An answer to that common objection against the Quakers, that they condemn all but themselves with a loving and faithful advertisement to the nation and powers thereof.
         Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
      
       
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             An answer to that common objection against the Quakers, that they condemn all but themselves with a loving and faithful advertisement to the nation and powers thereof.
             Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
          
           8 p.
           
             Printed for Robert Wilson ...,
             [London :
             1660]
          
           
             Caption title.
             Signed, on p. 7: Isaac Penington, the younger.
             Imprint from colophon.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Society of Friends -- Controversial literature.
        
      
    
       A54023  R18266  (Wing P1151).  civilwar no An ansvver to that common objection against the Quakers, that they condemn all but themselves; with a loving and faithful advertisement to t Penington, Isaac 1660    4118 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text  has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription.  
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           AN
           ANSVVER
           To
           that
           common
           OBJECTION
           against
           the
           QUAKERS
           ,
           That
           they
           condemn
           all
           but
           Themselves
           ;
           With
           a
           Loving
           and
           Faithful
           Advertisement
           to
           the
           Nation
           and
           Powers
           thereof
           .
        
         
           
             
               OBJECTION
               .
            
             
               
                 IT
                 is
                 commonly
                 Objected
                 against
                 us
                 ,
                 That
                 we
                 condemn
                 all
                 but
                 our selves
                 ,
                 all
                 the
                 Protestant
                 Churches
                 ,
                 Martyrs
                 ,
                 and
                 Worthies
                 formerly
              
               (
               many
               of
               whom
               were
               valiant
               Champions
               against
               
                 Rome
                 ,
              
               and
               divers
               of
               them
               sealed
               their
               Testimony
               with
               their
               blood
               )
               
                 and
                 all
                 sorts
                 of
                 Christians
                 and
                 Professors
                 at
                 present
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 not
                 just
                 of
                 our
                 stamp
                 and
                 way
                 ,
                 though
                 otherwise
                 never
                 so
                 zealous
                 and
                 upright-hearted
                 towards
                 God
                 .
              
            
          
           
             
               ANSWER
               .
            
             
               The
               Protestant
               Churches
               (
               as
               they
               are
               called
               in
               way
               of
               distinction
               from
               the
               Church
               of
               
                 Rome
                 )
              
               the
               blessed
               Martyrs
               ,
               who
               suffered
               for
               the
               Testimony
               of
               a
               pure
               Conscience
               towards
               God
               ,
               and
               all
               the
               Worthies
               of
               the
               Lord
               in
               their
               several
               Generations
               ,
               who
               fought
               against
               that
               Scarlet
               Whore
               ,
               were
               accepted
               of
               God
               in
               their
               Testimony
               against
               Her
               ,
               and
               are
               not
               disowned
               by
               us
               ,
               but
               dearly
               owned
               and
               honoured
               therein
               :
               And
               for
               agreeing
               with
               them
               in
               their
               testimony
               in
               several
               things
               ,
               as
               against
               deriving
               of
               a
               Ministry
               from
               
                 Rome
              
               (
               which
               
                 Luther
              
               wrote
               against
               ,
               and
               
                 Iohn
                 Hus
              
               prophesied
               of
               another
               Ministry
               to
               arise
               )
               and
               against
               maintaining
               the
               Gospel
               Ministry
               by
               Tythes
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               way
               of
               forced
               Maintenance
               ,
               which
               (
               till
               Popery
               grew
               very
               strong
               and
               powerful
               )
               was
               known
               to
               have
               been
               free
               ,
               and
               against
               swearing
               ,
               
                 &c.
                 
                 (
                 Walter
                 Brute
              
               said
               ,
               
                 the
                 perfection
                 of
                 Christian
                 men
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 swear
                 at
                 all
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 are
                 so
                 commanded
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 whose
                 commandment
                 must
                 in
                 no
                 case
                 be
                 broken
                 ,
                 although
                 that
                 the
                 City
                 of
              
               Rome
               
                 is
                 contrary
                 to
                 this
                 Doctrine
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 Fox
              
               his
               Acts
               and
               Monuments
               ,
               
                 Page
              
               460
               ,
               461.
               
               And
               see
               also
               
               
                 Page
              
               495.
               
               
                 Thorp's
              
               testimony
               both
               about
               Tythes
               and
               Swearing
               .
               )
               For
               these
               very
               things
               and
               such
               like
               (
               as
               for
               following
               of
               Christ
               ,
               in
               not
               receiving
               or
               giving
               that
               honour
               which
               is
               out
               of
               the
               faith
               ,
               and
               for
               testifying
               against
               the
               hypocrisies
               and
               corruptions
               of
               our
               age
               )
               do
               we
               suffer
               in
               this
               our
               day
               ,
               even
               as
               they
               did
               in
               their
               day
               ,
               from
               the
               same
               Spirit
               that
               persecuted
               them
               ;
               which
               though
               it
               hath
               much
               changed
               its
               form
               and
               way
               of
               appearance
               ,
               yet
               still
               retaineth
               the
               same
               nature
               .
            
