An Account of the doctrine and discipline of Mr. Richard Davis of Rothwell, in the county of Northampton, and those of his separation with the canons of George Fox, appointed to be read in all the Quakers meetings.

THE DISCIPLINE.

ANno 1692, Richard Davis, who stiles himself Pastor of the Church at Rothwell, in the County of Northampton, ad∣mitted Members according to the Substance of the Form under∣written, which he called, A Church Covenant, viz.

Pastor. Do you in the presence of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and this Congregation here present, Give your selves up unto us, as we have given our selves to one another,(a) to walk with us and only us, in all Gospel Ordinances, and the dis∣charge of all Relative Duties, as God shall help you?

Answ. Yes.

Pastor. So do we, in the aforesaid awful Presence, Covenant to walk with you in the same, and, if we shall be let into any further Light, to make it known to you.

In the time of Thomas Browning, the Predecessor of Richard Davis, the custom, at Rothwell, had been to have their Pastor Or∣dained by the Elders of other Churches; but when Davis was made choice of for their Pastor, the Church at Rothwell pleaded that they were Independent, and consequently ought to have the privilege of Ordaining their own Pastor, and accordingly Ordain∣ed R. Davis.

This occasioned some Differences in the Congregation, and, by degrees, others arose; whereupon, about the Year 1694, the other Covenant was Framed and Printed, with the Explanation by way of Renewal of their former Covenant, to which the grea∣ter

part assented and remained Members: Those who did not, when they had pleaded for a dismission and were refus'd it, join∣ed with other Congregations according to their discretion, and were cut off by those at Rothwell.

Their Church Officers are of three sorts, viz. 1. Pastor. 2. El∣ders. 3. Deacons.

1. The Pastor is chosen by the consent of the major part of the Congregation, and is Ordained by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders of the Congregation. His Office is to Preside, to Teach, to Consecrate the Elements in the Sacrament, and to Baptize.

2. Elders, who are chose likewise by the Congregation, and set apart by Imposition of Hands, and are of two sorts, viz. 1. Preaching Elders, whose Office is to Preach and Rule. 2. Ru∣ling Elders, whose Office is to Rule only: Not but that they may Preach occasionally, if they please.

3. Deacons, who also are chosen by the Congregation, and set apart to that Office by Imposition of Hands. Their Office is to take care of the Three Tables, viz. 1. The Lord's Table. 2. The Pastors Maintenance. 3. The Poor. They Collect the Alms of the Congregation every Sacrament-Day, which is ordinarily once every three Weeks or Month. They carry the Bread and Wine to the Communicants. They have the Custody of the Money in Bank, and are accountable for it: This is a small Sum reserv'd to answer any particular extraordinary occasion. Out of these Offi∣cers the Elders are generally chosen, not always.

They hold, that the Power of each particular Officer is equal with the rest, only the Pastor presides for Order sake; and if the Pastor and Officers cannot agree, the Majority of the Congregation in a Church Meeting determines the matter.

The Ordination of the Pastor is by Imposition of the Hands of the Elders: The Ordination of Elders and Deacons by Imposi∣tion of the Hands of the Pastor and Elders. Herein they tie them∣selves to no form of Words; they stand during the Ceremony, and Pray before and after, either the Pastor or Elders, or both.

This is always done at their Church Meetings, where none have any Business besides the Members, and where none else usually are present.

The Pastor is maintain'd by those in Covenant with him. There is a Book for Subscriptions; and if any Member, able to contri∣bute, refuse, he is requir'd to give his Reasons in publick; and if they are not approv'd of, and he continue to refuse, he is dealt withal as a Sinner. This Subscription Money is by the Deacons collected quarterly and paid to the Pastor.

Note, That this Subscription Money is not the whole of the Pastors Maintenance; because the Women, whose Husbands are of other Congregations, do privately contribute, and that libe∣rally; and 'tis observed, That the separate Congregations have generally more Women than Men. Those likewise of meaner condition among them, who have dependance on any of the Church of England for a Livelihood, are oftentimes excused from Sub∣scribing, tho' not from contributing in proportion to their Abi∣lities.

The Members only are obliged to Subscribe; but the whole Assembly is exhorted to contribute when the Deacons on the Sacrament-Days collect the Alms of the Congregation. These Collections are made every Sacrament-Day; and out of these the several Officers, if they want, are supplied.

Their Meetings are of four kinds, viz.

1. On every Lord's Day, for Prayer and Preaching, and re∣ceiving the Sacrament, as often as it is Adminstred; likewise for receiving the publick acknowledgments of those, whose Crimes have been publick. The acknowledgments here made, are generally by such persons as have complied too far with the Church of England.

2. Solemn Days appointed by the Congregation; the usual occasions whereof, are to seek the Mind of God, in relation to any differences in their Church; on the Death or Resignation of the Pastor; when any Officer or other useful Person hath forsaken them; when there are any Calamities befallen them, or any Mercies bestowed on their Church, or the Nation: They say the Holy∣days observed by the Church of England are all Popish. Christ∣mass, Easter and Whitsuntide they regard not. State Fasts and Thanksgivings they do allow of.

