the weapons of his true followers are not carnal, but Spiritual; yea mighty, through God, to cut down fin and wickedness, and dethrone him that is the author thereof. And as this is the most Chriftian, fo the moft rational way; love and perfuafion having more force than weapons of war. Nor would the worst of men easily be brought to hurt those that they really think love them. It is that love and patience which muft, in the end, have the victory.

§. 4. We dare not give worldly honour, or use the frequent and modifh falutations of the times, seeing plainly, that vanity, pride, and oftentation, belong to them. Chrift alfo forbad them in his day, and made the love of them a mark of declenfion from the fimplicity of purer times; and his difciples, and their followers, were observed to have obeyed their Master's precept. It is not to distinguish ourselves a party, or out of pride, ill-breeding, or humour, but in obedience to the fight and sense we have received from the Spirit of Chrift, of the evil rife and tendency thereof.

§. 5. For the fame reason we have returned to the first plainnefs of fpeech, viz. thou and thee, to a single person; which though men give no other to God, they will hardly endure it from us. It has been a great teft upon pride, and fhewn the blind and weak infides of many. This alfo is out of pure confcience, whatever people may think or fay of us for it. We may be defpifed, and have been so often, yea, very evilly intreated; but we are now better known, and people better informed. In short, it is alfo both fcripture and grammar, and we have propriety of speech for it, as well as peace in it.

§. 6. We cannot allow of mixed marriages, that is, to join with fuch as are not of our fociety, but oppose and difown them, if at any time any of our profeffion fo grofly err from the rule of their communion; yet restore them upon fincere repentance, but not disjoin them. The book I writ of the Rife and Progrefs of the People called Quakers, is more full and express therein.

X4

§. 7. Plain

§. 7. Plainnefs in apparel and furniture, is another teftimony peculiar to us, in the degree that we have borne it to the world: as alfo few words, and being at a word. Likewife temperance in food, and abstinence from the recreations and pastimes of the world: all which we have been taught, by the Spirit of our Lord Jefus Chrift, to be according to godlinefs; and therefore we have long exhorted all, that their "Mo"deration may be known unto all men, for that the "Lord was at hand," to enter into judgment with us for every intemperance or excefs; and herein we hope we have been no ill example, or fcandal unto any that have a due confideration of things.

§. 8. We cannot, in confcience to God, obferve holy days, (fo called) the publick fafts and feafts, because of their buman inftitution and ordination, and that they have not a divine warrant, but are appointed in the will of man.

§. 9. Laftly, we have been led by this good Spirit of our Lord Jefus Chrift of which I have treated in this difcourfe, according to primitive practice, to have a due care over one another, for the preservation of the whole fociety in a conversation more suitable to their holy profeffion.

First, In refpect to a ftritt walking, both towards those that are without, and thofe that are within; that their conversation in the world, and walking in and towards the church, may be blameless. That as they may be strict in the one, fo they may be faithful in the other.

Secondly, That collections be made to supply the wants of the poor, and that care be taken of widows and orphans, and fuch as are helpless, as well in counsel, as about fubftance.

Thirdly, That all fuch as are intended to marry, if they have parents, or are under the direction of guardians or trustees, are obliged, firft, to declare to them their intention, and have their confent, before they propose it to one another, and the meeting they relate to, who are alfo careful to examine their clearnefs, and being

fatisfied

fatisfied with it, they are by them allowed to folemnize their marriage in a publick felect meeting, for that purpose appointed, and not otherwife: whereby all clandeftine and indirect marriages are prevented among

us.

Fourthly, And to the end that this good order may be obferved, for the comfort and edification of the fociety, in the ways of truth and fobernefs; felect meetings (of care and bufinefs) are fixed in all parts where we inhabit, which are held monthly, and which refolve into quarterly meetings, and thofe into one yearly meeting, for our better communication one with another, in those things that maintain piety and charity; that God, who by his grace has called us to be a people to his praise, may have it from us, through his beloved Son, and our ever-bleffed and only Redeemer, Jefus Chrift, for he is worthy, worthy, now, and ever. Amen.

Thus, reader, thou haft the character of the people called Quakers, in their doctrine, worship, miniftry, practice, and discipline: compare it with fcripture and primitive example, and we hope thou wilt find, that this fhort difcourfe hath, in good measure, anfwered the title of it, viz.

Primitive Christianity Revived, in the Principles and Practice of the People called Quakers.

A TESTI

A

TESTIMONY

TO THE

TRUTH OF GOD,

AS HELD BY THE

PEOPLE called QUAKERS.

BEING

A SHORT VINDICATION of them from the ABUSES and MISREPRESENTATIONS often put upon them by Envious Apoftates and Mercenary Adverfaries.

Published in the Year 1698.

TO THE READER.

To

READER,

Ο

Ccafion having been given us, which we never fought, we continue to improve it to the farther explanation and defence of our fo much abused profeffion; that, if poffible, people may fee, at least the more fober and candid, that we are not at that diftance from truth, nor fo heterdox in our principles, as we have been, by too many, either rafhly or interestedly represented: but that we hold the great truths of Christianity, according to the holy fcriptures, and

that