and the like but this propofition and expreffion, as now understood and alleged, is a deviation from, and a perverfion of, the ancient principle of truth; for this is the plain confequence of this plea, if any one (especially if they are but lately convinced) fhall fay, I fee no evil in paying tithes to hireling priests, in that they are not claimed by Divine right, but by the civil laws of the land. I fee no evil in marrying by the priest, for he is but a witness. Furthermore, I fee no evil in declining a publick teftimony in fuffering times, or hiding in times of perfecution, for 'I have Christ's and Paul's examples. I fee no evil in worshipping and refpecting the perfons of men; for whatever others do, I intend a fincere notice that I take of those I know, and have a good esteem for. Laftly, I fee no evil in keeping my fhop shut upon the world's holidays and mafs-days, (as they call them) though they are rather lewdly and fuperftitiously than religioufly kept; for I would not willingly give any offence to my neighbours. And fince your teftimony is againft impofition, and for leaving every one to the measure of the grace which God hath given him, not only no man hath power to reprove or judge me, but I may be as good a friend as any of you, according to my measure.' And now, here is meafure fet up against measure, which is confufion itself.-Babel indeed! this is that very rock both profeffors and profane would long fince have run us upon, namely, That a way is hereby opened to all the world's libertines, to plead the light within for their exceffes:' which indeed grieves the spirit of God, and was feverely judged by our friends in the beginning, and is ftill reproved by them that keep their habitation; though fome are become as wandering stars, through their own pride, and the prevalency of the hour of temptation that hath overtaken them; whereas had they kept in the channel of love and life, in the orb and order of the celeftial power, they had shined as fixed stars in the firmament of God for ever. And from the deep fenfe that T3 I have I have of the working of the enemy of Zion's peace, to rend and divide the heritage of God, who under the pretence of crying down man, forms, and prescriptions, is crying down the heavenly man Chrift Jefus, his bleffed order and government, which he hath brought forth by his own revelation and power through his faithful witneffes, this I farther teftify, Firft, That the enemy, by these fair pretences, ftrikes at the godly care and travail that dwells upon the fpirits of many faithful brethren, that all things might be preferved fweet, comely, virtuous, and of good report in the church of God. Secondly, That there never was greater neceffity of this godly care than at this day, fince we were a people, wherein the crofs, by too many, is not so closely kept to as in days paft, and in which there is not only a great convincement, but a young generation defcended of friends, who though they retain the form their education hath led them into, yet many of them adorn not the gofpel with that fenfible, weighty, and heavenly converfation as becomes the children of the undefiled religion, and the feed of that precious faith which works by the love that overcomes the world. And the Lord God of heaven and earth, that hath fent his Son Chrift Jefus a light into our hearts and confciences, to whofe search and judgment all ought to (and muft) bring their deeds, and render up their account, beareth holy record, that for this end hath he moved upon the spirits of his fervants, and for this good end only have his fervants given forth, recommended, and put in practice, those things that are now in godly use among his people, whether in this or other nations, relating to mens and womens meetings, and their divers and weighty services. And farther; in the fear of the Almighty God, I fhall add, that heavenly peace and profperity dwell with those who are found in an holy and zealous practice of them: wherefore I warn all, that they take heed of a flighting and obftinate mind, and that they have a care how they give way to the outcry of fome, falsly, intitled, Liberty of conscience against impo <fition,' fition,' &c. for the end thereof is to lead back again, and give ease to the carnal mind, which, at laft, will bring death again upon the foul to God, and the living fociety of his children. And indeed, it is a great fhame that any who have ever known the truth of God in the inward parts, and the fweet fociety of brethren, especially those who were early in the work of this blessed day and heavenly difpenfation, fhould fo far depart from the fear and awe of the Lord, as to use fuch unfavoury, as well as untrue expreffions: this is very far from that meek spirit of Jefus, and the first love, which they pretend to have fo fingularly kept in, which beareth all things, fuffereth all things, and