Substance thereof as a Defence of Eternal Truths which Implies our Offence against the same according to his Misrepresentations thou wishest our Wrangling at an end and that thou couldest stop me too I am wholly on the Defensive Part for Truth and an Innocent People against that Wrangler F. Bugg Stop him and our Controversie Ceaseth seeing thou mayest Diswade him from Writing against us for his Writing bitter Calumnies will not be any Credit to thee or others his Approvers or Abettors 'T is true Jesus Christ is the Name of a Mediator and so given to him upon his Incarnation howbeit as the Son of God who is both the Saviour and the Anointed was before even before Abraham was and was the Spiritual Rock that all Israel Drank of Thou Writes Moderately in saying thou Believest we mean the same thing but my Question was Chiefly to thee about F. Bugg's Doctrine viz. It was not Jesus Christ for whom the Body was Prepared It was not Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh. This appears not Consistent with the Apostles Doctrine 1 John 4 2 3. I desire thou mayest see all my Answers to F. Bugg and particularly that one Sheet Entitul'd A Charitable Essay c. Though I Charitably think as thou sayest for some Reasons thou may'st Disswade F. Bugg from Writing yet he has Divulged another Book Stiled Quakerism c. Which is as bad as the rest But I excuse thee in my Answers for not preventing its Publication because I suppose his was in the Press before mine came to thee From thy Friend and Well-wisher Geo. Whitehead CHAP. IV. A Sober Expostulation with certain Persons of the Clergy against their pretended Convert Francis Bugg his repeated Gross Abuse of the People called Quakers Will. Smithies â—saac Archer You are Persons concerned in this Expostulation and to whom 't is particularly and in the first place applied for these Reasons BEcause of the Notice and Advertisements already given you against our Convert or Proselyte Frances Bugg's â—ross Abuses and Misrepresentations of the â—eople called Quakers 2. Because of the Approbations or Enâ—â—uragement given him therein by some of â—â—u especially by Isaac-Archer and others 3. Because since Advertisements given â—â—u thereof he the said F. Bugg has proâ—â—eded not only to divulge a Second Edition 〈◊〉 his Defaming and Scandelous Book Stiâ—â—d New Rome Arraigned but also in his Additions annexed thereunto he does Scornfully Insult and Boast of your Approbation 4. You being Previously so plainly Advertised of his Abuse and not Reformed having been Encouraged by you 't is thought but Just and Reasonable it should be thus Publickly Manifest who are his Approvers and Encouragers therein and for your farther Trial whether you 'll yet acquit and clear your selves of his Contentious Work of Envy and Persecution Now you may Remember how that in my Letters to you I gave you Information and Caution of your Approved Convert F. Bugg his Notorious False Charges and Gross Calumnies against the People called Quakers some whereof I again Recite to you as followeth 1. He Chargeth them With denying Jesus of Nazareth 2. Contempt of Holy Scripture 3. Calling us Perjured Persons for our Negative Testimony against his so Charging us And thereupon Forging his Mock-Trial and Answers in our Names with the Form of a Pillory and therein Scandalizing divers Citizens and Tradesmen in and about London as Perjured Persons tho' Persons of good Repute and Credit thereby affecting not only their Christian but Civil Reputation 4. Contempt of Governors and being against Magistracy in Principles he also Charges upon the said People giving them these Characters viz. New Rome Rome's Sister the Papists their Brethren and Followers of the Step of the Jesuits 5. Terming one of their Approved Ministers her Chief Cardinal i. e. New Rome's 6. Our Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration he Renders Deceitful and Contrary to our Belief and to serve a Turn 7. He Accuseth the said People with Reviling Christ's Ministers and Contemning his Magistrates Vndervaluing Christ's Death and Sufferings All which are Expresly contrary to our Faith and Principles 8. Terming us the said People Black Guard of Lyers Impudent Imposters Cowards Horrible Blasphemers Wretched Imposters and such as SIMON MAGVS never exceeded Cum multis aliis With many more such like Gross Calumnies and Rayleries which Bugg's Malicious Books are stuff'd withal to Render us Odious and Obnoxions in the Eye of the Government and Nation for which the Righteous God will Judge him and his Abettors for such his Intollerable and Mischieveous Attempts And as to our said DECLARATION to the King and Parliament For the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration It was and is sincere on our parts and in the sight of God according to our Belief and Principle as by many of our Books and Publick Testimonies is clearly Evinced as also that we highly Esteem and Value Christ's Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for the Reconciliation of Mankind unto God as by the Harmony and Concurrence of our Publick Testimonies and Solemn Confessions is clearly and fully Demonstrated whatever F. Bugg and his Abettors have Suggested to the Contrary against us As to F. Bugg's Rendering our said Declaration and Testimony for the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures DECEITFVL on our Parts New Rome Arraigned p. 40 and 42. This is to Endeavour to Invalidate and Destroy a' Principal