Conscience the throne of Christ

Conscience (the Throne of Christ)

Source: A Discovery of the First Wisdom from Beneath and the Second Wisdom from Above. pg. 5 1656.

Reflective thought covers itself that it may abide still.

...that what ever the light of Christ makes appear to be evill and to be cast off then the other light which stands in mans wisdom, makes a cover for it that it may abide still ...

Source: A Discovery of the First Wisdom from Beneath and the Second Wisdom from Above. pg. 2 1656.

Brain and Will seat of the Serpent

...the will and brain which is the Serpents seat.

Source: A Discovery of the First Wisdom from Beneath, and the Second Wisdom from Above. pg. 1656.

The inshining Light in the Conscience is sufficient to eternal Salvation.

Because they read in John the first Chapter, &c. That the Life of the Word was that true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the world, &c. They with a Fury as great as their Ignorance, from thence, with other Texts, boldly conclude, That the common Light, meer Light, particular measure of Light in all Men coming into the World, called the Light in every Man’s Conscience, is not only sufficient to their eternal Salvation as obeyed, but is God and Christ substantially and essentially within them.

Source: A Charge of Errour, Heresy, &c. by Henry Pickworth pg. 6 London, 1716.

Wading through the Scriptures without a Divine Principle's Directions

As every one ought carefully to beware what he admits for a Principle, before he has certainly found it on a strict Examination true of itself by its own Evidence, lest he only believe it so upon the Authority of others, (as a late worthy Author hath well observed); so though none in the World, I am perswaded, have more vehemently cried out against Mens wading in the holy Scriptures without a divine Principle’s Directions than the People call’d Quakers; through which Activity, they tell us, Men (mixing their own Fancies with the Spirit’s Dictates, which prompts them with Desires after Religion) spoil all their Undertakings; and then with a Fury as great as their Ignorance, endeavour the Overthrow of whatever stands in their way, and refuse to receive their Mark in their Foreheads, &c. Yet have none in the World more err’d in this respect, than the most noted Leaders of the same People, to the Ruin of their own Reformation ...

Source: A Charge of Error ... Henry Pickworth, pg. 5. London, 1715.

Some in the Gathering of Friends Out of Prescriptions

… God hath a People among them [Quakers], many of whom have long been reviled and falsly accused and slandered, because they have conscientiusly refused to conform to Prescriptions without Conviction …

Source: Babels Builders by: Thomas Crisp, Preface pg.1, London, 1681

The Barbadoes Judgement

At a Quarterly Meeting at Ralph Fretwell’s House in Barbadoes the 23d day of the tenth Month, 1681.

The sum of the Testimony this day born amounts to this: That there is this day a Choice to be made, viz. Whether Friends will cleave and abide unto the Universal Spirit of the living God, and each give up their whole Concerns; with which Spirit the Faithful have Unity? Or, Whether they will give up unto the Judgement their own Particular, or Particulars only, with which the Judgement General of the Meeting have not Unity?

After very many Testimonies given, to the further opening of the Question, the Judgement underneath was written, being voluntarily subscribed unto by each Particular of this Meeting, or by their Order their Name were hereunto put.

I desire to give up my whole Concern, if required, both Spiritual and Temporal, unto the Judgement of the Spirit of God in the Men and Womens: as believing it to be in more according to the Universal Wisdom of God, than any particular measure in my self, or any particulars with which the Men and Womens Meeting have not unity.

Subscribed by Men 39. Women 43. Total 82.
The Party that sent the above-said, writes thus, viz. This Paper hath been promoted in sundry other Meetings since, and subscribed: some few have refused: in abhorrence whereof other Perswasions have Posted it.

Here follows the Letter of G.F. &c. to the Quarterly Meeting at Barbadoes touching the said Paper; whereby it may be seen how, and wherein they own or disown it.

Now dear Friends, if this Order or Judgment should come into the hands of any Apostates or Opposers, they would make ill work with it, and say that we set up an Arbitrary Power over Mens Consciences and Properties, and an implicit Faith and Submission, with out inward Conviction¹; And that we divided the measure of God in a particular, from the Universal Spirit of God in other Particulars in Men and Womens Meetings. And as for subscribing unto such an Order or Judgment, they would say, it was like the Scots Covenant²; and as tho the measure of the Faith and Spirit of God in themselves was not agreeable to the Universal Spirit and Faith in the Men and Womens Meetings; and that it they should go from the measure of Faith and Spirit of God in their own particulars, and to give up both their Spiritual and Temporal Concerns to the Universal Spirit in Men and Womens Meetings. This would be the way to bring them all from the measure of the Spirit in their own particulars. For how can the Men and Women in the Universal Spirit receive that which is not given up from the Universal Spirit: therefore all must be left to the Universal Spirit in their own measures thereof; and as for the Stubborn and Willful, that are against Men and Womens Meeting, the Universal Spirit cannot receive that. And all are to give up to the Universal Spirit of God in their own Particulars, in which Spirit they have Unity and Fellowship without outward Subscription, and to be led by the same Spirit to see their Names written in Heaven in this Gospel-day of Light and Life, and this is and was the Saints Testimony in the New-Covenant of the Light and Life, and their Heavenly Subscription, which is above all outward Subscriptions both among the Jews and Professors, for one ties them below, and the other ties them above. “And for any to say they desire to give up their whole concerns both Spiritual and Temporal unto the Judgment of the Spirit of God in Men and Womens Meetings, as believing it to be more according to the universal Wisdom of God, than any particular measure in my self, or any particulars.”
Now this would make the belief which is in the Light, and the measure of the Spirit in their own particulars, not one with the Universal Spirit in the said Meetings. And as for those that the Men and Womens meetings in the universal Spirit of God have not Unity with, they are erred from their own measure of the Spirit Of God; but the Universal Spirit of God has Unity with the least measure now, as it was in the Apostles days, who kept every one to their own measure; which was both the great Rule and Live of the New Creature in the Believers and Saints then, and so with that the Universal Spirit in the Apostles and Elders then had and now have Unity. And therefore, dear Friends, we know your care and tenderness of Truth, and that you aim at the best things³, and have had much to do with some loose Spirit there: and therefore our desires are, that you would stop this Paper from going any further, lest some should get Copies of it, and spread amongst bad Spirits; and keep in the general tender Spirit of God, that in love you may answer the measure of the Spirit of God in them that are convinced by it, and in them that err from it. And the Man of God, must not strive, but be gentle towards all. And so concluding with the Apostle’s tender Advice, 1 Cor. 1.10. now I beesech you, Brethren, by the Name of out Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no Divisions amongst you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. And Phil. 2.2,3. Fulfill you my joy; that you be like-minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife, or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves. And 1Pet. 3.8. Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as Brethren: Be pitiful, be courteous.
Now as for your Subscription to an outward tie, be above such things; forasmuch as You are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but, with the Spirit of the Living God; which Spirit hath given you Life, and will bring you to the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to the General Assembly and Church of the first-borm, which are written in Heaven, &c. ⁴
London the 20th of the 4th Month, 1681.
Your dear Friends and Brethren in our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom you have Peace, Life, and Salvation.
George Fox. Alex. Parker. George Whitehead.

Source: Babels Builders by; Thomas Crisp, pgs. 5-7, London, 1681

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1. What more true? ↩
2. But G.F. G.W. &c. do not say so. ↩
3. Contrary to S. Crisp who said, The Paper was not only ill worded, but he believed twas ill meant. ↩
4. What higher Testimony can be given to the Saints and Servants of the most high God, than G.F. G.W. & A.P. give the Authors and Subscribers of this wicked and ungodly Paper?↩