             
               But
               all
               things
               were
               not
               discovered
               at
               once
               .
               The
               times
               were
               then
               dark
               ,
               and
               the
               light
               small
               :
               yet
               they
               being
               faithfull
               according
               to
               what
               was
               discovered
               ,
               were
               pretious
               in
               the
               Lords
               eyes
               :
               and
               what
               through
               ignorance
               they
               erred
               in
               ,
               the
               Lord
               winked
               at
               and
               overlooked
               ,
               being
               pleased
               with
               that
               sincerity
               and
               simplicity
               of
               heart
               ,
               which
               he
               had
               stirred
               up
               in
               them
               towards
               himself
               .
               But
               if
               they
               were
               now
               alive
               in
               these
               our
               daies
               ,
               and
               should
               depart
               from
               the
               sincerity
               which
               was
               then
               in
               them
               ,
               and
               oppose
               the
               Light
               of
               this
               age
               ;
               they
               would
               not
               then
               be
               accepted
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               but
               their
               former
               sincerity
               would
               be
               forgotten
               .
               For
               the
               Light
               shineth
               more
               and
               more
               towards
               the
               perfect
               day
               :
               and
               it
               is
               not
               the
               owning
               of
               the
               Light
               as
               it
               shone
               in
               the
               foregoing
               ages
               ,
               which
               will
               now
               commend
               any
               man
               to
               God
               ,
               but
               the
               knowing
               and
               subjecting
               to
               the
               Light
               of
               the
               present
               age
               .
               Even
               as
               in
               these
               our
               dayes
               ,
               there
               was
               (
               some
               years
               ago
               )
               an
               honest
               zeal
               and
               true
               simplicity
               stirring
               in
               the
               
                 Puritans
              
               (
               especially
               among
               the
               Non-conformists
               of
               them
               )
               which
               was
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               and
               was
               very
               dear
               to
               him
               :
               And
               had
               the
               generations
               of
               this
               age
               abode
               there
               ,
               they
               would
               have
               been
               able
               to
               have
               followed
               the
               Lord
               in
               every
               further
               step
               and
               leading
               of
               his
               Spirit
               .
               But
               departing
               from
               that
               into
               some
               form
               or
               other
               ,
               the
               true
               simplicity
               withered
               ,
               and
               another
               thing
               began
               to
               live
               in
               them
               ;
               and
               so
               they
               setled
               upon
               their
               lees
               ,
               magnifying
               the
               form
               they
               had
               chose
               to
               themselves
               ,
               till
               at
               length
               their
               hearts
               became
               hardned
               from
               the
               pure
               fear
               ,
               even
               to
               the
               contracting
               of
               a
               spirit
               of
               prophaneness
               ,
               insomuch
               as
               they
               could
               mock
               at
               the
               next
               remove
               and
               discovery
               of
               the
               Spirit
               as
               some
               new
               Light
               :
               &
               so
               by
               degrees
               have
               grown
               persecutors
               of
               that
               Spirit
               in
               its
               out-goings
               in
               the
               people
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               which
               they
               themselves
               had
               once
               some
               tast
               of
               ,
               while
               they
               were
               reproached
               for
               Puritans
               .
               And
               the
               God
               of
               this
               world
               ,
               who
               at
               first
               tempted
               them
               aside
               into
               the
               form
               ,
               hath
               at
               length
               prevailed
               so
               far
               to
               blind
               them
               therewith
               ,
               that
               they
               can
               neither
               see
               what
               spirit
               they
               themselves
               are
               of
               ,
               nor
               what
               spirit
               it
               is
               they
               persecute
               .
            
             
               Let
               therefore
               people
               consider
               the
               truth
               of
               the
               thing
               ,
               as
               it
               is
               before
               the
               Lord
               :
               We
               do
               not
               cast
               dirt
               upon
               any
               ,
               in
               whom
               the
               truth
               of
               God
               hath
               stirred
               and
               appeared
               in
               any
               measure
               in
               former
               ages
               ,
               or
               in
               this
               our
               
               age
               :
               but
               this
               we
               testifie
               against
               ,
               to
               wit
               ,
               the
               setting
               up
               of
               any
               form
               without
               the
               life
               and
               power
               :
               for
               it
               is
               the
               erring
               spirit
               which
               still
               cryeth
               up
               the
               form
               ,
               to
               keep
               down
               the
               power
               by
               the
               form
               ,
               and
               so
               by
               the
               help
               of
               it
               to
               bewitch
               from
               the
               Spirit
               ,
               wherein
               is
               the
               life
               ,
               and
               not
               in
               the
               form
               .
               This
               was
               the
               painted
               Jezabel
               of
               the
               Apostles
               age
               ,
               false
               teachers
               finely
               dressed
               up
               themselves
               with
               the
               form
               of
               godliness
               ,
               and
               then
               under
               this
               cover
               they
               could
               deny
               the
               power
               ,
               and
               make
               head
               against
               it
               ,
               2
               
                 Tim.
              
