THat men that profess Religion, (yea, which is more gross, the Truth it self) should imploy their Skill, Wit and utmost Endeavours to smite and vilifie such as were and are honourable therein, and that not through Ignorance, but wilfully and designed­ly, is truly sad to consider. An instance whereof I shall here give, in this my Complaint against William Rogers; wherein I wish I could charge him with only rashness and indiscreti­on, and not with premeditated and palpable falshood, of which he is notoriously guilty. This let not the Reader take upon my bare word only, (as I doubt, from his seeming fairness too many have his) but read his Book, and observe the drift thereof, then he will see whether I had not just cause thus to reflect on him; and by comparing my Father's Book with his quotations, be able to judge, whether it did not behove me to vindicate, whom he had thus traduced, and lay the load at his own door. But that I may not di­vert him too long from the proof, I hasten to make good my Charge.

William Rogers, in part 3. pag. 88. of his Book, (falsly stiled, The Christian Quaker, &c.) saith, We think it neces­sary to cite a Testimony published in Print by Isaac Penington the younger, in the year 1660. being part of a Discourse enti­tuled, The Authority and Government which Christ exclu­ded out of his Church, &c. as it lies all together, word for word, and not taken by parts and pieces here and there.

[Page 2]Who would have desired fairer dealing than this! But here I charge him with a down-right falshood, and impious prevarication, who with a Judas-kiss (I mean a shew of can­dour and integrity, with which he would prepossess and beguile his unwary and credulous Reader) labours to be­tray the Truth and its sincere Professors into the hands of the wicked and ungodly: For notwithstanding he so solemnly professes to give the Testimony, not by parts and pieces, but as it lay altogether; and calls it, The Testimony of the said Isaac Penington, as if it were the whole: yet instead of keeping touch herein, he hath leapt over some leaves at the beginning, explanatory of the rest, and left out an intire sen­tence at the close, which he knew would n [...] serve his turn; but if fairly and impartially set down, would have both ren­dred his work insignificant, and detected the falseness of his dealing, as it could not but have manifested to every consi­derate Reader, That W. R's. deduction was not genuine but forc'd, which I cannot believe him unsensible of, and therefore with design to have done it. For he could not but see, that what was there laid down did infer a necessity of Church-Government; a thing, he would insinuate, neither my Father nor Friends in the beginning owned or allowed. And to make this good, indeed there was no surer way than to let fall what spake to the contrary; which course W. R. hath taken, and begins his quotation with the latter part of an Answer to a Question, which he was so unworthy; as well as untrue to his word, as never to transcribe, nor the first part of the Answer neither. These base under-hand dealings are so far from becoming a pretended Friend, that they are not like a fair Adversary: and so unsuitable to a Christian Quaker, that they would be cause of shame to a moral Hea­then.

The Question propounded by my Father, was (as may be seen part 1. p. 238. of his Works.

[Page 3]Quest. ‘But is there to be no Greatness, no Authority among the Disciples of Jesus, or in the Church of Christ? Is every one to do what he will, to be subject to his own Fancies and Imaginations, to the Inventions of his own corrupt heart? What a confused Building will this be? Sure this will not long remain a Zion, but soon become a Babylon, even an heap of disorder and confusion.’

To which my Father replied as followeth:

Answ.

[ Thus far my Father.]

All this W. R. never so much as mentions, which was the occasion of all that he quotes, and to which it was re­lative: but what follows, more immediately relating to the Government and Authority Christ excluded rather than to what he allowed, we find him cite at large, till the subject pinch'd him anew again, which was a few words conclusive of the whole, and that wound up his sense, which it seems W. R. was not pleased to give us: And had he not had the confidence to say, That he had not taken it by parts and pie­ces, but All together, I should have the less wondered: But that a man pretending to Truth should thus prevaricate in the face of the world, I cannot sufficiently admire. Yet, whither will not men run to propagate an Interest, or defend a blasted Cause! O that they would consider it! O that they would lay it to heart!

[Page 5]That which W. R. left out at the close, were these words (as may be seen part 1. p. 242. of my Father's Works.)

‘And the unity being thus kept, all will come into one outwardly also at length, as the Light grows in every one, and as every one grows into the Light: but this must be patiently waited for from the hand of God, (who hath the right way of effecting it, and who alone can do it) and not harshly and cruelly attempted by the rough hand of man.’

