A treatise on church government, formerly called Anarchy of the Ranters, &c., being a two-fold apology for the church and people of God, called in derision Quakers. To which is added An epistle to the National Meeting of Friends in Dublin, concerning good order and discipline in the church

Front matter

M Ms lOfl II

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Section I

7%<? Introduction and Method of this Treatise.

AFTER that the Lord God in his own appointed time had seen meet to put an end to the dispensation of the law, which was delivered. to the children of Israel, by the ministry of Moses ; through and by whom he did communicate unto them in the wilderness from Mount Sinai, divers commandments, ordinances, appointments and observations, according as they are testified in the writings of the law ; it pleased him to send his own Son the Lord Jesus Christ in the fulness of time ; who having perfectly fulfilled the law, and the righteousness thereof, gave witness to the dispensation of the gospel. And having approved himself, and the excellency of his doctrine, by many great and wonderful signs and miracles, he sealed it with his blood; and triumphing over death (of which it was impossible for him to be held) he cherished and encouraged his despised witnesses, who had believed in him, in that he appeared to them, after he was raised from the dead ; comforting them with the hope and assurance of the pouring forth of his Spirit, by which

A they "were to be led and ordered in all things; in and by which, he was to be with them to the end of the world; not .suffering the gates of hell to prevail against them. By which Spirit come upon them, they being filled,#were emboldened to preach the gospel without fear; and, in a short time, thousands were added to the church; and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul ; and great love and zeal prevailed, and there was nothing lacking for a season.

But all that were caught in the net did not prove good and wholesQme fish ; some were again to be cast into that ocean, from whence they were drawn : of those many that were called, all proved not chosen vessels, fit for the master's use ; and of all that were brought into the great supper and marriage of the king's son, there were that were found without the wedding garment. — Some made a shew for a season, and afterwards fell away ; there were that drew back ; there were that made shipwreck of faith, and of a good conscience : there were not only such as did backslide themselves, but sought to draw others into the same perdition with themselves, seeking to overturn their faith also ; yea, there were that brought in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. And also of those members that became not wholly corrupt (for some were never again restored by repentance) there wrere that were weak, and sickly, and young; some were to be fed with milk, and not with strong meat; some were to be purged, when the old leaven received any place; and some to be cut off for a season, to be shut out, as it were, of the camp for a time, until their leprosy was healed, and then to be received in again.

Moreover, as to outwards, there was the care of the poor, of the widow, of the fatherless, of the strangers, &c. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ who is the head of the body, the church, (for the church is the body of Christ, and the saints are the several members of that body) knowing in his infinite wisdom, what was needful for the good ordering and disposing all things in their proper place, and for preserving and keeping all things in their right station, did, in the dispensation and communication of his holy Spirit, minister unto every member, a measure of the same Spirit, yet diverse according to operation, for the edification of the body ; some apostles, some teachers, some pastors, some elders; there are old men, there are young men, there are babes. For all are not apostles, neither are all elders, neither are all babes ; yet are all members : and as such, all have a sense and feeling of the life of the body, which from the head, flows unto all the body, as the ointment of Aaron's beard unto the skirts of his garment : and every member has its place and station in the body, so long as it keeps in the life of the body; and all have need one of another; yet is no member to assume ano= ther place in the body, than God has given it ; nor yet to grudge or repine its fellow member's place ; but be content with its own; for the uncomely parts, are no less needful than the comely; and the less honourable than the more honourable ; which the apostle Paul holds forth in 1 Cor, 12, from verse 13 to 30,

Now the ground of all schisms, divisions or rents in the body is, when as any member assumes another place than is allotted it; or being gone from the life and unity of the body, and losing the sense of it, lets in the murmurer, the eye that watches for evil, and not in holy care over its fellow members : and then, instead of coming down to judgment in itself, will stand up and judge its fellow members, yea, the whole body, or those whom God has set in a more honourable and eminent place in the body than itself. Such suffer not the word of exhortation ; and term the reproofs of instruction, which }s the way of life, imposition and oppression, and are not aware how far they are in the things they condemn others for ; while they spare not to reprove and revile all their fellow members : yet if they be but -admonished themselves, they cry out as if their great charter of gospel liberty were broken.