               3.
               5.
               how
               easie
               is
               it
               for
               them
               who
               appear
               in
               the
               form
               of
               the
               doctrines
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               in
               the
               form
               of
               zeal
               ,
               in
               the
               form
               of
               holiness
               ,
               to
               pass
               in
               a
               Nation
               for
               the
               true
               Church
               ,
               and
               then
               to
               asperse
               them
               for
               Heretickes
               ,
               who
               (
               appearing
               in
               the
               power
               )
               cannot
               but
               deny
               that
               form
               which
               is
               without
               the
               power
               .
               This
               is
               the
               great
               Witch
               of
               this
               age
               (
               even
               that
               spirit
               of
               zeal
               and
               devotion
               ,
               which
               is
               best
               clothed
               and
               decked
               with
               the
               form
               without
               the
               power
               )
               which
               though
               men
               (
               who
               judge
               of
               the
               things
               of
               God
               after
               the
               flesh
               )
               justifie
               ,
               admire
               ,
               and
               much
               contend
               for
               in
               her
               several
               shapes
               and
               dresses
               (
               some
               being
               for
               one
               ,
               some
               for
               another
               )
               yet
               the
               Lord
               is
               searching
               after
               her
               ,
               and
               will
               find
               her
               out
               with
               his
               eternal
               flames
               ,
               which
               will
               make
               her
               manifest
               ,
               and
               all
               her
               lovers
               shall
               dread
               her
               burning
               and
               bed
               of
               torment
               .
               Now
               as
               all
               along
               the
               Apostacy
               ,
               this
               bewitching
               spirit
               (
               this
               spirit
               which
               bewitcheth
               from
               the
               power
               )
               hath
               crept
               up
               under
               a
               form
               of
               Church
               worship
               and
               holiness
               :
               so
               the
               other
               Spirit
               (
               the
               pure
               Spirit
               of
               life
               ,
               the
               Spirit
               of
               true
               zeal
               ,
               and
               fear
               of
               the
               Lord
               )
               hath
               still
               appeared
               more
               and
               more
               out
               of
               the
               forms
               .
               Who
               were
               the
               best
               Preachers
               ,
               and
               most
               eminent
               Christians
               in
               the
               Puritan
               daies
               ?
               Were
               they
               not
               those
               who
               least
               minded
               the
               form
               then
               ,
               nay
               indeed
               ,
               who
               were
               most
               against
               the
               form
               ,
               and
               persecuted
               for
               their
               conscientious
               stumbling
               at
               it
               ?
               &
               who
               were
               the
               greatest
               persecutors
               then
               ,
               but
               they
               who
               were
               most
               zealous
               for
               the
               form
               ,
               both
               of
               the
               government
               and
               worship
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               
                 England
                 ?
              
               And
               where
               is
               the
               persecuting
               spirit
               next
               to
               be
               looked
               for
               ,
               but
               in
               the
               forms
               which
               should
               next
               appear
               ?
               And
               where
               likewise
               is
               the
               appearance
               of
               the
               true
               spirit
               next
               to
               be
               looked
               for
               ,
               but
               in
               those
               whom
               the
               Lord
               should
               raise
               up
               to
               testifie
               against
               those
               forms
               ,
               and
               to
               be
               the
               succeeding
               sufferers
               for
               their
               testimony
               ,
               as
               the
               Puritans
               had
               been
               foregoing
               sufferers
               for
               their
               testimony
               ?
            
             
               Yet
               if
               there
               be
               any
               persons
               left
               ,
               among
               any
               of
               the
               forms
               which
               have
               appeared
               (
               whether
               former
               or
               later
               )
               that
               have
               not
               lost
               their
               sincerity
               and
               true
               zeal
               towards
               God
               ,
               them
               we
               own
               and
               have
               unity
               with
               ,
               so
               far
               as
               they
               keep
               ,
               or
               rather
               are
               kept
               thereto
               .
               If
               there
               be
               any
               among
               the
               Episcopal
               sort
               ,
               that
               in
               truth
               of
               heart
               desire
               to
               fear
               the
               Lord
               ,
               and
               look
               upon
               the
               Common-Prayer-Book
               as
               an
               acceptable
               