3. Church Meetings, which consist only of the Members, i.e. those who are in Covenant. These are for regulating Matters in their Church; and are held some Day in the Week before they Break Bread. They begin with Prayer, advise together, admit Members, admonish Offenders, excommunicate the Obstinate, re∣ceive the Penitent, &c.

The ordinary Pennance requir'd, is an acknowledgment of the Crime at these Meetings, with promise of future amendment.

4. Messengers Monthly Meetings, which consist of the Dele∣gates or Messengers from all the Sister Churches, i. e. those Esta∣blished after their Model, within a certain Precinct; for which every Church appoints two or more according to its discre∣tion. These are commonly the Pastor and one or two Elders of each Congregation. The manner of appointing them as follows, viz. The Pastor gives publick notice in a Church Meeting, That

on such a Day the Messengers Meeting is to be, and desires them to send their Messengers, and ordinarily proposes himself and one more, and, if they consent, desires them to lift up their Hands (the usual sign whereby they signifie their consent or approbation.) At these Meetings they Communicate to each o∣ther the concerns of their particular Churches; give account of all Members cut off, and of all other proceedings that are material. If any difficulties have arisen in the particular Congre∣gations, the respective Messengers report to their own Congre∣gations what was the opinion or determination of the Represen∣tatives of the several Churches.

Besides these Meetings above-mentioned, at Rothwell they have private Cabals of trusty Men to prepare matters to be propo∣sed at their Church-Meetings, thereby to prevent any nice can∣vasing matters of Controversie before the Members, for fear of raising or somenting Disputes among them.

Their method in the admission of Members, is, viz. At their Church-Meetings the Pastor gives notice to the Assembly, that there are certain persons who design to offer themselves to the Church, and asks their consent that they may be called in and Examined; which obtained, every Person is called in by him∣self and Examined; touching his Conversion, Faith, Experiences, &c. and then ordered to withdraw: The Examination finished, the Pastor enquires of the Members whether they are willing to receive such and such particular Persons, and, if the Majority signifie their consent by lifting up their Hands, they are called in, and by the Pastor acquainted that the Church is satisfied of their Experiences, &c. and will admit them by and by. When every particular Person hath been thus dealt withal; the Pa∣stor receives them according to the substance of the shorter Co∣venant, and in a Book which they keep (different from that which contains the Subscriptions for the Pastors maintenance) each Person writes his own Name. This Practice they say is warranted, Isaiah the 44th Chap. the 5th Vers.

After the strictest enquiry it appears that the Printed Covenant with the Explanation, hath been delivered to very few, and those Select Persons; so that it seems to have been chiefly designed for the Elders, with whom the Members are to consult. It doth not appear that it hath been refused to any Member who hath de∣sired to buy it; tho' the generality have either not heard of it, or not seen it. Those who have it are obliged not to Commu∣nicate it to any Stranger, or the World (as they term all others) who are not of their way.

When the Congregation is assembled, the Preacher (whether Pastor or Elder) begins with Prayer, the People generally stand∣ing, (they look upon those as lazy who sit and will not suffer any Man to be covered): When Prayer is ended, they cover their Heads, and sit or stand, as they please, during the Sermon. This is the whole of their Behaviour and Service, unless they Sing an Hymn, which they ordinarily do.

They Baptize both Children and Adult, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, without the Sign of the Cross, Praying before and after. None Pray on this occasion but the Pa∣stor, and none but he may Baptize, and that only the Members, or Children of the Members of his own Congregation. No Sure∣ties are admitted. The Parents are charged in behalf of their Children; the Adult takes the charge upon himself. If one of the Parents be a Member, it's sufficient to entitle the Child to their Baptism. Where the Parents are of different Perswasions they Baptize the Children privately. They ordinarily Baptize at a Church Meeting, and in any private House if desired. Chil∣dren, tho' Baptized by them, are not esteemed Members, unless, when they arrive at Years of Discretion, they enter into Cove∣nant as the other Members have done.

Every Member is required to receive the Sacrament as often as it is administred. The Table stands in the midst of the Congre∣gation, near the Pulpit. The Pastor sits in his Chair near the Ta∣ble, and the Receivers on Forms round about it; the People, as Spectators, at some small distance behind them.

The Pastor Prays (all standing) and craves a Blessing on the Bread; then sets it apart in almost the same Words which the Church of England uses; then breaks it into small pieces and puts them on divers Plates, saying, whilst he is breaking, Thus was our Lord's Body torn, mangled, broken, &c. The Bread thus broken is carried in the Plates, by the Deacons, to the several Receivers. The Pastor sits in his Chair Eating with the rest.

