this kind of Judicature had been set up in the Apostles dayes, what Confusions, what Disorders, what Divisions, what Rents, and Breaches had there been in the Church? there being some that held a necessity of keeping the Ceremonial Law, others not, some for keeping of Dayes, others every Day alike; some for eating of Meats, others of Herbs; some for Circumcision, others not. And Paul, to preserve the Unity, notwithstanding these differences, writ, not to judge one another in {Page 24} Meats, &c. but to wait till God reveals it to him. And if G.F. and the Body had but this moderation, what a Harmony, what a Unity would there have been amongst us!

The Papists had a way to try all suspected Persons by, namely that they call the Sacrament of the alter; the Protestants the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, as also the Renunciation of the Covenant; the Presbyter the Covenant it self: And this Body tries suspected Persons by this, namely, Hast thou given testimony against the Spirit of the Hat? I could never get any of them to define what this Hat-Spirit is. And as the Papists (to render the Protestants odious) styled them Hereticks; the Protestants, Phanaticks, Puritans; and all sects in scorn Quakers; and the same Spirit of reproach hath entered this Body, in stiling the forbearance of the Hat, Hatters, Hat-men. If any may have the Appellation, it’s rather due unto you, who keep it off upon Religious Account, than upon those who keep it neither off nor on upon a Religious Account. They of the Circumcision were so called, not because they forbore the Practice of that Act, but because they still continued in it; and it’s preposterous to give Nick-names unto persons for not doing of a Thing by the name of the Thing. We were called Quakers, because we trembled at his Word, not because we did it not.

We displeased Man, because we do not uncover our Heads before him; we say, and say true, true Respect doth not lie in the uncovering of our Heads; a pitiful low thing, to lay honor and respect in a Hat; we say, it’s the honor below which perisheth: We say, it’s an honor that may be trampled {Page 25} upon, and laid in the dust, (as William Baley and others well said, and many of these men that have born this faithful Testimony, as so far backslidden, that they say there is a Respect and Reverance due unto God in it); Let the Judicious judge, whether the honor and reverance which they give God in this thing, according to their own words, be not the honour below, which perisheth.

They do not deny the giving of this Cap-honor unto men, because there is honor in it, but because there is no solidity in it, for just and true honor they acknowledge is due unto Superiors; and although G.F. and others have trampled upon this Hat honor as the most vile Excrement, yet he and they do say unto us, You give no more reverence unto God, than unto a Horse.

Is it not strange that these men shall lay so much stress upon a Hat, as a Duty due unto God, when they have lookt upon it as a poor low thing when Man hath required it; and to make us more odious, we are called Ranting-Spirits, when we do abhor and abominate that monstrous Principle. It’s probable many do forbear that practice, what then? must I therefore be a Ranter? Nay surely, no more than they are Papists that are in the same Exercise with them in this outward Observation. The Ranter gives no honour at all unto God, neither inward nor outward, but makes a derision at the Name of the Lord.

We do not forbear the Hat in this disdain, or for want of reverence to the Holy, Pure God, (for if he required it, I believe we could not onely offer that, but our lives also) in the Service of the Lord, and for his Truth; but because he doth not require {Page 26} this of us, but rather a more Spiritual Reverence: It is therefore an abuse to be stilted Ranting-Spirits. It is a true Saying, and worthy our Observation, That they conspire together to destroy the Child Jesus in us.

These ill Ministers conjoyn together to subvert our Laws and Liberties, given by the Great Jehovah, by obstructing or denying of Justice, (if they apprehend it sutes not to their Interest) which is as the Life and Blood to the Body, and doth give warmth and motion to every Member, which is nourished and enlivened by it; but being once stopped and seared up, as the particular must of necessity faint and languish, so must the whole frame be dissolved; and assuredly, though they are lifted up, as it were, unto Heaven, in their proud imaginations, the Righteous God will blast all their exalted expectations, and they shall die and perish in the general dissolution; because they have not regarded the Fatherless, nor pittied the poor in Spirit, nor compassionated the tender Conscience, which feared to sin against the Lord, but crushed, spoyled, and oppressed (without bowels of mercy) those that had little strength to help themselves; invaded their Rights, violated their Liberties, endeavoured to take the Meat from the Children and give it unto Dogs.