               way
               of
               worshipping
               him
               ;
               we
               pitty
               their
               blindness
               ,
               yet
               are
               tender
               towards
               them
               ,
               and
               would
               not
               have
               the
               simplicity
               persecuted
               in
               them
               because
               of
               this
               ,
               but
               rather
               cherished
               .
               If
               there
               be
               any
               among
               the
               Presbyterians
               ,
               Independents
               ,
               Anabaptists
               ,
               Seekers
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               sort
               ,
               that
               in
               truth
               of
               heart
               wait
               upon
               the
               Lord
               in
               those
               wayes
               ,
               and
               do
               not
               find
               a
               deadness
               overgrown
               them
               ,
               but
               a
               pure
               ,
               fresh
               ,
               lively
               zeal
               towards
               God
               ,
               with
               an
               unfeigned
               love
               to
               his
               people
               ,
               our
               hearts
               are
               one
               with
               this
               ;
               and
               we
               cannot
               fight
               against
               this
               good
               thing
               in
               any
               of
               them
               ,
               though
               in
               love
               to
               them
               we
               testifie
               ,
               that
               their
               form
               and
               way
               of
               worship
               is
               their
               present
               loss
               and
               hinderance
               yet
               we
               doubt
               not
               ,
               but
               that
               the
               Lord
               (
               in
               his
               time
               )
               will
               make
               manifest
               to
               such
               the
               Light
               of
               this
               age
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               very
               thing
               the
               People
               of
               God
               in
               many
               fore-going
               ages
               have
               been
               praying
               for
               .
               But
               this
               is
               our
               lamentation
               ,
               that
               forms
               and
               wayes
               of
               worship
               abound
               ,
               but
               the
               Puritan-Principle
               ,
               the
               Puritanspirit
               is
               lost
               and
               drowned
               in
               them
               all
               ;
               and
               that
               men
               are
               hardened
               against
               our
               testimony
               ,
               not
               from
               the
               remainders
               of
               the
               simplicity
               in
               them
               ,
               but
               because
               they
               are
               erred
               from
               the
               simplicity
               ,
               and
               fallen
               in
               league
               with
               another
               spirit
               ,
               which
               hath
               lain
               lurking
               in
               forms
               of
               knowledge
               and
               worship
               (
               to
               tempt
               aside
               from
               the
               simplicity
               ,
               and
               to
               hide
               the
               sight
               of
               the
               life
               and
               power
               from
               the
               panting
               soul
               )
               all
               this
               night
               of
               the
               Apostacy
               .
            
             
               Now
               mark
               how
               easie
               and
               natural
               it
               is
               to
               that
               spirit
               to
               enter
               into
               a
               form
               ,
               to
               cry
               up
               a
               form
               ,
               to
               set
               up
               a
               form
               in
               a
               Nation
               ,
               City
               ,
               or
               Country
               ,
               (
               doubtless
               it
               had
               been
               done
               in
               this
               Nation
               long
               ago
               ,
               had
               not
               the
               mighty
               hand
               of
               the
               Lord
               withstood
               it
               .
               )
               When
               the
               evil
               and
               unclean
               spirit
               is
               detected
               and
               driven
               out
               of
               one
               form
               ,
               if
               it
               doth
               not
               get
               another
               suddenly
               to
               appear
               in
               and
               tempt
               with
               ,
               it
               must
               needs
               lose
               many
               of
               its
               Subjects
               .
               The
               strumpet
               or
               false
               Church
               is
               forced
               (
               as
               God
               discovers
               her
               nakedness
               and
               lewdness
               )
               to
               change
               her
               dresses
               and
               appearances
               ,
               to
               new-trick
               and
               adorn
               her
               bed
               :
               and
               then
               ,
               as
               if
               she
               also
               were
               changed
               ,
               and
               were
               now
               no
               longer
               the
               same
               ,
               she
               comes
               forth
               again
               with
               boldness
               ,
               and
               tempteth
               the
               young
               man
               again
               to
               come
               in
               unto
               her
               ,
               
                 Prov.
              
               7.
               16.
               
               And
               thus
               
                 she
                 casteth
                 down
                 many
                 wounded
                 ,
                 yea
                 many
                 strong
                 men
                 have
                 been
                 slain
                 by
                 her
                 ,
              
               vers.
               26.
               who
               otherwise
               would
               have
               
                 pondered
                 the
                 path
                 of
                 life
                 ,
              
               chap.
               5.
               6.
               had
               they
               not
               been
               ensnared
               by
               her
               flatteries
               ,
               who
               
                 forsaketh
                 the
                 guide
                 of
                 her
                 youth
                 ,
                 and
                 forgetteth
                 the
                 Covenant
                 of
                 her
                 God
                 ,
              
               Chap.
               2.
               17.
               