Condition of our present Liberty And is it not to Confront the Government 's Acceptance of our said Declaration also Now Isaac Archer thou mayest Remember that in my Letter to thee upon F. Bugg's Unjustly and Maliciously Representing the said People called Quakers under those Black and Offensive Characters of New Rome Rome ' s Sister and as Brethren to the Papists c. Consequently no better nor other than Papists I asked thee these with some other Questions Q. 1. Does not this greatly tend to Gratifie the Popish Interest and to Lessen and Injure the Protestants and Consequently to Contradict the Government 's Legally Recognizing us to be Dissenting Protestants 2. What Ingenuity or Prudence hath Bugg or his Abettors shewn in thus Representing such a Body of Protestant Subjects as being Papists 3. What Regard or Respect to the present Government or Care of the Protestant Religion have you his Approvers therein Manifested on your Parts 4. And what Reputation Credit or Honour to thee Isaac Archer will thy Approbation of F. Bugg's thus Writing against us be when further Exposed to be taken Cognizance of c. 5. Whether his Contradicting the Government 's Recognizing us by Law as Dissenting Protestants by his Defaming us as Papists c. Be not Seditious in the Nature and Tendency thereof as tending to sow and stir up Strife and Variance amongst Protestant Subjects c. 6. Concerning Bugg's Assuming a Power as a Judge and in his own Name to Try Examine Sentence and Condemn Citizens and Tradesmen c. who are
Samuel David Elijah Job and others as no true but false Prophets because sometime mistaken See 1 Sam. 16. 6. 1 Kings 19. 14 15 18. Rom. 11. 4 See also Acts 23. 5. And in the Antient Approved Bibles see what Remark is in the Argument on Job it 's there said That Job maintaineth a Good Cause but handleth it Evil. Again his Adversaries have an ill Matter but they defend it Craftily Moreover he i. e. Job was assured that God had not rejected him yet thro' his great Torments and Affliction he bursteth forth into many inconveniences both of Words and Sentences c. yet Job was a holy and just Man and true Prophet in many things Our Bitter Persecutor would fain fasten Contempt of Holy Scripture upon the Quakers with these odious Assertions viz. That the Scripture is BEASTLY Ware that WHAT the true Prophets spake was false and WHAT the false Prophets spake was true c. Intro p. 13. These are three notorious Falshoods as well as gross Errors maliciously contrived to contradict our sincere Confession viz. That the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of Divine Authority as being given by Divine Inspiration c. and that we prefer the Holy Scriptures before all other Books extant in the World How sincere we are in such Confession we can refer to him that knows our Hearts to whom we Appeal against our Adversaries contrary unjust Judgment and gross Calumnies falsly representing us insincere even in these weighty Matters wherein the greatest Tenderness and Conscienciousness towards God ought to be exercised by us all Another gross Abuse our Bitter Adversary has committed against many of us who Signed an Epistle from our Yearly Meeting in 1675. which I must give some Account of here 1. He Cites these words out of our said Epistle viz. It is our Sence Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and Authority of his Power and Spirit that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as that Faithful Friends Papers which we Testifie have been given out by the Power and Spirit of God are Mens Edicts or Canons with such scornful Sayings be permitted Subscribed saith he by W. Penn G. Whitehead and others Introd p. 11. And what of all this This Advice related to such Papers and Epistles of Faithful Friends as concerned good Order and Discipline in the Church and for promoting pure Religion in Life and Practice and why should they be slighted or contemned as but meer Human Edicts and Canons What use does our Scornful Adversary make of this Observe what he saith p. 13. viz. But as for what G. F. c. wrote their Yearly Meeting Testifies it was given forth by the Eternal Spirit yea THE SAME MEN that charged their Disciples in the Name of the Lord not to call their Papers Edicts or Canons call the Scriptures Death Dust and Serpents Meat And what same Men He has told us before W. Penn G. Whitehead and others who Signed the said Yearly Meetings Epistle that they so called the Scriptures whereby he has greatly abused and shamefully belied the same Men i. e. W. P. G. W. c. for they disown the Expression and own the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures as first given by Inspiration from God and truly prefer them before all other Books extant in the World But how can that be in our Adversary's Account when he objects against it and us That G. W. avouches that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth IN ANY is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and Greater c. He shews himself but very dull and impertinent in this Objection For we may prefer the Scriptures even the Bible before all other Books extant and yet not before the Spirit of Truth or the Immediate Powerful Teachings thereof in Man for that Spirit was before the Scriptures Writings or Bible were and only can give the true understanding thereof and therefore the Spirit of Truth may be preferred to the Scriptures and all other Books without any contempt or slight to them This Objection is