Heretofore, before they were high and mighty, they were the Balm of Gilead, which healed our Wounds, restored our Spirits, and shewed us the way of Salvation; but of late years, like the Figtree mentioned in Luke, without efficacy, without Fruit, only destructive to the particular Members, who discharge their Duties and Consciences; {Page 27} whereas they should be like the good Old-man, who dyeth in a full age, after he hath fought a good fight, and overcome the Evil-one; they should be like the Shock of Wheat which cometh in, in due season, to uphold our lives with the staff of Bread; nor proud Elders, to overthrow the Gospel. One thing more I have to add, and perhaps thou hast not altogether forgotten it; it is this:

G.F. being very sick and weak for a long time, a tender Love rose in the heart of William Gosnal, to give him a friendly Visit, and when he came into his Chamber, G. was transported into such an high Passion, and uttered such vehement and violent words against him, that many there present in the Room, were almost astonished there at; It was for this cause, W.G. long before signified unto Samuel Newton his apprehensions, that G.F. would have stricken him, (of this more hereafter) and he being lifted up in his Spirit, like Lucifer, he uttered words to this effect; Friends, Although I have not yet told it you, I do now declare it, I have power to bind and to loose whom I please. How hath Solomon Eccles fed this exalted spirit, who puts forth these words, Stand up Muggleton the Sorcerer, whose mouth is full of Cursing, Lies, and Blasphemy, who callest thy last Book a Looking-Glass for G. Fox, whose name thou art not worthy to take into thy mouth, who is a Prophet indeed, and hath been faithful in the Lord’s Business from the beginning. It was said of Christ, that he was in the world, and the World was made by Him, and the world knew him not: So it may be said of this true Prophet, whom John said, He was not; but thou wilt {Page 28} feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a milestone upon thee; and although the World knows him not, yet he is known.

Certainly, such Expressions are not fit to be given unto man; and to lift up one in this nature above his Brethren, is of dangerous Consequence. Surely this mortal hath been greatly puft up by such fawning, flattering Parasites; Or else he would never suffer persons to kneel before him: It is done upon two occasions, though in a very private manner, and but by a few. The one is when he sends you forth to Administer; the other is upon some misdemeanour committed by a Minister, and upon the acknowledging of his fault upon his bended Knees, then G. absolves him. Such is the absolute power which he takes to himself, That he will break open Letters, and alter the Contents. One of the most eminent Ministers amongst them, being of a moderate spirit, writ as in the name of the Lord, judging both those that kept the Hat off or on, in a wilful, opposite, contentious spirit; But as for those that kept it off, or on, as to the Lord, those he nor the Spirit of the Lord did not judg, or words to this purpose: he blotted out a line or more, and write over it clearly another sense, to wit, That he did judg those that kept it on, and not those that kept it off; and John Whitehead, who writ the Letter, knew not of it.

My heart is often-times grieved within me, and my spirit oppressed with Sorrow, when I call to mind their Lowliness, and their Plainness in Apparel! Ah, how did their Countenances and Garments suit with their Preaching of the Cross of Jesus, and very many were brought by their {Page 29} ministry, out of Rich-clothings: But behold a Wonder! These Ministers, in a short space, got into the Rich-Habits, to wit, Beaver Hats, Camlet Cloaks, the finest of the Cloath, not inferior to the Merchants of the City, setting aside their Lace and Ribbands. It hath been their lot to be haled (with violence) out of the Assemblies of Professors, for bearing of faithful Testimonies and thrust into Prison. Did I think to see the same violence offered in our Assemblies! Nay, but with Sorrow, mine eyes hath seen pulling down, haleing out, and thrusting forth of our Meetings, and they went to the utmost, as far as their Power; And doubtless they wanted not Will, but Power to punish. These ravening Wolves, which worry and prey upon the flock boast themselves to be Peers in this Selected Body; And affirm, That if any of them commit a Fault, their Peers, or their equals, are only to be their Judges, and not the Laity, or Commalty; So that in their Selected Assemblies, these keep the Inferiors at so great a distance, and their Spirits are so over-awed, that they dare not (but seldom) contradict the sayings of the most eminent Elders.