Now though such, and the spirit by which they are acted, be sufficiently seen and felt by thousands, whose hearts God has so established as they are out of danger of being entangled in that snare, and who have power and strength in themselves to judge that spirit, even in its most subtile appearances ; yet there are, who cannot so well withstand the subtilty, and seeming sincerity some such pretend to, though in measure they have a sight of them ; and others, that cannot so rightly distinguish between the precious and the vile ; and some there are that through wealffiess, and want of true discerning, may be deceived, and the simplicity in them betrayed for a season; as it is written, " with fair speeches and smooth words they deceive the hearts of the simple."

Therefore having, according to my measure, received an opening in my understanding as to these things, from the light of the Lord, and having been for some time under the weighty sense of them, I find at this instant a freedom to commit them to writing, for the more universal benefit and edification of the Church of Christ.

Now for the more plain and clear opening and understanding of these things, it is fit to sum up this treatise in these following general heads, to be considered of :

First, From whence the ground and cause of this controversy is, the rise and root of it ?

Secondly, Whether there be now any order and government in the Church of Christ ?

Thirdly, What is the order and government which we plead for? In what cases, and how far it may extend? In whom the power decisive is, and how it difFereth? And is wholly another,, than the oppressing and persecuting principality of the church of Rome, and other anti-christian assemblies.

SECTION II. Concerning the ground and cause of this Controversy

When as the Lord God by his mighty power, began to visit the nations with the dawning of his heavenly day, (for thus I write unto those that have received and believed the truth) and that he sent forth his instruments, whom he had

a 2 fitted and prepared for his work, having fashioned them not according to the wisdom and will of man, but to his own heavenly wisdom and counsel, they went forth and preached the gospel in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit : not in the enticing words of man's wisdom ; but in appearance as fools and mad, to those that judged according to man. But their words and testimony pierced through into the inner man in the heart, and reached to that of God in the conscience ; whereby as many as were simple-hearted, and waited for the redemption of their souls, received them as the messengers of the most high God ; and their words were unto them, not as the words of men, but as the words of God ; for in the receiving and embracing the testimony of truth through them, they felt their souls easedr and the acceptable day began to dawn in and upon them.

Now what evidence brought these men to make their testimony to be received? did they entice? did they flatter? did they daub up? did they preach liberty to the flesh or will of man ? nay verily, they used no such method : their words were as thunder-bolts, knocking down all that stood in their way, and pouring down the judgment of God upon the head of the transgressor every where. Did they spare the zealous professor more than the open prophane? nay verily, they condemned equally the hypocrisy of the one, as well as the profanity of the other; yet wanted they not regard to the tender seed and plant of God in either. Did they give way ? did they yield to ihe wisdom of man? to the deceitfulness of the serpent, that would reason truth for themselves, saying, I must stay until I be convinced of this, and that, and the other thing ; I see not yet this to be wrong, or the other thing to be my duty ? How did they knock down this manner of reasoning by the Spirit of God, which wrought mightily in them, shewing and holding forth, that this is the day of the Lord that is dawned ; that all are invited to come; that none ought to tarry behind : that that which so pleadeth is the same spirit which of old time said in those that were invited, I cannot come yet, I must first marry a wife ; I must go prove my yoke of oxen ; I must go visit my possessions ; let me first bury my dead father. Did not the Lord through them testify and declare against these things ? and is there not a cloud of witnesses, who felt the enemy thus reasoning to keep us in the forms, fellowships, false worships* and foolish fashions of this world ?