               There
               is
               no
               more
               certain
               and
               ready
               way
               to
               suppress
               truth
               ,
               and
               to
               betray
               the
               honesty
               which
               is
               singly
               searching
               after
               it
               ,
               than
               to
               present
               a
               form
               of
               godliness
               or
               worship
               ,
               as
               the
               proper
               way
               of
               meeting
               with
               it
               :
               for
               hereby
               the
               soul
               is
               
               lulled
               asleep
               with
               a
               false
               hope
               ,
               until
               the
               freshness
               of
               its
               desire
               begins
               to
               die
               ,
               and
               its
               life
               to
               wither
               ;
               &
               then
               the
               fleshly
               part
               easily
               grows
               into
               unity
               with
               ,
               and
               zeal
               for
               that
               form
               wch
               indeed
               is
               of
               the
               flesh
               ,
               though
               it
               appeared
               and
               tempted
               as
               if
               it
               had
               been
               otherwise
               .
               And
               how
               many
               have
               gone
               a
               great
               way
               towards
               Hell
               ,
               &
               have
               bin
               deeply
               intangled
               and
               distressed
               in
               the
               Chambers
               of
               death
               ,
               by
               entring
               into
               this
               strumpets
               Church
               or
               house
               which
               they
               then
               (
               through
               the
               subtilty
               of
               her
               deceit
               )
               took
               for
               the
               house
               or
               Church
               of
               God
               ?
               
                 Pro.
              
               7.
               27.
               
               Consider
               the
               thing
               a
               little
               seriously
               :
               When
               the
               evil
               spirit
               is
               driven
               out
               of
               his
               strong
               hold
               of
               grosse
               Popery
               ,
               whither
               should
               he
               run
               but
               into
               Episcopacy
               ?
               When
               he
               is
               driven
               out
               of
               Episcopacy
               ,
               whither
               should
               he
               run
               but
               into
               Presbytery
               ?
               When
               he
               is
               driven
               out
               of
               Presbytery
               ,
               whither
               should
               he
               run
               but
               into
               Independency
               ?
               When
               he
               is
               driven
               but
               of
               Independency
               ,
               whither
               should
               he
               run
               but
               into
               Anabaptism
               ?
               When
               he
               is
               driven
               out
               of
               Anabaptism
               ,
               whither
               should
               he
               run
               but
               into
               a
               way
               of
               Seeking
               ?
               And
               what
               is
               his
               end
               of
               running
               into
               Episcopacy
               ,
               but
               to
               save
               alive
               that
               spirit
               which
               was
               hunted
               out
               of
               Popery
               (
               and
               could
               abide
               no
               longer
               there
               )
               and
               so
               the
               better
               (
               and
               the
               safer
               from
               being
               discerned
               )
               to
               reproach
               and
               persecute
               the
               other
               spirit
               (
               where
               ever
               it
               appeared
               )
               under
               nick-names
               of
               Puritans
               ,
               Separatists
               ,
               Brownists
               ,
               Round-heads
               ,
               
                 &c.
                 
              
               And
               what
               is
               his
               end
               afterwards
               of
               running
               into
               Presbytery
               ,
               but
               to
               save
               that
               alive
               which
               was
               hunted
               out
               of
               Episcopacy
               ,
               and
               to
               persecute
               the
               former
               truly
               zealous
               Spirit
               (
               where
               it
               should
               further
               appear
               afterwards
               )
               by
               means
               of
               that
               form
               ?
               Thus
               the
               forms
               and
               appearances
               of
               things
               change
               ,
               but
               the
               fight
               is
               still
               the
               same
               ,
               the
               evil
               spirit
               still
               getting
               uppermost
               under
               a
               form
               of
               godliness
               ,
               and
               from
               thence
               shooting
               forth
               its
               arrowes
               at
               those
               that
               seek
               after
               purity
               of
               heart
               ,
               and
               cannot
               but
               testifie
               against
               those
               forms
               where
               the
               impure
               one
               lodgeth
               .
            
             
               This
               then
               is
               the
               sum
               of
               our
               answer
               in
               this
               respect
               :
               we
               are
               not
               against
               the
               true
               life
               and
               power
               of
               godliness
               ;
               wherever
               it
               hath
               appeared
               ,
               or
               yet
               appears
               under
               the
               vail
               of
               any
               form
               whatsoever
               .
               Nay
               all
               persons
               who
               singly
               wait
               upon
               the
               Lord
               ,
               in
               the
               simplicity
               and
               sincerity
               of
               their
               hearts
               ,
               whether
               under
               any
               form
               ,
               or
               out
               of
               forms
               (
               that
               matters
               little
               to
               us
               )
               are
               very
               dear
               unto
               us
               in
               the
               Lord
               .
               But
               we
               are
               against
               all
               forms
               ,
               Images
               ,
               imitations
               ,
               and
               appearances
               ,
               which
               betray
               the
               simplicity
               and
               sincerity
               of
               the
               heart
               ,
               keep
               the
               life
               in
               bondage
               ,
               and
               endanger
               the
               loss
               of
               the
               soul
               .
               And
               too
               many
               such
               now
               there
               are
               ,
               which
               hold
               the
               immortal
               seed
               of
               life
               in
               captivity
               under
               death
               ,
               over
               which
               we
               cannot
               but
               mourn
               ,
               and
               wait
               for
               its
               breaking
               off
               the
               chains
               ,
               and
               its
               rising
               out
               of
               all
               its
               graves
               into
               its
               own
               pure
               life
               ,
               power
               ,
               and
               fulness
               of
               liberty
               in
               the
               Lord
               .
            