It fell out that poor James Claypoole contradicted, and that with much moderation, the imperious Elder, John Bolton, for saying unto a maid, That she was first to see the evil in her self, before she judged it, and not (saith he) because we say it. This poor man, for this presumption, was first to acknowledg his Error: Yet he in private confest it to be no Error; But being a man of peace, would rather bear his burthen, then to stand against, or contend {Page 30} with so great an Elder. How is it possible the Young ones can speak their minds freely, when they are thus curbed and overawed? by this means a few will sway a Meeting which way they please, unless the Peers are in Competition, then they meet as two great waters, ready to overwhelm on another, with their asserting both in the name of the Lord. To prove this, I shall give thee a few pregnant instances;

The First is concerning the Marriage of John Osgood, who is well known to be a man of Moderation, Sobriety, and of a deep Judgment, owning and holding forth, as occasion offered, the Principles delivered; and he was held in such reputation, that I know no mans Counsel had a greater influence upon, and acceptance with the Meeting than his; But after he came to forbear the exercise of the Hat in Prayer: The Zealots for that practice, did use their utmost endeavour to screw him out of that power and authority which he had in the Meeting, as the Paper signed by eleven Ministers doth clearly demonstrate. It came to pass, that it was his purpose to take Rebecca Travers, the Younger, to be his wife: first he went to the Womans-Meeting, according to Custome, to acquaint them with his intentions, and there they past it with so great an Acceptation, that a very considerable part of them went along with him to the Mens-Meeting, to justifie and stand to their procedure towards him, if occasion offered, whereas others have seldom above two. He likewise acquainted the Men with it, and after a short space, one there charged him for opposing a Servant {Page 31} of the Lord, that had declared a thing in the Name of the Lord.

He presently cleared himself from this aspersion, by proving the person to be in a notorious falsity, which he asserted in the name of the Lord; this Blasphemer, that is thus stiled the Servant of the Lord, under the pretence of a Physician or Chyrurgeon, made it his common practice to commit Uncleaness, and wantoness towards Women; and yet he was employed and sent by G.F. to judge Persons and Meetings; he made him also as his Companion in his travels, and covered him in his wickedness, insomuch that it was a crime sufficient to take notice thereof.

And although John Osgood cleared himself as is above expressed, John Bolton with two or three more had another snare for him; namely, Wilt thou give a testimony against the Hat-spirit? His Reply was to this purpose, When he saw it to be an evil, he should; but at the present he did not, and therefore could not give a Testimony against a thing, before it was manifested in him to be an Evil. This would not satisfie them, although he again came into their practice, in the keeping of it off. This Marriage was declared by Rebecca Travers the Elder, and J. O. to be of the Lord: and John Bolton, with not above two or three more, did so oppose the passing thereof, in the name of the Lord, that it could not be obtained, unless he would give a testimony as above, and yet almost the whole Meeting was for passing of it. This will seem prodigious to person ignorant in these affairs.

{Page 32} He therefore, without their consents, appointed a Day to take his Wife, and a very considerable number of the Meeting were Witnesses thereof. Such was the Severity and Lordliness of J.B. that he in Publick disowned Tho. Salthouse, for his being there a Witness, and for his Moderation. These Transactions did so seize upon the Spirits of others, that it was exceeding difficult for any to obtain Witnesses in such an affair, if the Meeting refused to pass it, though never so unjustly.

By what hath been said, it may be clearly discerned, That the greatest part of the Meeting signified no more than Cyphers, that a few Rule by Will and Pleasure, a certain ready way it is to make Hypocrites; for what greater temptation can a man meet withal to reduce him to a conformity against his Conscience, than to deprive him of a Person whom he most dearly loves? And what greater rigidness can there be to deny the accomplishment of so weighty a Concern, for the omittance of so small Ceremony as the Hat?

Let this be had in perpetual memory, That some of you were Judged, Condemned, and Executed, for no other Cause than the Hat, and now they Judge, Condemn, and excommunicate for the same, (Oh greatly to be admired!) Not that I am against this practice when required of the Lord, but against the customary use thereof; for this I have known, and frequently see, that when a Minister hath ended his Declaration, and a general apprehension that he will make a close with Prayer, off goes their Hats, according to the custom of other Societies; and immediately up stands {Page 33} another and begins a new Declaration, then, as men ashamed, on goes their Hats again. Moreover, it will happen sometimes for a man to be overtaken with sleep when the Prayer is begun, by some accident or other he is disturbed; but before he is well awakened, he snatches off his Hat as a man a frightened: Can I judge those things are any other than a formal Custom? Nay assuredly, others do not pretend that spirituality of Worship, and therefore it is no marvel in them.