But we feltr as we were obedient, all these things to be for condemnation ; and that, as we obeyed the pure manifestation of the light of Jesus ir> our hearts, there was no hesitation. We might and should have parted with all those things at the first ; and what occasioned such scruples, was but that which drew back, through being unwilling to give pure obedience to the cross of Christ ; for as many as gave obedience and believed in the light, found no occasion of stabling ; but such as believed not were condemned already r because they believed not in him that appeared. Now the boldness, and courage, and efficacy of these messengers testimony, wrought such astonishment, fear? and amazement in the hearts of such as were ingenuous, that many began to be inwardly pricked, as in the days of old, and the foundations of many began to be shaken ; and some that were asleep were awakened, and many that were dead and buried in the graves of sin, and formality and superstition, and idolatry of all sorts, were alarmed; and many were brought in from the hedges and the high-ways, and the Truth was received by thousands with great cheerfulness, and a readiness of mind : and the feet of those were beheld to be beautiful upon the mountains, that brought the glad tidings of these good things* And great lowliness and simplicity of heart was upon such that were' newly convinced of the truth, and deep humiliation of spirit and subjection to the power, both in themselves, and in those who were over them in the Lord, and had gathered them into the truth.

But as it was in the gatherings of old, so it also, fell out in this day ; all kept not their first love : as among those thousands, which Moses led out of Egypt, and carried through the Red sea, who had sung praises to God upon the banks of salvation, many carcases fell in the wilderness ; some who murmured and longed to return again to the flesh-pots of Egypt ; and some for opposing and contradicting the servant and servants of the Lord, whom the Lord had made use of to lead them out of bondage, iflfcaying, ye take too much upon you ; hath the Lord indeed only spoken by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And as among these multitudes which were gathered by the apostles, there were many who continued not faithful to the end ; some returned back again with the sow to the puddle after they were washed ; some embraced the present world ; some again separated themselves, being sensual, and without the spirit, despising dominions, and speaking evil of dignities; their mouths speaking great swelling words, being puffed up, and not abiding in these things, which they were taught of the apostles ; so it is to be lamented, that among these many thousands, whom the apostles and evangelists whom God raised up in this day (for the gathering of his seed and people out of spiritual Egypt and Babylon into his pure light and life) did bring forth and gather, there are that have fallen upon the right hand and the left. Some are turned back again into Egypt, running into the same excess of hist and riot, from .whence they were once purified and redeemed : some could not bear the reproach of the cross of Christ; and were by and anon offended in him : some could not bear the tribulations, sufferings and persecutions, which came for the truth's sake ; and the seed in them was soon scorched with the heat of the day. And some not abiding in subjection to the truth in themselves, were not contented with that place and station in the body, which God had placed them in; but became vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, intruding into those things which they had not seen : and would needs be innovators, given to change, and introducing new doctrines and practices, not only differing, but contrary to what was already delivered in the beginning; making parties, causing divisions and rents* stumbling the weak, and denying, despising and reviling the apostles and messengers of Christ, the elders of the church, who loved not their lives unto death, but through much care, and travel, and watchings, and whippings, and bonds, and beatings, in daily jeopardy, gathered us by the mighty power of God into the most precious truth. Yet in all this there hath nothing befallen us, but that which hath been the ancient lot of the Church of Christ in the primitive times.

Now he, that was careful for his church and people in old times, hath not been wanting to us in our day; but as he has again restored the truth unto its primitive integrity and simplicity, and as he has delivered our understandings from these „ false doctrines and principles, which prevailed in the apostacy; so he hath not gathered us to be " as sheep scattered without a shepherd,55 that every one may run his own way, and every one follow7 his own will, and so to be as a confused mass or Chaos, without any order ; but he, even the Lord, hath also gathered, and is gathering us into the good order, discipline, and government of his own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ: therefore he hath laid care upon some beyond others, who watch for the souls of their brethren, as they that must give account.

There are then fathers that have begotten us unto Christ Jesus through the gospel, of whom we ought to be followers, and to remember their ways, which be in Christ. There are then fathers and children, instructors and instructed, elders and young men, yea, and babes ; there are that cannot cease, but must exhort, instruct, reprove, condemn, judge ; or else for what end gave Christ the gifts mentioned, Ephes. 4. 11. .12? And how are the saints perfected, and the body of Christ edified of those, who came under the cognizance, and, as it were, the test of this order and government? I may chiefly sum them up in three sorts (though there be divers other little subdivided species of them,)

The first is, Those that turn openly back to the world again, through finding the way of truth too narrow. These have not been capable to do us any considerable hurt ; for being a salt, that has lost its savour, they mostly prove a stink among those to whom they go. And I never knew any of them, that proved any way steady among those to whom they go. I find other professors make but small boast of any proselytes they got out from among us ; I hear little of their proving champions for the principles of others against us. And, indeed, for the most part they lose all religion with the truth : for I have heard some of them say ; That if ever they took on them to be religious, they would come back again to the Quakers, &c.