This would fully have evinced, that my Father did not only point at an inward Government of God's Spirit in par­ticulars, but also laid down, That as the Life grew in every one, and every one grew into the Light, it would bring into one outwardly also at length; which is far from W. R.'s. purpose, and therefore designedly left out. For the whole drift of that very part of W. R's Book (as the very Title-page exhibits) is to tie up all to an inward Government of Christ, exclusive of any outward Form of Government, Order or Discipline. And he cannot be content to be thus principled himself, but would make it appear as my Father's sence too, though these his words (with many more omitted by him) are of a con­trary tendency, which he durst not (for all his shew of can­dour, and promise to take altogether as it lies) trust his Rea­der with, lest his untrue inferences should be too con­spicuous.

Thus much of his quotations, which being first compared with the Book, are now attested by Benjamin Clark.

Now I dare appeal to any unbyassed judicious Reader, whether W. R. hath not dealt fallaciously, deceitfully and surreptiously, as well as unrighteously, thus to insist as if he had been so fair and conscientious in his quotations, when he hath been so egregiously the contrary. And since his scope and design in printing that part of my Father's Te­stimony, [Page 6] seems to be that he might thereby insinuate, as if my Father (at the writing of that Testimony) was in judgment one with himself, and opposite to, or different from the Go­vernment Established, and now practised in the Church of Christ among us, (as some of that Party have traduced him by word of mouth) let the Reader take the following in­stances out of that part of the same discourse, which W. R. hath knowingly omitted. And first, at the beginning of the Answer to the Question, p. 238. par. 1. (transcribed alrea­dy above) my Father hath these words: There is to be no such kind of greatness, no such kind of authority (meaning, as was exercised among the Gentiles, p. 236.) yet there is both a greatness and authority suitable to the state of Disciples, suita­ble to that kind of Government, whereof they are.— Again, There are Laws, there are Governments, there are Governours, there is ruling, and there is subjection, but all in the Spirit, all suitable to that which is to be governed: but no Government of, or according to the Flesh.— Again, Thus the Apostles, and other Ministers of Christ, had likewise in the Spirit the care of the Churches, and authority in the Lord, by his Spirit, to govern the Spirits of his People: not to govern after a fleshly manner, by their own wills; not to prescribe them in a lordly way, either what they should believe or practice, but in the Light, and in the Power of the Spirit, to make their way into every ones con­science in the sight of God, This very passage answers much of W. R's contest in his Book. &c.— Again, Every one feeling a measure of the Spirit in himself, is thereby taught to own and subject to a greater measure of the same Spirit of another.

Now let us see, whether even out of that very part W. R. hath quoted, there be not words to the same effect; as where (p. 94. par. 3. of W. R's Book) my Father saith, Care must be had, that nothing govern in the Church of Christ, but the Spi­rit of Christ: that nothing else teach, nothing else exhort, no­thing else admonish and reprove, nothing else cut off and cast [Page 7] out.— Again, Every Member is to wait in that measure of the Spirit which he hath received, to feel the goings forth of the Spirit in him that teacheth and governeth; and so to subject not to man, but to the Lord, to receive from the Lord, to obey the Lord.— Whence W. R. might have easily observed, that my Father, though he placed the Government of the Church in the Spirit of Christ only, as the Principal and Effi­cient, yet he acknowledgeth, the Administration of that Go­vernment is committed both to Ministers and Members as Instuments. But for a more full and additional satisfaction to any that may desire further information in this matter, I refer the Reader to a Book entituled, Somewhat relating to Church-Government, wherein the Necessity, See also part 2. page 400. of his works. Ʋsefulness and blessed Effects of the true Church-Government is here and there hinted at, &c. published since his death, but written by himself, in answer to some Apostates and Innovators, who probably may account themselves Christian Quakers as well as W. R.

Indeed I am surprized, not expecting such kind of dealing; nor could have thought his heart had been so hardned as not to value the justness of a cause, so he could but promote his tottering Fabrick. Will he prostitute Soul, Reputation and all, in a stiffness against the Lord and his People! The Lord keep me in a tender sense of, and regard to them, and that living Testimony they are entrusted withal, that I may not, through prejudice, fight against any thing that is of him, either in my own particular, or through his Servants, whom he is blessing and honouring in his Work, having seen the ill effects of it in this person, who doubtless, had he been told formerly, he should thus have appeared against the Truth, and them that are in it, would have been ready enough to have said with Hazael of old, Is thy Servant a Dog, that he should do this thing?