I never could yet understand why the Head may be covered by an Assembly, when a Minister shall return high Praises unto the Lord, in an elevated, fresh, and lively Spirit, and to be so erroneous as the be excommunicated for the same in time of Prayer.

I have been the larger upon this Instance, because it proves the greatest part that is here written.

The next is the M. Boreman and Elizabeth Baily came before the Men’s Meeting, to express their intentions touching their Marriage; the one part declared positively, as from the Lord, that it was to pass, John Nelson, Gerard Roberts, and Thomas Biggs were three of them, besides many more. Tho. Briggs was transported into such an angry zeal, that he told them, that it was of the Lord, and that they opposed the mind of the Lord: But when the other Party came close to the business, he did not know whom the Persons were that intended their Marriage, to his great shame. John Bolton, and Sam. Newton, were the great Opposers, under the same pretence, but indeed with {Page 34} more moderation. Several went home with grieved and sorrowful hearts, whereof John Osgood was one, and William Philips another; I could name more, but let this suffice.

The next is concerning John Swinton, who did write a large paper by way of Lamentation, as being commanded and required of the Lord to publish the same, wherein was exprest, That the Leaders (the Leaders) were greatly guilty of the fullness of Dyet, fineness in Apparel, and of speaking words out of the Life, which was a burthen to the Life: He justifies this for several years, though strongly urged to deny it; but at last they pursued him so closely, that the Meeting at Devonshire-house sent for him out of Scotland, in the Winter-time, for Him and his Paper to be tried: But before he came, there was a meeting at the said place concerning him, and there John Bolton, Gilbert Layty, John Nelson and Charles Harris, with many others, past Judgement against Him and his Paper: A reply was made by Gawen Lawrey. That it was not regular to deal so by a Person and his Writings, that was not there to answer for himself; to Condemn Him, and then to Try him. This I bring as a further proof of their unreasonable Tyranny; For what Justice and true Judgement could be expected, when these Grandees, who were his Judges, did give Judgement against him before-hand?

In a short space after John came to London, and a Meeting was again appointed; He saw the Breach would be great, and likewise his Exercise, telling divers before-hand, The Child must not be {Page 35} divided, nor the Seamless-garment rent: and so when the day came, he denied the Paper, and the Spirit that gave it forth, yea, fit for the fire; and moreover, that it was writ in an hour of temptation and weakness

Let the impartial judge whether this Recantation was not done rather in such an hour? and whether the things are not true that he declared?

It’s time to conclude, having dwelt long enough upon this Subject, with this Counsel and Admonition to the High and Mighty, and to the lofty Mountains, and aspiring Cedars of this Assembly, before spoken of: Despise not to take counsel of a Fool, nor disdain the advice of the young and weak Ones, for ‘tis possible, deep knowledge and yet little esteem may be found together: This I have to inform you, that though you have reduced many to a sober life, the way to keep them, and to bring in more into the same Fold, is by mildness, not seething up a Lordly Judicature over the Conscience, for by this all Professions have been split before us; and it is observed, That when the Spirit of Lordship enter a People over their Fellows, the Lord doth disappoint the Undertakers thereof, by the withdrawing of his pure Spirit.

My Soul’s desire is, That the Spirit of Lordship and Exaltedness, which hath entered the Body, may be crusht for ever, that the little Ones may serve the Lord without fear, and be found in the Exercise of nothing in the Worship of God, but what his pure Spirit leads unto, and out of that, Truth may spring up in the hearts of thousands, by {Page 36} enjoying of this holy Liberty, and that god may be exalted in the Earth, that the Horn of all Oppressions may be broken, and dasht to pieces, to the praise of the Name of the Lord, that the Light of his Glory may shine in our Temples in its strength and lustre, not wanting a proud Lordly Body to rule over us, nor a proud wanton lazy Ministry to monopolize his precious truth from us, but that every one may sit under his own Vine without fear, and eat his Bread at his own Table. And God bears me this testimony, That his Truth, as it hath been declared, is dear unto me, and the Principles delivered, my Soul doth own; and therefore, according to my Measure, ought to have a place in the Body; but from the Body of Christ, and the Unity of his Spirit they cannot exclude me, and therefore my Soul is abundantly satisfied and refreshed, in my solitary Retirements, and desires not to Joyn hands to oppress any, nor yet to give up my neck unto the Yoke of Bondage, nor my Back to the Oppression, nor my Judgement and Eyes to the Body: Though I can give my Back to the Smiter, and my Cheeks to the pulling off of the Hair, yet it is through a patient suffering, and not a sordid slavish subjection.