Secondly, Those, who through unwatchfulness, the secret corruption of their own hearts, and the mysterious or hidden temptations of the enemy, have fallen into his snares ; and so have come under the power of some temptation or other, either of fleshly lusts, or of spiritual wickedness : who being seasonably warned by those that keep their habitation, and faithful overseers in the church, have been again restored by unfeigned repentance; not kicking against the pricks ; but have rejoiced, that others watched over them for their good, and are become monuments of God's mercy unto this day.

Thirdly, Such, who being departed from their first love and ancient zeal for the truth, become cold and lukewarm ; and yet are ashamed to make open apostacy, and to turn back again, so as to deny all the principles of truth, they having had already such evidence of clearness upon their ' understanding ; yet not keeping low in their own habitations, but being puffed up, and giving way to the restless imaginations of their exalted and wandering minds, fall out with their brethren ; cause divisions; begin to find fault with every thing, and to look .at others more than at themselves; with swelling words to talk of, and preach up, a higher dispensation, while they are far from living up to the life and perfection of this present ; like unto such who said, We will not have this man to rule over us : cry out of formality and apostacy, because they are not followed in all things; and if they be reproved for their unruliness, according to the good order of the Church of Christ, then they cry out, Breach of liberty , oppression^ persecution ! we will have none of your order and government ; we are taught to follow the light in our consciences, and not the orders of men. Well, of this hereafter ; but this gave the rise of this controversy : which leads me to that which I proposed in the second place.

Section III

Whether there be now to be any order or government in the Church of Christ.

In answer to this proposition, I meddle not at this time with those that deny any such thing as a Church of Christ; I have reserved their plea to another place. Neither need I to be at much pains to prove the affirmative, to wit, that there ought to be government and order in the Church of Christ unto the generality of our opposers, both papists and protestants ; who readily confess and acknowledge it, and have heretofore blamed us for want of it". Though now some of them, and that of the highest pretenders, are become so unreasonable, as to accuse us for the use of it ; improving it, so far as they can, to our disadvantage: for such is the blindness of partial envy, that whereas the supposed want of it was once reckoned heretical, now the present performance of it is counted criminal.

These, then, to whom I come to prove this thing, are such, who having cast off the yoke of the-xross of Christ in themselves, refuse all subjection or government: denying that any such thing ought to be, as disagreeing with the testimony of truth ; or those, who not being so wilful and obstinate in their minds, yet are fearful or scrupulous in the matter in respect of the dangerous consequences, they may apprehend, such a thing may draw after it.

For the clearing then as well the mistakes of the one, as answering the cavils of the other, I judge the truth of these following assertions will sufficiently prove the matter; which I shall make no great difficulty to evidence.

First, That Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, did appoint and ordain, that there should be order and government in it.

Secondly, That the apostles and primitive

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Christians, when they were filled with the Holy- Ghost, and immediately led by the Spirit of God, did practise and commend it.

Thirdly, That the same occasion and necessity now occurring, which gave them opportunity to exercise that authority, the Church of Christ hath the same power now as ever, and is led by the same spirit into the same practices.

As to the first, I know there are some, that the very name of a church, and the very words, order and government they are afraid of. Now this I suppose hath proceeded, because of the great hypocrisy, deceit and oppression, that hath been cloaked with the pretence of these things; but wfty should the Truth be neglected, because hypocrites have pretended to it? The right institution of these things, which have been appointed and ordained of God, must not, nor ought not to be despised, because corrupt men have abused and perverted them. I know not any thing that hath been more abused and perverted in the whole world, than the name of a Christian ; shall we then renounce that honourable title, because so many thousands of wicked men, yea, Antichrists, have falsely assumed it to themselves? The man of sin hath taken upon him to sit in the temple of God, a§ God 5 yet we must not therefore deny, that God is in this temple? If the synagogue of Satan assumed the name of the Church of Christ, and hath termed her oppression and violence, the power and authority thereof; therefore must not th^ Church of Christ, and its authority, be exercised, where it truly is according to his mind ? This I prefix to warn all to beware of stumbling at things