I could also observe, that in this his work of darkness and traducing my Father, he useth the word [We] and [Our] [Page 8] but knowing none that will own themselves concern'd here­in, I shall the less insist thereon.

As for Thomas Crisp, who hath put forth a Book called, The Testimony of Isaac Penington, &c. he confessed to me, in the presence of Philip Ford, That he had never read or seen that Book of my Fathers, but only gathered it out of William Roger's Book. Now whether this be fair and equal, to take things thus upon trust, without once ( Boerean-like) searching his writings, to see whether the things were so or no; and then to add wide inferences of his own, as of a liberty in paying Tythes, as a Civil Right, &c. far from my Father's sence and constant practice; And lastly, to publish them from the sole Authority of a professed Adversary, who had already mangled the Book, and took things piece-meal, be not very injurious, and unbecoming a man, much more a Christian, and which many Turks, Jews and Infidels would have scor­ned, let the impartial consider. But what can be expected of men that are departed from the just Principle in themselves, and are daily doing despite to the Spirit of Grace? Indeed the very Title is fallacious,. to call it The Testimony of Isaac Penington, and is an imposing upon his Reader; whereas at best it is but Part of his Testimony, and that Part so craftily managed, as to speak his sence but in Part.

By this W. R. also may see what Spirit his Book gratifies, even a loose, libertine Spirit, without Yoke, that would run back again to Aegypt, and weaken the hands of the faithful Sufferers, even to death, for that oppression of Tythes, which Friends, in the beginning, and to this day, assert to be a denying Christ come in the Flesh; which I believe W. R. himself will not seem to gainsay. But this man ranks it and the use of plain Language (which is the only true Language, the other being a Lie) amongst Friends Orders and Tradi­tions; Which (says he) I fear you take more care for the [Page 9] strict observations of, than the Truth in the heart; as if these things had not been delivered from the Spirit of Truth, through Instruments it made choice of at the first breaking forth of Truth, but were taken up and held by Tradition only, as the beggarly rudiments of the world are; and therefore queries, If one cannot do so, must he therefore judge his Brother? adding, That may be required of one, which may not be required of another. (see p. 14 of his Pamphlet) Will W. R. stand by him herein? Will he thus encourage Tythe-Payers? Will he open this gap for Libertinism? Will he thus oppose the Truth to the Truth, making it to require one thing of one, and the contrary of another? to call one to bear a Testimony against Tythes with jeopardy of Life and Estate, and allow the other to pay it as a Civil Right? What, will God's Spirit be thus inconsistent with it self? But if he say Nay, and fall not in with this man's work; yet hence he may see what it is joyns with him, and shelters it self under his wing, even that which shuns the Cross, and seeks ease in the Flesh.

That which W. R. cites as Edward Borrough's Paper, and which T. C. takes upon trust, as his Vision, is a Question to several; first, Whether E. B. ever wrote that, or any such Paper? 2 dly. For satisfaction it is demanded of W. R. and T. C. to prove that cited by them to be E. B's. own intire Paper, and to acquit themselves that they have not prevari­cated here, as W. R. has done in my Father's Case, however fair he would seem to be, confessing, pag. 84. part 5. That adventuring to add to another man's words, (and I may hope I say, or to diminish from them either, especially when he avers, he has taken them altogether as they lay) rendring them as another man's words, materially altering the sence, is ac­counted plain Forgery.

IT is very contrary to my judgment, and the frame of my mind, to make any other appearance in publick, than an Innocent and Righteous Conversation; but I see a necessi­ty to give some account of the cause of my dear Husband ( Isaac Penington's) Imprisonment in Reading, as also to speak something in reference to the settling of my Rents, thereby to remove, out of the way of the tender, the stumbling-block that W. R. (in his Book entituled, The Christian Quaker, &c. par. 5. p. 43, to 47.) may have laid before the upright, to the lessening of my Testimony to the undefiled Truth, unvailed with covers or pretences.