And although they daily exercise the Oppressions before-mentioned, yet by their deceitful flatteries, they make people believe, That they are a harmless, innocent, and peaceable People, suffering and bearing wrong, but not doing any; or if any persons Write, or Speak their Grief, that the Publick take notice of, they will represent them under such terms as may render them odious; and the more {Page 37} effectually to weaken their Testimonies, they will fix upon them scurrilous and contemptible Appellation, as Scotch-men, Welch-men, Tinker, Taylor, &c. some of them utterly untrue; and to prevent an inquisition into the truth of the matter, they would make people believe that they are envious, malicious, and discomposed Spirits, who are gone from Truth, and are out of Truth.

Such is the portion of those that appear in their least against the imperious, tyrannical, an lascivious Actions; and what-ever man detected the fallacies and destructive Cheats of imperious disdainful men, but was thus reproached? Must it be justice in them to complain of their Oppressions, and Envy; and Malice &c. in us to complain of ours? their years are but few, yet verily they have been exceeding expert in learning of the Papists subtilties.

If I have any interest in a Burial place, and displease the Body by discharging of a good Conscience, I shall be deprived thereof, and be necessitated to seek a place for my dead else-where: albeit, the Truth, as is hath been declared, is dear unto, and precious with me; for say they, Thou Oppressest Friends who are in the Truth. Let the Spiritual Man judge whether this is not a setting up themselves? Yea, let the reasonable Man judge, whether this is not to dispose of my Right and propriety by Will and Pleasure? they are like the Pharisees of old, who were more zealous to keep up their Traditions, than the Law given from the Lord, for they are more zealous to keep up their power as a Body, then the Truth it self.

{Page 38} It appears plainly unto the Just and Righteous Man, that G.F. and the rest of his Counsel have endeavoured to subvert the Royal Law of Liberty, and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government over the Conscience, over the Flock of God.

These are the ravening Wolves which prey upon the little Ones in a Lordly Spirit; This is that envenomed spirit which hath tainted their Judgements, poisoned their Hearts, and blinded their Eyes; how heinous it is in the Nature, how mischievous in the Effects of it? which will best appear, if it be examined by that infallible Law, To do as we would be done unto; this is the Foundation of all Laws, out of which they are derived; this is the Supream Law, and the Health of the People, and end of all Laws to which they are designed: And how far this Spirit in them stands in opposition to this Law, I shall further manifest.

They pretend and claim an Infallibility in Judgement, &c. (not that I am against Infallibility, but that it is in a special manner peculiar to them, as they are a Body, this I am against) yet who more fallible in Judgement than they? who more partial in Justice? And what can be more dangerous and destructive to the well-being of a People, than such a claim without it? If they were in it, assuredly they would boast less, be more humble and chase, more self-denying and mortified in the Conversations.

I shall be lyable to transgress, by breaking a Law hidden in their Breasts; that must be a Crime which they are pleased to say is so; all must be error which {Page 39} they please to call so. What (say they) dost thou see, dost thou feel that which the Body doth not? thou art in an exalted Spirit, the Body hath not unity with it; if it had been a true motion, the Body would have a Sence thereof, (behold the Touch-stone); and certainly in their degenerated Natures, as many great enormities have been, so greater will be produce’d : Lust will become a Law, Envy will become a Law; Ambition and Covetousness will become Laws: What Dictates, what divisions such Laws will produce, may easily be discerned by the late Vicissitudes, to dispose of all to the maintenance of it self? the bounds of the Royal Law they have removed and broken, (and this mischief must needs ensue in the stead thereof, Tyranny established) and yet they will tell us, It’s for the honour of Truth, and its service from the Spirit of Truth.

