QUAKERS. 



as male and female are one in Chrift, we hold it proper that 

 fuch of the female fex as we believe to be endued with a 

 right qualification for the miniftry, ftiould exercife their 

 gifts for the general edification of the church ; and this 

 Lberty we efteem a peculiar mark of tiie gofptl difpenfation, 

 as foretold by the prophet Joel, and noticed by the apoitle 

 Peter. 



" Three are two ceremonies in ufe among moft profeliors 

 of the Chriftian name, water-baptifm, and what is termed 

 the Lord's fuppcr. The firft of thefe is generally eftccmed 

 the elTential means of initiation into the church of Chrift ; 

 and the latter, of maintaining communion with him. But 

 as we have been convinced that nothing Ihort of his redeem- 

 ing power, inwardly revealed, can fet the foul free from the 

 thraldom of fin ; by this power alone we believe falvation to 

 be efFedled. We hold that as there is one Lord and one 

 faith, fo his baptifm is one, in nature and operation ; that 

 nothing fhort ot it can make us living members of his myf- 

 tical body ; and that the baptifm with water, adminiitered 

 by his fore-runner John, belonged, as the latter confefled, 

 to an inferior and decreafing dilpenfation. 



" With refpeft to the other rite, we believe that commu- 

 nion between Chrill and his church is not maintained by that, 

 or by any other external performance, but only by a real 

 participation of his divine nature through faith ; that this is 

 the fupper alluded to in the Revelation, ' Behold I iland at 

 the door and knock : if any man hear ray voice, and open 

 the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and 

 he with nie,' and that where the fubftance is attained, it is 

 unnecefTary to attend to the fhadow : which doth not con- 

 fer grace, and concerning which, opinions lo different, and 

 animofities fo violent, have arifen. 



" Now, as we thus believe that the grace of God, which 

 comes by Jefus Chrift, is alone fufficient for falvation, we 

 can neither admit that it is conferred on a few only, whilft 

 others are left without it ; nor, thus aftcrting its univerfality, 

 can we limit its operation to a partial cleanfmg of the foul 

 from fin, even in this life. We entertain worthier notions 

 both of the power and goodnefs of our heavenly Father, 

 and believe that he doth vouchfafe to affift the obedient to 

 experience a total furrender of tlie natui'al will, to the 

 guidance of his pure unerring Spirit ; through whofe re- 

 newed affiltance they are enabled to bring forth fruits unto 

 hohnefs, and to ftand perfeft m their prefent rank. 



" There are not many of our tenets more generally known 

 than our teftimony againft oaths, and againil war. With 

 refpedt to the former of thefe, we abide literally by Chrift's 

 pofitive injunftion, delivered in his fermon on the mount, 

 ' Swear not at all.' From the fame facred coUeftion of 

 the moft excellent precepts of moral and religious duty, 

 from the example of our Lord himfelf, and from the cor- 

 refpondent conviftions of his Spirit in our hearts, we are 

 confirmed in the belief that wars and fightings are, in their 

 origin and effefts, utterly repugnant to the gofpel ; which 

 ftill breathes peace and good-will to men. We alfo are 

 clearly of the judgment, that if the benevolence of the gof- 

 pel were generally prevalent in the minds of men, it would 

 effedlually prevent them from opprefling, much more from 

 enflaving, their brethren (of whatever colour or com- 

 plexion), for whom, as for themfelves, Chrift died; and 

 would even influence their condutl in their treatment of the 

 brute creation, which would no longer groan, the viflims 

 of their avarice, or of their falfe ideas of pleafure. 



" Some of our tenets have in former times, as hath been 

 fliewn, fubjefted our Friends to much fuffering from govern- 

 ment , though to the falutary purpofes of government, our 

 principles are a fecurity. They inculcate Tubmiffion to the 

 laws, in all cafes wherein confcience is not violated. But 



wc hold, that as Chrift's kingdom is not of this world, it 

 18 not the bufinefs of the civil magiftrate to interfere in mat- 

 ters of religion, but to maintain the external peace and good 

 order of the community. We therefore think pcrfecution, 

 even in the fmalleft degree, unwarrantable. We are careful 

 in requiring our mem.bers not to be concerned in illicit trade, 

 nor in any manner to defraud the revenue. 



" It is well known that the fociety, from its firll appear- 

 ance, has difufed thofe names of the months and days, 

 which having been given in honour of the heroes i,r falfe 

 gods of the heathen, originated in their flattery or fuper- 

 ftition ; and alfo the cuflom of fpeaking to a fingle perfon 

 in the plural number, as having likewifc arifen from motives 

 of adulation. Compliments, hiperfluity of apparel, of fur- 

 niture, and of provifion for tlie table, outward fhows of 

 rejoicing and mourning, and the obfervation of days and 

 times, we efteem to be incompatible with the fimplicity of 

 a Chriftian life ; and public diverfions, gaming, and other 

 vain amufements of the world, we cannot but condemn. 

 They are a wafte of that time which is given us for nobler 

 purpofes ; and divert the attention of the mind from the 

 fober duties of life, and from tlie reproofs of inltruftion, by 

 which we are guided to an everlafting inheritance. 



" To conclude, although we have exhibited the feveral 

 tenets which diftinguifli our religious fociety, as objects of 

 our belief; yet we are fenfible that a true and living faith is 

 not produced in the mind of man by his own effort ; but i« 

 the free gift of God in Chrift Jefus, nouriftied and increafed 

 by the progreflive operation of his Spirit in our hearts, and 

 our proportionate obedience. Therefore, although for the 

 prefervation of the teftimonies given us to bear, and for the 

 peace and good order of the fociety, we deem it neceflary 

 that thofe who are admitted into memberfhip with us, fhould 

 be prcvioully convinced of thofe doftrines which we efteem 

 effential ; yet we require no formal fubfcription to any ar- 

 tides, either as a condition of memberfhip, or a qualifica- 

 tion for the fervice of the church. We prefer judging of 

 men by their fruits, and depending on the aid of Him, 

 who, by his prophet, hath promifed to be ' for a fpirit of 

 judgment to him that fitteth in judgment.' Without this, 

 there is a danger of receiving numbers into outward com- 

 munion, without any addition to that fpiritual fheep-fold, 

 whereof our bleffed Lord declared himfelf to be both the 

 door and the fhepherd ; that is, fuch as know his voice, and 

 follow him in the paths of obedience." 



To this flatement may be added the following extrafts, 

 the firll of which is from a declaration iflued on behalf of 

 the fociety in 1693. 



" We fincerely profefs faith in God by his only-begotten 

 Son Jefus Chrift, as being our light and life, our only way 

 to the Father, and alio our only Mediator and Advocate 

 with the Father; — that God created all things, he made 

 the worlds, by his Son Jefus Chrift, he being that powerful 

 and living Word of God by whom all things were made; 

 and that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, are 

 One, in divine Being infeparable ; One true, living, and 

 eternal God blefted for ever ; — yet that this Word or Son 

 of God, in the fuhiefs of time, took flefh, became perfect 

 Man, according to tiic flefh defcended and came of the feed 

 of Abraham and David, but was miraculouOy conceived by 

 the Holy Ghoft, and born of the Virgin Mary, and alfo, 

 farther, declared powerfully to be the Son of God, ac- 

 cording to the Spirit of fanftification, by the refurredtion 

 from the dead; — that, as Man, Chrift died for our fins, 

 rofe again, and was received up into glory in the heavens ; 

 he having, in his dying for all, been that one, great, uni- 

 verfal offering and facrifice for peace, atonement, and re- 

 concihation between God and man ; and he is the propitia- 

 tion 



