AN Expostulation WITH THE BISHOPS IN ENGLAND, Concerning their Jurisdiction over the People of God, called QUAKERS; with a few wholesome words of Exhortation and Advice tending to unite Them and Us in one true Spiritual Worship. FRiends, Consider that many years are passed, wherein God's hand hath eminently appeared in divers overturns, since the former Bishops were taken away, or did cease to exercise that office in their respective Dioceses; whether because they were discountenanced by authority, or for want of their Revenues, or for want of love & faith in Christ (whom they said called them to watch over, and feed his Lambs) we shall not now determine; Act. 20.28. Witness also the Ecclesiastical History of the Church for the first 300 years. though we are persuaded that the Office of a Bishop or Overseer, that is made 〈◊〉 by the Holy Ghost, is to watch over the Flock of Christ and ●eed them, as well (if not more chief) in the most perilous times of Persecution, as in the times of greatest Prosperity: For the Over, seers that were ordained by the Holy Ghost in the Primitive times did watch over their Flocks, when they had neither large Revenues, nor temporal Princes to uphold them, but were under most grievous Persecution: But when men in Authority began to dislike your Way, and the temporal Power and large Revenues which were annexed to your Offices w●re taken away, we know not one of the Bishops that di● stand in the Power of God, willingly and of a ready mind, to watch over his See; but We the poor Flock, were left to wander or become a prey to such as God did never send or ordain to be his Ministers; who whilst they were countenanced by Authority, endeavoured with force and cruelty to rule over us, and did feed themselves with the Fat, and themselves with the Fleece, but did not feed us the poor scattered Sheep, but with their covetousness and cruelty, alienated our minds from them, whilst in sincerity we did seek the Lord God; And when he saw that we were desolate and forsaken, and none sought after us, than did he remember the Promise that he had made of old, Read Ezek. 34. declared by the mouth of his holy Prophet Ezekiel, and did both seek and search us out from wand'ring upon the barren Mountains, and from amongst the briers and thorns of the wilderness, which did tear the wool from off us, and the Lord himself did become unto us a Shepherd, and hath gathered us into his Fold, where our souls find rest; and he feedeth us in fresh pastures, so that we have no cause at all to turn aside from following of him, for we are in truth the Sheep of his hands, not at all gathered by your labours, nor by the Priests whom ye have ordained and sent forth; neither hath any one of your Curates ever healed our wounds, nor strengthened us when we were weak and diseased; therefore in Justice and Righteousness you cannot claim any Spiritual Jurisdiction over us, nor at all blame us from separating from you, seeing you were first separate for us; but if you have the mind of Christ, you will rejoice that we meet together in his Name, Mark. 9.38. and obey his Light in our Consciences, though we follow not you. But if you object and say, you have Spiritual Jurisdiction over us, and may justly blame us for separating from you, because that many of us when we were Infants, were Baptised into your Church, and did enter into Covenant to continue in the same, etc. We answer, That then we were not at all capable to know or understand the doctrine of your Church, and much less of true Faith and Baptism, and therefore we could not then enter into any such Covenant as you speak of; but if you say, that we did it by our Sureties, who did promise and vow in our names: We answer, That to no such thing were we then capable of consenting, therefore you must wholly look to the Sureties which your forefathers took; and if they caused them to promise and vow that which they are in no wise able to perform, you may do well to take heed of doing the like to others: And now that we are come to years of discretion, till we can see your Church in the Life and Power of God, and your Doctrine in all things according to Godliness, we cannot for Conscience sake join with you. Therefore (Friends) in all your Visitations, Mind the Apostles example, who went forth only to visit those to whom they had preached the Gospel, that did believe, and were gathered from the Jews Synagogues and Heathens Temples; Acts 16.36. and do not you stretch yourselves beyond your line, nor ambitiously seek to be Lords over U S, whom ye have not convinced, nor laboured at all amongst us; for what have you to do to judge them that are without? Therefore take heed, 1 Cor. 5.12. lest the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls (who doubtless hath Sheep which are not of your Folds) do judge you as bold Intruders that would Lord over those of his Heritage, John 10.16. which he never committed to your charge. Therefore receive this advice from Us, Job 31.21, 22. who in humility do respect the Office of a Bishop, and can give double honour to those Overseers that rule well, Prov. 28.21. though we cannot give flattering Titles, nor respect the person of any man; for in so doing, our Maker would soon take us away. First, Come ye to the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightened your Consciences, that while you seek to take the motes out of your brethren's eyes, Luke 22.25, 26, 27. you may see that there be no beams in your own, which may so blind you, that you cannot discern Tares from Wheat, nor a Wolf from a Lamb. Therefore first begin the work of Reformation in your own hearts and households, till ye be wholly blameless as the Stewards of God, etc. according to the Apostles Doctrine, 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 2.7, 8, 9 and be not ye called Lords, because Christ said to his Disciples, the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Lordship, and their great Ones exercise Authority, but it shall not be so amongst you: 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. So in obedience to Christ be ye good examples to the Flock, that you and your Ministers have convinced to your Way, and to all People, that you may have a good report of them that are without; and be not lifted up with pride, lest ye fall into reproach, and the snare of the Devil. Secondly, That there may not be a Cry of Oppression in the Country, Reform your Officers, Priests and Curates, until they be every way blameless, as the Ministers of Jesus Christ, and set them not up merely because they have natural parts and humane Learning, but try (if you can) whether they be of God or no, and