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which are innocent in themselves ; and that vtfe may labour to hold the steady, even path of truth, without running into either of the extremes. For that Jesus Christ did appoint order and government to be in the Church, is very clear from his plain words, Matt. 18. 15. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee and him alone ; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established. Ver. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church : but if he neglect to hear the church., let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Ver. 18. Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. From which Scripture it doth manifestly and evidently follow ; first, That Jesus Christ intended there should be certain order and method in his church, in the procedure towards such as transgress. Secondly, That he that refuseth to hear two, is become more guilty (as hardened) than in refusing to hear him that first reproved alone. Thirdly, That refusing to hear the judgment of the church, or whole assembly, he doth thereby exclude himself, and shutout himself from being a member; and is justly judged by his brethren as an heathen and a publican. And lastly, that the church, gathering, or assembly of God's people, has power to examine and call to account such, as appearing to be among them, or owning the same faith with them, do transgress ; and in case of their refusing to hear, or repent, to exclude them from their fellowship : and that God hath a special regard to the judgment and sense of his people thus orderly proceeding, so as to hold such bound in heaven, whom they bind on earth, and such loosed in heaven, whom they loose on earth. I am partly confident, that no rational man will deny, but that these naturally follow from the above mentioned Scripture ; and if there should be any found so unreasonable as to deny it, I could prove it by necessary and unevitable consequences; which at present, as taken it for granted, I forbear to do. If it be reckoned so great a crime to offend one of the little ones, that it were better for him, that so doth, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea; without question, to offend and gainsay the whole flock, must be more criminal, and must draw after it a far deeper judgment.

Now if there were no order nor government in the church, what should become of those that transgress ? how should they be again restored ? would not this make all reproving, all instructing, all caring for, and watching over one another, void and null? why should Christ have desired them to proceed after this method? why doth he place so villi ch weight upon the judgment of the church, as to make the refusing of hearing it, to draw so deep a censure after it ; which he will not have to follow the refusing to hear one or two apart, though the matter be one and the same ? and so, as to the substantial and intrinsic truth of the thing, there lies the same obligation upon the transgressor to hear that one, as well as all ; for that one adviseth him to that which is right and good, as * ell as the whole; and they do but homologate or confirm that which that one hath already asserted: yet Jesus Christ, who is the author of order, and not of confusion, will not have a brother cut off, or reputed a publican, for refusing to hear one or two, but for refusing to hear the church. And if it be objected, that the Church of Rome, and all other false churches, make use of this Scripture, and cover their persecution, and cruelty, and oppression by it ; and thou sayest no more than they say : I answer ; I suppose no man will be so unreasonable as to affirm, that the Church of Rome abusing this Scripture, will make it false in itself; but how we differ in our application of this Scripture, shall be spoken of hereafter. I tan not now claiming right to this power, as due to us (that is reserved for another place ;) but this, I say, is that which I now aver to be manifest from the Scripture testimony, and to be in itself an unquestionable truth, that Jesus Christ interided there should be order and government in his church; which is, the thing at present in hand to be proved : which if it be so really true (as it cannot be denied) then I hope it will also necessarily follow, that such who really and truly are the church of Christ, have a right to exercise this order and government.

Secondly, That the apostles and primitive christians did practise order and government, we need but read the history of the Acts, of which I shall mention a few pregnant and undeniable testimonies ; as we may observe in the very first

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chapter of the Acts, from verse 13. to the end ; where at the very first meeting the apostles and brethren held together after the ascension of Christ, they began orderly to appoint one to supply the place of Judas ; it may be thought this was a needless ceremony ; yet we see how the Lord countenanced it. I hope none will say, that the apostles appointing of these two men, or hinv upon whom the lot did not fall, contradicted their imvard freedom, or imposed upon it; but both agreed very well together ; the one in the will and movings of God in appointing, and the other in the same, in submitting to their appointment.