What greater dishonour can there be to the lord God of Heaven and Earth, than to pretend his Holy, Pure Spirit in the practice of Injustice and Oppression, and to make use of his great Name and Power to patronize their pride and exalted Spirits?

Such arbitrary courses have an ill Operation upon the Spirits of Men, it weakens their Hearts, and cools their Courage, and begets in them a slavish Temper and Disposition; and where this arbitrary and unlimited Power is set up, a way is open not only for the security, but for the Advancement and Incouragement of evil, and a means to encrease Flatterers. Such men are aprest to cry up the Body in all respects, and are the only good Friends; But others (though exemplary in their Conversations) {Page 40} who cannot yield and comply against the light in their Consciences, to some of their proceedings, are subject to their Jealousie, Censure, if not an Ejection.

XR3575 In days past the Lord raised up a Moses to be a Ruler and Leader to his People Israel, who were then under Types, Figures and Shadows; and the Lord spake to his People by his Servant Moses: But another Administration more glorious is established; to wit, The Dispensation of The Son of God, whom Moses prophesied of, who speaketh from Heaven, who is the End of all Figures, Types and Shadows, he who is the substance of all Types, &c. is now the Great Captain, and Leader of his People, makes use of and layes by what instruments he pleaseth, reveals his Mind sometimes to one, sometimes to another, without respect of Persons or Bodies, as he pleaseth, That there may be no glorying but in the Lord; He abaseth the proud, and exalteth the humble; hides his mind from the high and mighty, from the wise and prudent, and reveals himself unto Babes; and therefore he needeth not a Fox, nor a Body to conveigh his Will unto his People, he being himself their Teacher, and hath planted his Laws in their Hearts, and given them an holy Anointing, to know the Spirit of Truth, from the Spirit of Errour.

And albeit the Kings of the Earth exercise Lordship and Authority over their People, yet it ought not to be so among the Disciples of Christ, being all Brethren; But for the greatest to be well contented to serve in the meanest employment, if the Lord requires it, as to be served, to hearten, and submit {Page 42} to the voice of his Spirit, in the least Babe as in the greatest, or, as in the Body.

And I affirm, the Lord did not raise them up to bring us off from the barren Mountains, to feed upon them who are now become a Desart; nor from under our Oppressors, to turn oppressors themselves: Let them remember the Army, it is their Figure; and if the Lord’s anger waxed hot against them, for their unfaithfulness, what will be the portion of these, who have so deeply Apostatized from clearer Manifestations?

Many of the most eminent have had potent Impulses, to give forth solid, and sound Arguments for Liberty of conscience, and have pleaded strongly for the same, yet George Fox was heard to say in a selected great Assembly thus, Though many Friends have writ for Liberty of Conscience, I never lik’d the word, it is not a good word. No Liberty to the Presbyterians, no liberty to the Papists, no Liberty to the Independents, no Liberty to the Baptists, &c. Liberty is to be only in the Truth, and saith he, no Liberty out of the Power. In answer unto this, Truth gives Liberty unto the weak, yet no weakness in the Truth.

Since the Spirit is withdrawn, they do greatly boast the Power is as much, and as fresh as ever, (if so, they would be more refreshed with it, and less with Sleep in their Assemblies) and their Unity as entire as ever. Yet verily, sharper Contentions are seldom found amongst any People, To prove this, I will set down two notable Examples, it is between four famous and eminent Elders:

First, Tho, Salthouse and John Bolton: T.S. {Page 42} being a man of some moderation and tenderness, used his endeavours to beget a reconcilement between the Practicers and Forbeareres of the Hat in Prayer, and to receive each other as Brethren, though they differ in that particular thing; But that high and hot-spirited Elder J.B. called him false Prophet, reputed him worse than the Forbearers, and opposed his Ministry, until with much ado a Reconcilement was made by a condescension on both parts.

The other is between G. Fox and Sam. Newton, who being a man of some honesty and Cleaness in his Spirit, was against having a person to act in their behalf, as in relation to Sufferings, whose Conversation preached not Righteousness; But G.F. opposed him with so much wrath and violence, that some there present thought he would have stricken him, he being a person so rightly qualified and accomplished for George’s Interest.