whether they have received power from on high by the gift of his Spirit, and be made apt to teach or no, before you send them forth; see whether there be a necessity laid upon them to preach the Gospel; if so, than they will do it freely, as well in time of persecution, as in time of prosperity: And if you would have your Courts esteemed as Spiritual, then let not your Officers in them be carnal earthly men, but virtuous, impartial, men fearing God and haring covetousness; and let none of your Priests be such as say, Read Mat. 23. but do not; nor be called of men Masters, nor have the chiefest seats in the Assemblies, nor go in long Robes, nor lay heavy burdens upon the People, nor devour Widows houses, nor for a pretence make long Prayers, Isa 56.10, 11. nor use vain repetitions in their Prayers, as the Heathens, chief Priests and Pharisees did, which Christ cried woe against; neither let your Priests preach for hire, nor your Curates divine for money, Micha 3.11, 12 Judas. which thing the Prophet Micah cried woe against; neither let them be such as Isaiah called greedie-dumb Dogs, which can never have enough, but all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter; neither let them be such as go in the way of Cain, which will envy and persecute, nor such as go in the way of Bal●am for rewards, nor such as will sell chaff for Wheat, which have hearts exercised with covetous practices, 2 Pet. 2.14, 15. nor such grievous Wolves as the Apostles said will not spare the Flock (but e●en sue people for wages, Act. 20.29. whom they do no work for) neither let them be at all Hirelings, for Christ said, such care not for the Sheep; but let them be such as do every way accord with the Primitive pattern; Joh. 10.12, 14. and let none of them be profane swearers, nor drunkards, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor fornicators, nor gamesters, nor scoffers, nor such as speak lies, and are given to lightness and foolish jesting; Mat. 12.34. for how can they that be evil speak good things? Thirdly, Reform your people, that one may distinguish between your Church and the world: separate the precious from the vile, and withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly; and let not your Church be made numerous with unbelievers, Jer. 15.19. nor such esteemed Members as do live in covetousness, pride, envy, or malice, Gal. 5.19, 20, 2● nor any that is an extortioner, or an oppressor of the poor, fatherless and widows, nor any that live in gluttony, drunkenness, rioting and excess, nor any that be profane swearers, liars, cheaters, and cozeners, nor any which abuse themselves with mankind, Eph. 5.3, 4, 5. nor any that be murderers or man-slayers, nor any that be adulterers or adulteresses; because such have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God, nor of Christ. And you that profess to be Bishops or Overseers of the Church, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. which is his Body; let not any be admitted members, but such as are baptised into it by the Spirit; Chapt. 1●. 13. for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his, and such will scoff like Ishmael, at the move of the Spirit in those that are his. Rom. 8 9 Fourthly, Reform your Worship if you can, till it differ neither in matter nor manner, in whole nor in part, from the Apostles and primitive Christians Worship, Mat. 15. ●, 8, 9 and let it not be made vain with the Doctrines, Commandments, Traditions and invented Ceremonies (of men) which will all perish with the using; Joh. 4.23. but worship God (who dwelleth not not in Temples made with hands) wholly in Spirit and in Truth; if you have received the one, and know the other, Col. 2. 2● you will see that no other worship besides the Worship in Spirit, is either decent, orderly, or accepted with God. Act. 7. 4●. And when you have so reform yourselves, your Officers, Priests and Curates, your People and your Worship, till you be both in Word, in Spirit, in Worship, & Conversation, one with the Primitive Christians, that men may join with you, and not touch an unclean thing; then see if we cannot have unity and fellowship with you: but in the mean time, let us quietly feed in our green pastures, and follow Christ the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, who leads us to living Fountains of water; and take heed of cursing us whom the Lord hath blessed, lest it fall upon your own heads; for until you have sound Doctrine, and the example of a good Conversation, with Christian love and charity, to draw us to a conformity, ye may despair of hope to drive us by force and cruelty; for the more of that ye do exercise upon us, the more shall we be confirmed; Rev. 17.5, 6. and it will also manifest your Church not to be the Lamb's Wife, but rather a Daughter of that mother of Harlots, that hath drank the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus. Therefore consider of these things, and think not to settle yourselves with threaten, excommunications, prisons and the like; for by such things ye cannot convince gainsayers, that your way is right, nor at all shake them that be in the Truth, though ye may fright Hypocrites, and make them come bending under you for a season, till they can get over you; therefore it, will be your wisdom to show your zeal in casting out the filth from amongst yourselves, and such as profess your way, and by a virtuous life and wholesome doctrine, seek to win such as differ from you: For things are not now as they were thirty years ago in this Nation; for Light is broken forth as the morning, and your steps will be marked; Matth. 7.12. therefore wait that God may direct you the right way, to do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you. The 5th. of the 7th. Month, 1662. Having spoken the Truth in love, We rest your Friends, desiring that in love ye may receive and read these lines, and do not slight that which concerns your peace in them, because they are sent from us that be in scorn called QUAKERS. JOHN WHITEHEAD. MARTIN MASON. LOVE is a virtue that endures for ever, A link of matchless jewels none can sever. Had I the tongue of men and Angels too, If Love were wanting what good could I do? Love far surmounts all earthly Diadems, Though decked with pearls, with rubies and with gems; Love is the life of all things under th'Sun, Love must the Laurel wear, when all is done. Love's eye is tender, Love does gently draw The mind to God, without a penal Law. Love thinks no ill, Love never did invent, Fines praemunire, Goals nor Banishment For Innocents', Love hath no spleen nor Gall, Love's like the Royal Sun; Love shines on All. THE END.