As soon as the Bread is Eaten, the Pastor Prays; then pours out the Wine, saying, Behold the Blood of Christ poured out for thee, and for me, and for all of us, &c. Drink ye all of this, drink large draughts of the Love of Christ, &c. as he thinks most proper to express himself. Then he drinks and gives to the Deacons. When all have drank, the Pastor Prays, an Hymn is Sung, and the Assembly is dismissed.

They forbid all private Prayer at this Ordinance, saying, The Pastors Prayers are sufficient. They esteem 'it a Memorial only: Examine none before they come, saying, There is no need of any more Preparation at that time than any other. In the absence or sickness of the Pastor there must be no Sacrament.

If any Member plead Conscience for leaving them, and de∣sire a discharge, and offer his Reasons in publick; they will not give him a discharge, unless it be with a Testimonial re∣commending him to some Congregation they approve of. If he refuse to joyn with such a Congregation as they approve of, and withdraw himself from them, they cut him off as an Apostate. No pretence of Conscience will prevail with them to allow any to joyn with the Church of England, or the Presbyterians, or Quakers, or the strict Baptists. They plead they cannot discharge them, because those Churches they de∣sire to joyn with, do not walk accordingly to the Rule of God's Word; saying, should we suffer you, we should comply with you in Sin. Therefore the Officers charge them with their Covenant, and Command them to obey the Authority of Christ invested in them, upon pain of the displeasure of the King of Heaven.

When any Member revolts, the method they profess to ob∣serve, is, To send for him to give his Reasons to the Church; if he comes they admonish him to return; if he does not come, they empower one or two Messengers to go to him, and admo∣nish him in the Name of the Church; this they do a second time: If this prevails not (after some time allowed according to their discretion) they send Messengers to acquaint him that on such a Day they intend to cut him off; and when they have cut him off, they send to acquaint him with it. This is always done at a Church Meeting.

If the Pastor be Living, it is his Sole Privilege to pronounce the Sentence of Excommunication. The Method is, to Pray, and Exhort the People on this occasion, and then to pronounce the Sentence in these or the like Words, viz. I do, in the Presence of God, with the judgment and consent of this Church, deliver A. B. unto Satan, for the destruction of the Flesh, to be buffeted by him, that his Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord. They then blot his Name out of the Book of Subscriptions (which they call the Book of Life) and henceforth avoid him, according at it is set down in the Explanation of the Covenant.

If any sick Person desires it, the Pastor and some Elders repair to him and Anoint him, Praying over him. They dip their Fingers in a Porringer or Sawcer of Oyl, wherewith they rub the Temples of the Sick Person.

They traduce the Publick Prayers of the Church of England as Idolatrous and Antichristian, the Ministers as scandalous in their Lives, negligent in their Duty, forsaking their own Articles, for∣mal in their Administrations, legal in their Preaching, without the Power of Godliness, &c.

They call all Churches and Worship false which are not Esta∣blish'd by a Covenant like theirs, i. e. all Churches that are not Independent.

They engage not to go near these Churches; and if any of the Members occasionally go, and are uncovered there, they interpret such uncovering an assent to the Prayers, and deal with such Per∣sons as Sinners, cutting them off, if they do not testifie their Re∣pentance.

They say, That God hath before ordained whatsoever comes to pass, even the worst of Sins, and that Sinners cannot avoid com∣mitting them; That it is to no purpose to pray for, or endeavour after Repentance; because the Sins of the Elect, past, present, and to come, are already forgiven; and therefore they ought to pray only for the Manifestation of their Pardon.

They look upon themselves obliged to Trade with their own Members, or those of their Way, if possible: When some have done otherwise, the Pastor hath publickly declared, in their Church Meetings, that it was their Sin, and the Elders have join∣ed with him. 'Tis a general Rule among them; Trade with any rather than the Church of England. In order to perpetuate this Schism, Davis breeds up Young Men in his House.

According to the best account I can get, There are about Thir∣teen gathered Congregations of this Separation under setled Pastors; the Members whereof are computed to be between two and three Thousand.

Besides these, they have divers Congregations for Prayer and Preaching, which have no setled Pastors, nor any Administration of the Sacraments.

When any of the Hearers desires to be admitted a Member of any particular Congregation, notice is given to that Congregation, who, at their Church Meeting, appoint the Pastor, with some El∣ders and Deacons, to go and hold a Church Meeting near the place where such Hearer dwelleth, and to examine and admit him, as before specify'd.

When they have gained a competent Number of Members in any part, they fix a Pastor among them, and embody them.

This was the state of the Separation, at Rothwell, about the Year 1696, which, as I understand, has receiv'd no considerable alteration since that time.

Notes

• (a)

  To justi∣fie this they urge 2 Cor. 8.5.
• Church Officers.
• Pastors.
• Elders.
• Deacons.
• Maintenance of the Officers.
• Meetings.
• ☞
• ☜
• Admission of Members.
• Behaviour in the Congrega∣tion.
• Baptism.
• Breaking of Bread.
• Dismission of Members.
• Excommuni∣cation.
• To justifie this they urge 1 Cor. 5.4, 5.
• Sick.