A TREATISE

ONT

CHURCH GOVERNMENT.

FORMERLY CALLED
ANARCHY OF THE RANTERS, &c.

BEING A TWO-FOLD APOLOGY

FOR THE

CHURCH AND PEOPLE OF GOD,
CALLED, IN DERISION, QUAKERS.

WHEREIN
They are vindicated from those that accuse them of disorder and

confusion on the one hand, and from such as calumniate them
with tyranny and imposition on the other; shewing, that as the
true and pure principles of the gospel are restored by their tes-
timony; so is also the ancient apostolic order of the Church of
Christ re-established among them, and settled upon its right
basis and foundation.

BY ROBERT BARCLAY.

Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory: but

in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than them-

selves.
Heb. 13. 7. Remember them that have the rule over you,

who
have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

AN EPISTLE TO THE NATIONAL MEETING

OF FRIENDS IN DUBLIN,

CONCERNING

Good Order and Discipline in the Church.

BY JOSEPH PIKE.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY SOLOMON W. CONRAD.

THE CONTENTS.

Sect. I. The Introduction and method of this

Treatise.

Sect. II. Concerning the ground and cause of

this controversy.

Sect. III. Whether there be any order or go-

vernment in the Church of Christ.

Sect. IV. Of the order and government we

plead for.

Sect. V. In what cases, and how far, this go.

vernment extends.

Sect. VI. How far this government extends in

matters spiritual, and purely conscien,

tious.

Sect. VII. Concerning the power of decision.

Sect. VIII. How this government altogether

differeth from the oppressing and persecut-

ing principality of the church of Rome,

and other anti-christian assemblies.

The CONCLUSION.

Joseph Pike's Epistle,

A TREATISE

ON

CHURCH GOVERNMENT. .

SECTION I.

The Introduction and Method of this Treatise.

AFTER that the Lord God in his own appointed time had seen meet to put an end to the dispensation of the law, which was delivered to the children of Israel, by the ministry of Moses ; through and by whom he did communicate unto them in the wilderness from Mount Sinai, divers commandments, ordinances, appointments and observations, according as they are testified in the writings of the law; it pleased him to send his own Son the Lord Jesus Christ in the fulness of time ; who having perfectly fulfilled the law, and the righteousness thereof, gave witness to the dis. pensation of the gospel. And having approved himself, and the excellency of his doctrine, by many great and wonderful signs and miracles, he sealed it with his blood; and triumphing over death (of which it was impossible for him to be held) he cherished and encouraged his despised witnesses, who had believed in him, in that he appeared to them, after he was raised from the dead; comforting them with the hope and assu. rance of the pouring forth of his Spirit, by which

A