endureth all things, and teacheth to keep the word of patience in the hour of tribulation; nay, but this is judging of spiritual things with a carnal and prejudiced mind, ftumbling at the matter for the fake of the perfons through whom it comes, not eying nor weighing the fpirit the thing arifes from, but the perfon by whom it is spoken, which darkens the eye of the understanding, and blinds, by prejudice, the mind that should discern, taste, and judge; from whence many mischiefs have sprung to the church of Chrift in divers ages: nor is it the leaft evil this fpirit of ftrife is guilty of, even at this day, that it useth the words, Liberty <of confcience and impofition,' against the brethren, in the fame manner as our fuffering friends have been always accustomed to intend them against the perfecuting priests and powers of the earth; as if it were the fame thing to admonifh and reprove conceited, highminded, loose or contentious perfons in the church, as to compel conformity in matters of faith and worship, by worldly violence, upon the perfons and estates of confcientious diffenters: O fuch iniquity God will not leave unreproved! This, dear friends, I fend amongst you, as a token of my true love, in the revelation of the free fpirit of our God and Father; who have ever been a friend to true liberty, as in the ftate according to law, so in the church according to fcripture, and as it ftandeth in the truth of Jefus, that makes them who love it free indeed. Let us all keep low, and remember the Rock from whence we were hewn, and dwell in a tender and reverent fenfe of the daily mercies and providences of the Lord, looking well to our own growth and profperity in his heavenly way and work; then fhall the defire of our hearts be more and more after him, and the remembrance of his name; and, with our love to God, will our love increase one towards another, helping and aiding one another: and I no ways doubt, but God that has brought us out of the land of Egypt, and out of the houfe of bondage, and delivered us from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, will preferve his people from this uncircumcifed fpirit that is not in covenant with God, nor under the yoke of his holy royal law of 'true fpiritual liberty:' for they that keep and walk in the light of Jefus, are fenced from the power of this crooked ferpent, that feeks whom he may betray; nor are any ftung by him but the unwatchful, the lifteners and hearkeners after his jealous whispers, and detracting, infinuations: they are fuch as make their dwelling in the earth, where his region is, and where he creeps and twifts, who is earthly, fenfual, and devilifh, and fo is all the wisdom that comes from him, My dear friends: keep, I pray you, in the fimplicity of the truth, and crofs of Jefus, and wait for your daily bread, and to be daily renewed from the Lord; look to your increase about eternal riches, and be fure to lay up treasure in heaven that fadeth not away, that your faith and hope may have eternal foundations, which the cross occurrences of time, and fears of mortality cannot move: and beware of that loose and irreverent spirit, which has not those in high esteem among you, that are faithful in the Lord's work, and that labour in his bleffed word and doctrine. I plainly fee a coldness and fhortnefs on this hand; and be the pretence as it will, it is not pleafing to the Lord. They that love Chrift, his fervants are dear to them, and they bear a tender regard to their trials, travels, spendings and sufferings, who seek not yours, but you, that you may all be "presented "blameless at the coming of the great God, and our "Saviour Jefus Chrift;" that fo the gofpel-ministry and teftimony may be held up with holy fervent love, and godly esteem, to the keeping under every raw and exalted mind, and whatever may flight and turn against it; left God, that has richly vifited us with his fatherly vifitations, and day-fpringing from on high, fhould remove his bleffing from amongst us, and place his candlestick" among other people. Be wife therefore, O friends! for behold he is at the door that must have an account of your stewardship: be watchful, keep to your first love and works, that fo you may endure to the end, and be faved; and having overcome, you may have right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midft of the paradife of God. The God of peace, who hath brought our dear Lord Jefus from the dead, and us with him, more abundantly enrich you with all wifdom and knowledge, in the revelation of himself, through faith in his Son, by whom in these last days he hath spoken to us, who is the bleffed and only Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Your friend and brother, in the tribulation and falvation of the enduring kingdom of our God, Worminghurst in Suffex, the 20th of the 9th WILLIAM PEN N. month, 1681. A LETTER |