          
        
         
         
           
             A
             loving
             &
             faithful
             Advertisement
             to
             the
             Nation
             and
             Powers
             thereof
             .
          
           
             O
             
               King
               ,
            
             O
             
               Parliament
               ,
            
             O
             
               Nation
            
             of
             
               England
            
             consider
             ,
             before
             the
             Decree
             come
             forth
             ,
             before
             the
             ruine
             of
             the
             Nation
             (
             with
             the
             Powers
             thereof
             )
             be
             irrevocably
             sealed
             :
             for
             the
             Lord
             hath
             a
             controversie
             with
             this
             Nation
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             plead
             with
             thee
             O
             
               England
               ,
            
             who
             desirest
             not
             ,
             nor
             canst
             not
             bear
             a
             Government
             in
             Righteousness
             ,
             for
             the
             suppressing
             of
             the
             evil
             ,
             and
             encouragement
             of
             the
             good
             ,
             but
             the
             good
             is
             still
             suppressed
             in
             thee
             ,
             and
             cannot
             grow
             as
             it
             ought
             ,
             because
             of
             the
             lust
             of
             the
             Nation
             against
             the
             purity
             of
             the
             life
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             because
             of
             the
             corrupt
             wils
             ,
             ends
             ,
             and
             interests
             of
             those
             who
             still
             are
             in
             Power
             .
          
           
             After
             King
             
               Henry
            
             the
             8th
             .
             had
             renounced
             and
             shaken
             off
             in
             part
             ,
             the
             
               Popes
            
             Authority
             in
             this
             Nation
             ,
             he
             did
             not
             let
             it
             fall
             to
             the
             ground
             as
             an
             evil
             thing
             ,
             but
             took
             upon
             himself
             the
             exercise
             of
             it
             ,
             assuming
             to
             himself
             the
             Headship
             and
             Government
             under
             Christ
             in
             all
             Ecclesiastical
             causes
             ,
             and
             matters
             in
             his
             Dominions
             .
             The
             same
             course
             his
             Successors
             followed
             ,
             keeping
             the
             very
             Title
             which
             the
             
               Pope
            
             gave
             to
             him
             of
             Defender
             of
             the
             Faith
             .
             And
             so
             Parliaments
             in
             their
             dayes
             (
             as
             if
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             were
             a
             right
             and
             priviledge
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             and
             not
             peculiar
             to
             Christ
             )
             have
             taken
             upon
             them
             to
             make
             laws
             and
             orders
             ,
             about
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             and
             people
             of
             God
             in
             spiritual
             things
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             about
             matters
             of
             State
             .
          
           
             Now
             it
             would
             fairly
             and
             honestly
             (
             with
             the
             spirit
             of
             meekness
             and
             in
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             )
             be
             enquired
             into
             ,
             
               whether
               the
               Popes
               Power
               and
               Authority
               in
               this
               Nation
               ,
               was
               a
               true
               Church-Power
               and
               Authority
               ?
            
             that
             is
             ,
             whether
             it
             was
             such
             a
             Church-Power
             and
             Authority
             as
             Christ
             had
             instituted
             ,
             or
             of
             another
             nature
             ,
             even
             of
             a
             nature
             contrary
             to
             Christ
             ,
             and
             to
             his
             inward
             Government
             in
             the
             spirits
             of
             his
             people
             ?
             For
             if
             the
             
               Popes
            
             power
             and
             Authority
             was
             a
             true
             Church
             power
             and
             Authority
             ,
             then
             it
             may
             be
             lawful
             in
             another
             hand
             ,
             though
             not
             in
             the
             
               Popes
               :
            
             but
             if
             it
             was
             an
             usurped
             kind
             of
             Authority
             and
             Government
             in
             it self
             ,
             then
             it
             cannot
             be
             lawful
             in
             it self
             ,
             nor
             serviceable
             to
             Christ
             in
             any
             other
             hand
             ,
             but
             will
             prove
             an
             instrument
             of
             War
             against
             him
             ,
             in
             whose
             hands
             soever
             it
             be
             put
             .
             And
             let
             it
             be
             singly
             considered
             ,
             whether
             the
             Church-power
             in
             this
             Nation
             ,
             hath
             not
             been
             a
             curb
             to
             the
             rising
             of
             the
             purity
             of
             Religion
             ,
             even
             a
             sharp
             check
             upon
             the
             tender
             conscience
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             the
             loose
             (
             yea
             prophane
             spirit
             )
             would
             take
             pleasure
             in
             and
             contend
             for
             ?
          