Such is the swelling pride of this Luciferian, that he gave forth a Paper, that his Marriage with Margaret Fell, was a figure of the Marriage between Christ and the Church. I may more justly believe it to be a figure of the great Apostacy from the Truth, and barrenness in the Truth.

He likewise declared, That his Marriage was above the state of Adam in his Innocency, in the state of the second Adam, who never fell. This Paper was so ill resented, and so much dislik’d, that it was call’d in again; and a rare thing it was to get a sight thereof, albeit through an accident, I had a view of it.

The above said Samuel Newton and John Bolton, {Page 43} to give them their due, have not taken a little pains, labour, and travel, to bring to Light and to Judgement such unheard-of Practices of beastly wantoness, and filthy uncleanness, that it is hard to believe the excess thereof: but John Bolton hath, or had a confession in writing from one or two of the Female Persons concern’d, of the debauched Actions, to declare the truth thereof; yet notwithstanding they met with such great Obstructions and Opposition, that they cannot accomplish a thorough-examination of it, because it toucheth many Eminent Ones in the Ministry; who from day to day resorted unto them, and giving them these Appelations, Innocent Lasses, and Daughters of Sion.

Sometimes it comes to pass, that two approved of in the Ministry, will oppose and judge each other in Publick Assemblies, in the Name of the Lord: But to prevent the evil effects thereof, the next day Persons shall be appointed to declare the Greatness of their Unity, and the Oneness in their Spirits.

But lest there should be a misapplication of what I have written; when I express the Body, I do declare, my meaning is, The Second Dayes Meeting a Devonshire-house, with some other Principals in other Countreys, who are their Abettors, and not the whole Body of the People called Quakers; for I am assured, and well know, that very many have not bowed to this Golden Image, with whom my Soul hath Unity, and with whom I am refreshed.

{Page 44} And moreover, I meet with many who will freely open their hearts to me, with grieved and sorrowful Spirits, to behold what a domineering, and what partial Judgement is practiced, what severity and tyranny is exercised at this Meeting, but especially against Dissenters.

But, say they, it is out of our power to redress it, until God doth change their hearts, or give us more power; reckoning themselves at present too weak to grapple with these Goliah’s, unless the little Stone be given them to smite them of their foreheads, or words to this purpose.

Let us trust in the Lord, and wait upon him with patience in Faith which overcomes the World; that he will thresh the Mountains, and rebuke the High and Mighty, who are exalted above their Measures; and exalt his Truth over all, that justice and righteousness may flow as a River, to the rejoicing of his oppressed People, and to the Praise and glory of his Name for ever. From a deep Mourner in Israel, to behold how the Earth is filled with violence, and the righteous Seed oppressed.

Dear Friend, It hath pleased the lord to raise thee up to bear a testimony against an Adulterous, Tyrannical, and Hypocritical Generation; let the Word of the Lord therefore have a free passage in and through thee, and consult not with Flesh and Blood; watch against the Enemy, lest he darken thy understanding, that thou canst not distinguish between the Precious and the Vile. Mix not thy own thoughts with the motions of the Spirit; {Page 45} keep in the Fear, and in the Humility, that an exalted Spirit may be kept out: build thy House upon the Rock of Ages, and stand in the unchangeable without wavering, that thy Conversation may be without blemish, thy Judgement without error, and thy Love unto the Truth without dissimulation. Be faithful unto the Lord’s requirings, that disobedience may not enter. Remember the Root bears the Tree, and the Tree the Branches; if the natural Branches were cut off through unbelief, and thou with thousands grafted in, be not high-minded, but fear.

From a little hidden One of the

Flock of Jesus.

Books printed for Francis Smith.

1. A True and Impartial Narrative of the eminent Hand of God that befel a Quaker and his Family, &c.
2. The Spirit of the Quakers tryed, according to the Discovery it hath made of it self in their great Prophet G. Fox.
3. Controversie Ended; or, a plain Discovery of the Quakers equivocal confessing the Divinity, and plainly denying the Humanity of Jesus Christ, with a Relation of the Divine Honour given by some of them to their Leaders.

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1. Keyboarder’s Note: See Nathaniel Smith’s The Quaker’s Spiritual Court ↩