As for his charging G. F. with advising me, I never had any advice from him contrary to my own conscience, nor in the least to lessen Truths Testimony: But this I say, My ho­nourable and dear Husband suffered five times Imprisonment in the Gaol of Alisbury in the County of Bucks, for the space of seven years, being but little at home, but Impriso­ned many months at a time; once three quarters of a year, another time a year and a half; in all which Imprisonments, I (through the Lord's great kindness to me) never consul­ted provision or security in any point, though sollicited by my Relations to have done somewhat to preserve my Estate, all my Husband's being gone upon his Father's account: But so clearly and fully was I given up to suffer the loss of Estate and spoil of Goods, in his pure Testimony to Truth, that I never so much as attempted any securing it or them; and never had, but once so much as an inclining in my mind to put by any thing, though of value, and not of very necessary use in the Family; but at that very time, before I could lay hand on any thing for that purpose, it was said in me, Do not provide; Do not contrive; Leave all with the [Page 11] Lord; and immediately let the thing fall. And further, when sufferings for Meetings by Imprisonment, gave way to Proceedings by Fines upon Preachers, Hearers and Ma­sters of the Houses where Meetings were, the Lord gave me a clear quiet submitting to it, though I had in my view the ruine and havock that 40 l. a week could procure to us, my Husband being engaged in at least two meetings a week, and having a Testimony for Truth by the Gift bestowed on him to minister in.

All this I make mention of, to manifest that whilst my dear Husband suffered purely for Truth's Testimony, I ne­ver went about in the least way to shun or fly the suffering. Now the cause of his suffering in Reading Gaol was not, in the first place, upon a necessity immediately laid upon him from the Lord for his Testimony; but he was betrayed for the sake of my Estate, as was confessed by the person that committed him, to a Woman of Condition, that lived near Reading; who being earnest with him on my Husband's be­half, and could not allay him, said, What will ye get by premu­niring him? He hath no Estate, all being forfeited to the King, for his Father's being one of the King's Judges: To which he replied, I know that; but his Wife hath a good Joynture. The Gaoler also confessed to me, that he had orders a year before to stop him in the Prison, when he came thither to visit the Prisoners, and to give notice of it; which words he said to me, upon my charging him with betraying my Husband: And I answered to it, What, to be thus dealt with, without an Offence? But he was silent to that. Nay, his very going to Reading was very accidental; I being from home, and he intending in my absence to visit three several places, but was disappointed in them all; upon which, a Friend that was with him said, Go with me to Reading, and visit Friends in Prison; which he did: And when he had visited those of the fore-side of the Prison, he crossed the Gaoler's Yard, to [Page 12] see the Friends on the other side. The Gaoler seeing him, asked a Friend, what that man's name was? who simply told him, Isaac Penington. Immediately he goes, or sends to one (called a Justice) to acquaint him; who sends an Officer and a Servant to fetch him before him, and he and another (called a Justice) tendring him the Oath, upon his refusal committed him. I coming towards home, and being met with this unpleasant account, was, I confess, greatly sadned, his going being so accidental, only in an innocent freedom, and not upon a constraint; I weighing, that this was a great suffering to his person, which threatned ruin also to me and my Children. Now chiefly looking upon it, as indeed it was, a trepan for my Estate, I had great freedom in the en­deavouring the securing of it, and preventing the Devourers of their prey: so I did in clearness send to London, and had the Arrears and Rents, that hereafter should be due (for the Estate it self they could detain no longer than my Hus­band lived) made over to a Friend of mine, for the use of me and my Children. As also, I put out of the House some Plate and other Goods as was mine when I was a Widow, and made over to a Kinswoman of mine before marriage; but what was necessary for a Family, was left to a conside­rable value; which things were more immediately my Hus­band's Goods, who was then in Prison.

And now I have given this true Relation, I sum up all thus, That what I have here asserted to be done by me, was no shift, or carnal hiding from spoil, in that that was a Testi­mony, but a clear acting to disappoint the Betrayer of the Innocent, who was made a Transgressor for to be prey'd up­on; and in freedom from the Lord to secure him, my self and Children from the Treachery and evil Stratagems of his Prosecutor. I do, in God's fear, say to every one that reads or hears these lines, That in the tenderest, composedst, righ­test frame of mind, that ever I felt since, I was never condem­ned [Page 13] for it, nor shewed that I erred in it, but rather acquit­ted; and am satisfied in it at present, as in reference to its being no hiding from Sufferings. For I do believe, that if I had appeared to suffer for Truth, and at that time had se­cretly secured my Estate, it had been a very evil thing, and that which I have hitherto been preserved from; who in the midst of many infirmities and weaknesses have this to boast of (in the Lord's mercy and strength) that I have suf­fered without guile or covering, by secret Contrivances or Provisions for my safety: This the all-seeing God knows, and to him I commit my Cause, and the Causes of those in­nocent Servants of the Lord, aspersed by W. R. in his Book called, The Christian Quaker, &c.