Q. What is the extent of the power of the church of Christ in case of schism or heresy?

A. The power that Christ gave to his church was this, that offenders, after the first and second admonition, not repenting, should be rejected.

All these things have come to pass for want of humility, for want of the ancient fear and keeping in the quiet habitation of the just. The Truth in you all shall answer me. And this I affirm, from the understanding I have received of God, not only that the enemy is at work to scatter the minds of Friends, by that loose plea, What hast thou to do with me? Leave me to my freedom and to the grace of God in myself, and the like; but this proposition and expression, as now understood and alleged, is a deviation. from and a perversion of the ancient principle of Truth.

For this is the plain consequence of this plea, if any one, especially if they are but lately convinced, shall say, I see no evil in paying tithes to hireling priests, in that they are not claimed by Divine right, but by the civil laws of the land; I see no evil in marrying by the priest, for he is but a witness; furthermore, I see no evil in declining a public testimony in suffering times, or hiding in times of persecution, for I have Christ's and Paul's examples; I see no evil in worshipping and respecting the persons of men, for whatever others do, I intend a sincere notice that I take of those I know and have a good esteem for. Lastly, I see no evil in keeping my shop shut upon the world's holidays and massdays, as they call them, though they are rather lewdly and superstitiously than religiously kept, for I would not willingly give any offence to my neighbors; and since your testimony is

against imposition, and for leaving every one to the measure of grace which God hath given him, not only, No man hath power to reprove or judge me, but I may be as good a Friend as any of you, according to my measure. And now, here is measure set up against measure, which is confusion itself-Babel, indeed.

This is the rock which both professors and profane would long since have run us upon, namely, That a way is hereby opened to all the world's libertines, to plead the light within for their excesses; which indeed grieves the spirit of God, and was severely judged by our Friends in the beginning, and is still reproved by them that keep their habitation, though some are become as wandering stars through their own pride and the prevalency of the hour of temptation that hath overtaken them; whereas had they kept in the channel of love and life, in the orbit and order of the celestial power, they had shined as stars in the firmament of God forever.

The enemy, by these fair pretences, strikes at the godly care and travail which dwells upon the spirits of many faithful brethren, that all things might be preserved sweet, comely, virtuous, and of good report in the church of God. There never was greater necessity of this godly care than at this day, since we were a people, wherein the cross, by too many, is not so closely kept to as in days past, and in which there is not only a great convincement, but a young generation descended of Friends, who though they retain the form their education hath led them into, yet many of them adorn not the Gospel with that sensible, weighty, and heavenly conversation as becomes the children of the

undefiled religion, and the seed of that precious faith which works by the love that overcomes the world.

Wherefore I warn all that they have a care how they give way to the outery of some, falsely entitled, Liberty of conscience against imposition, etc. Indeed, it is a great shame that any who have ever known the Truth of God in the inward parts, and the sweet society of brethren, especially those who were early in the work of this blessed day and heavenly dispensation, should so far depart from the fear and awe of the Lord, as to use such unsavory as well as untrue expressions. This is very far from that meek spirit of Jesus which beareth all things, suffereth all things, and endureth all things, and teacheth to keep the word of patience in the hour of tribulation; nay, but it is judging of spiritual things with a carnal and prejudiced. mind, stumbling at the matter for the sake of the persons through whom it comes, not eying nor weighing the spirit the thing arises from, but the person by whom it is spoken, which darkens the eye of the understanding, and blinds, by prejudice, the mind that should discern, taste, and judge; from whence many mischiefs have sprung to the church of Christ in divers ages.

This, dear Friends, I send amongst you as a token of my true love, in the revelation of the free spirit of our God and Father, who have ever been a friend to true liberty, as in the state according to law, so in the church according to Scripture, and as it standeth in the Truth of Jesus, that makes them who love it free indeed. Let us all keep low, and remember the rock from whence we were hewn, and dwell in a tender and reverent sense of the daily mercies and providences of the Lord, looking

well to our own growth and prosperity in his heavenly way and work; then shall the desire of our hearts be more and more after Him, and the remembrance of his name; and with our love to God, will our love increase one towards another, helping and aiding one another.

And beware of that loose and irreverent spirit which has not those in high esteem among you who are faithful in the Lord's work, and who labor in his blessed word and doctrine. They that love Christ, his servants are dear to them, and they hear a tender regard to their trials, travails, spendings, and sufferings, who seek not yours, but you, that you may all be presented blameless at the coming of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; that so the Gospel ministry and testimony may be held up with holy, fervent love, and godly esteem, to the keeping under every raw and exalted mind, and whatever may slight and turn against it. Be watchful, keep to your first love and works, that so you may endure to the end and be saved. having overcome, you may have right to eat of the tree

And

of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

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XII.

E have seen how William Penn had become concerned in the colonization of West Jersey. But in 1679, Sir George Carteret, proprietor of East Jersey, died, leaving his property there to be sold for the benefit of his creditors. This sale was effected in the beginning of 1682, William Penn and eleven others being the purchasers. They soon afterwards took into the concern twelve others, thus constituting a company of twentyfour proprietors, nearly all members of the Society of Friends, and of whom Robert Barclay, the celebrated Apologist, was one. Of this growing colony, Robert Barclay was appointed governor for life, but he never visited the country. He held the office of governor only about two years, having entrusted the execution of his official duties to a deputy. Thus it happened that New Jersey, both east and west, was settled, in great part, under the auspices of Friends.

It appears by one of his letters, that at an early period of his life, even while he was a student at Oxford, William Penn had a distant prospect of service in the western world; and his connection with the province of New Jersey having made him partially acquainted with the country on the opposite side of the Delaware, he formed the idea of procuring the grant of a territory there; in which he might not only furnish an asylum to Friends