           
             The
             true
             Church-power
             is
             onely
             the
             power
             of
             the
             spirit
             of
             Christ
             .
             That
             converts
             men
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             that
             alone
             is
             able
             to
             govern
             them
             (
             in
             
             the
             affairs
             of
             his
             kingdom
             ;
             being
             converted
             .
             Man
             medling
             with
             Religion
             and
             Church-Government
             in
             his
             wisdom
             ,
             is
             but
             a
             beast
             :
             and
             must
             govern
             like
             a
             beast
             ;
             namely
             ,
             with
             force
             and
             cruelty
             over
             the
             spirit
             and
             conscience
             which
             is
             tender
             towards
             God
             .
             As
             the
             Lord
             God
             of
             heaven
             and
             earth
             ,
             never
             gave
             the
             converting
             power
             to
             any
             ,
             so
             neither
             did
             he
             ever
             give
             this
             governing
             power
             to
             any
             ,
             further
             than
             as
             they
             were
             endued
             with
             his
             spirit
             :
             for
             that
             is
             the
             Scepter
             of
             his
             Church
             and
             Kingdom
             ,
             which
             is
             a
             Scepter
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             which
             leads
             on
             in
             the
             love
             and
             gentleness
             of
             the
             Spirit
             that
             which
             is
             to
             be
             dealt
             gently
             with
             ,
             and
             spiritually
             cuts
             off
             by
             its
             severity
             and
             sharpness
             that
             which
             is
             to
             be
             cut
             off
             .
             And
             here
             are
             Christs
             limits
             of
             Government
             which
             that
             spirit
             and
             wisdom
             which
             exceeds
             ,
             errs
             and
             does
             hurt
             both
             to
             it self
             and
             others
             .
          
           
             Now
             if
             in
             the
             mist
             of
             darkness
             ,
             wch
             hath
             long
             over-spread
             the
             earth
             ,
             (
             for
             though
             there
             brake
             out
             a
             little
             Light
             to
             discover
             the
             thick
             blackness
             of
             Popery
             ,
             and
             to
             cause
             some
             Reformation
             out
             of
             it
             ,
             yet
             the
             mist
             was
             not
             expelled
             )
             this
             Nation
             hath
             erred
             ,
             her
             Princes
             ,
             her
             teachers
             ,
             her
             Parliaments
             ,
             and
             all
             sorts
             of
             persons
             ,
             in
             laying
             hold
             on
             and
             establishing
             a
             wrong
             Church-power
             ,
             which
             power
             hath
             had
             a
             bad
             effect
             ,
             namely
             ,
             in
             suppressing
             the
             progress
             of
             the
             reforming
             spirit
             ,
             and
             raising
             up
             a
             formal
             spirit
             (
             if
             not
             a
             spirit
             of
             looseness
             and
             prophaness
             )
             which
             ran
             backwards
             towards
             Popery
             ,
             and
             not
             forwards
             from
             it
             :
             yet
             let
             them
             not
             love
             error
             ,
             and
             so
             strive
             against
             the
             light
             which
             shineth
             forth
             to
             discover
             the
             error
             to
             them
             .
             But
             let
             them
             humble
             themselves
             before
             Christ
             the
             Lord
             of
             all
             ,
             and
             restore
             unto
             him
             that
             which
             is
             his
             due
             ,
             least
             they
             provoke
             him
             to
             wrath
             ,
             and
             cause
             him
             to
             take
             from
             them
             what
             they
             look
             upon
             as
             their
             due
             :
             For
             is
             it
             not
             just
             with
             Christ
             to
             take
             that
             power
             from
             men
             ,
             which
             they
             (
             so
             long
             as
             they
             have
             it
             )
             will
             not
             forbear
             mannaging
             and
             making
             use
             of
             to
             keep
             him
             from
             his
             power
             ?
             Consider
             these
             things
             ,
             O
             
               England
               ,
            
             for
             they
             belong
             to
             thy
             peace
             ,
             and
             toward
             the
             mitigation
             of
             thy
             sorrow
             and
             misery
             in
             the
             day
             of
             thy
             calamity
             .
          
           
             
               This
               is
               from
               one
               who
               hath
               mourned
               over
               thee
               ,
               while
               thou
               hast
               been
               rejoycing
               .
               
                 Isaac
                 Penington
              
               the
               younger
               .
            
          
           
             
               O
               that
               thou
               couldst
               know
               ,
               at
               least
               in
               this
               last
               hour
               of
               thy
               day
               ,
               how
               to
               make
               thy
               peace
               with
               the
               Lord
               ,
               and
               not
               begin
               that
               controversie
               a
               fresh
               with
               him
               ,
               which
               he
               hath
               already
               so
               much
               shattered
               and
               broken
               thee
               about
               ,
               that
               the
               dregs
               of
               the
               cup
               (
               whereof
               thou
               hast
               already
               so
               largly
               drunk
               )
               might
               pass
               from
               thee
               .
            
          
        
         
         
           
             An
             Explanatory
             POST-SCRIPT
             .
          
           
             WE
             read
             of
             the
             getting
             up
             of
             another
             Power
             than
             Christs
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             after
             the
             dayes
             of
             the
             Apostles
             .
             
               1
               Thes.
               2.
               4.
               Rev.
               13.
               2.
            
             which
             Power
             was
             to
             last
             
               42.
               
            
             Months
             ,
             even
             all
             the
             time
             of
             Anti-Christs
             Reign
             ;
             by
             which
             Power
             the
             Beast
             should
             make
             war
             with
             ,
             and
             overcome
             the
             Saints
             in
             all
             Kindreds
             ,
             Tongues
             ,
             and
             Nations
             ,
             
               vers.
               5
               ,
               6
               ,
               7.
               
            
             And
             all
             this
             wickedness
             and
             persecution
             of
             the
             Saints
             should
             be
             committed
             ,
             under
             a
             pretence
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             as
             if
             it
             were
             for
             Christ
             and
             the
             well-government
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             from
             a
             true
             and
             rightly-derived
             ,
             and
             well-ballanced
             Power
             ,
             
               1
               Thes.
               2.
               8.
               9.
               
            
             Now
             this
             Power
             will
             last
             in
             one
             Form
             or
             other
             ,
             even
             till
             the
             very
             coming
             of
             Christ
             :
             and
             then
             shall
             that
             wicked
             Spirit
             (
             in
             all
             his
             workings
             ,
             in
             all
             his
             various
             appearings
             and
             transformings
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             still
             were
             for
             God
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             right
             and
             orderly
             Government
             of
             his
             Church
             and
             Temple
             )
             be
             discovered
             ,
             by
             degrees
             consumed
             ,
             and
             at
             last
             destroyed
             ,
             
               vers.
               8.
               
            
             And
             then
             the
             Kings
             or
             Powers
             of
             the
             earth
             ,
             which
             give
             their
             power
             and
             strength
             to
             the
             Beast
             (
             helping
             him
             to
             cause
             men
             to
             worship
             ,
             
               Rev.
               13.
               15
               ,
               16.
               )
            
             making
             war
             with
             the
             Lamb
             and
             his
             suffering
             Saints
             by
             their
             Laws
             ,
             whips
             ,
             prisons
             ,
             fines
             ,
             &c.
             shall
             be
             overcome
             by
             him
             ,
             who
             fighteth
             against
             them
             with
             
               the
               spirit
               of
               his
               mouth
               ,
            
             and
             by
             his
             
               truth
               ,
               meekness
               ,
               and
               righteousness
               ,
            
             which
             shines
             in
             the
             hearts
             and
             conversations
             of
             his
             
               called
               ,
               faithful
               and
               chosen
               ,
            
             Rev.
             
               17.
               13
               ,
               14.
               
            
             Psal.
             
               45.
               4
               ,
               5.
               
            
          
           
             The
             power
             of
             Christ
             cannot
             hurt
             any
             of
             his
             Lambs
             ,
             (
             it
             never
             forced
             the
             weak
             ones
             ,
             the
             tender
             conscienced
             ,
             but
             he
             carries
             the
             Lambs
             in
             his
             bosome
             ,
             and
             gently
             leads
             those
             that
             are
             with
             young
             ,
             
               Isa.
               40.
               11.
               )
            
             He
             had
             rather
             have
             many
             Hypocrites
             spared
             ,
             than
             one
             Ear
             of
             Wheat
             plucked
             up
             ,
             
               Mat.
               13.
               29.
               
            
             That
             Power
             therefore
             in
             the
             Church
             which
             spares
             the
             Hypocrites
             (
             who
             can
             easily
             comply
             with
             an
             outward
             conformity
             in
             Worship
             ,
             without
             feeling
             an
             inward
             life
             or
             vertue
             )
             but
             lights
             heavy
             on
             that
             which
             is
             tender
             and
             shie
             in
             matters
             of
             Worship
             ,
             (
             knowing
             that
             it
             must
             give
             an
             account
             thereof
             to
             Christ
             )
             that
             is
             not
             the
             true
             Church-Power
             ,
             but
             at
             best
             but
             a
             counterfeit
             of
             the
             true
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           for
           
             Robert
             Wilson
             ,
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           at
           his
           Shop
           at
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           
             Black-spread
             Eagle
          
           and
           
             Wind-Mill
          
           in
           
             Martins
             Le
             Grand
             ,
          
           1660.