more fully Answered elsewhere To our Adversary's saying viz. G. W. tells me I was but a kind of a Quaker and I think 't is the truest word in his Book I think I was not above a third part of one and that too much too p. 13. Thus he would fain winde off from the Reputation he had of a Quaker for 25 Years together he now miserably shifts and minces the Matter but manifestly contrary to his own Confession in his Quakers Detection p. 3 as before quoted to my Question Whether F. Bugg when a Quaker denied Jesus of Nazareth to be the Efficient cause of Man's Salvation He Answers I do believe I then did not hold the worst part of Quakerism c. Yet I do freely Acknowledge that I was in great Errors Particularly touching the Point of Justfication For I then Expected Salvation through my Obedience to the LIGHT which the Quakers taught was Sufficient to Salvation But since it pleased God to open my Eyes I believe that Salvation is attained through the Mercy of God is Christ Jesus by Faith in the Merits of his Passion and Obedience to his Precepts p. 14 15. Observe here 1. He now counts it a great Error to Expect Salvation through Obedience to the Light without Distinction of What Light 2. He Opposeth the the Sufficiency of the Light for Salvation And 3. Attaining Salvation through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus Faith in his Merits and Passion and Obedience to his Precepts These he Opposeth TO Obedience to his Light and Expecting Salvation through the same These he sets in Opposition as one that expects Salvation through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus and by Faith in his Merits and Obedience to his Passion without Obedience to his Light For that End Expresly Contrary to Christ's Doctrine and his Apostles Testimonies 1. Christ Commanded Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light And this Believing in the Light was a necessary Act of Obedience in order to Salvation 2. Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth Me shall not abide in Darkness And the Apostle James Exhorts to a Receiving the Ingrafted Word which is able to save the Soul And this Word is both Light and Life In him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men Therefore the Light is Sufficient to Salvation 3. Salvation through the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ true Faith in his Merits and Suffering for us and Sincere Obedience to his Precepts cannot be attained nor performed without Faith in and Obedience to his Light it was the Mercy of God to us to afford us Light to lead us out of Darkness For Men in Darkness are Blind and as such cannot see the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus nor true Faith in his Merits or Suffering For 't is in Walking in the Light
' s Calumnies p. 2. Col. 1. 2. 14. That G. F. was a Blasphemer of the Blessed Trinity p. 16. Note A gross Calumny also He neither Blasphemed nor Opposed the Scripture Trinity i. e. Three of the Father the Word or Son and Holy Ghost but objected against some Unscriptural Distinctions and Terms of Three distinct or separate Personalities Subsistances or Substances Unscripturally by some supposed or implied in the Deity 15. That the Quakers count all others who are not of their Communion Damned Persons p. 16. This is both false and too uncharitable for the People called Quakers to be of such a severe Judgment Charitably believing that many not in outward Communion with them under various Forms of Religion may be sincere to God according to their Understandings and Belief as also that there are other Sheep which are not yet of this Fold whom Jesus Christ will gather and fetch home into his Fold and that in every Nation and People such as fear God and work Righteousness are and shall be accepted of him 16. That the Jesuit taught them this That they must not by any means Swear p. 17. Note A gross Lye for Jesus Christ taught us not to Swear Mat. 5. and so did his Holy Apostle James Chap. 5. And many of the Blessed Martyrs and Protestant Reformers were of the same Judgment with us whom the Papists Accused and Persecuted for the same who imposed Swearing as their Priests taught contrary to Christ's Command 17. That this sullen and dogged Sect is the Jesuit's natural and undoubted Issue tho' like other Bastards they are ashamed to own their Father c. p. 17. Note These are like some of Bugg's false and shameful Raileries and no such thing could he demonstrate in all the 25 Years that he was Conversant among the People called Quakers or since nor what Jesuit was then his Father or to whom he was then Bastard but the contrary he has in Print declared for the said People and their Doctrine even since he left them witness his Quakers Detected Cited in our Quakers Vindication and other Answers But 't is an ill and nasty Bird that bewrays its own Nest as he has done These last Aspersions of the Jesuits Teaching the Quakers and they the Jesuits Natural Issue and Bastards c. Bugg Credulously pretends to Cite out of a Learned Divine's Book of the Church of England but tells not his Name that his Credit may be enquired into but whatever he be he is of no Credit with us in this foul Aspersion and Abuse 18. That the Quakers Allegorize the Death and Sufferings of Christ his Passion Atonement Resurrection and Ascension to be within p. 17. Note This is a known Perversion and Falshood the true Spiritual-minded Quakers do not Allegorize away either the outward Sufferings Passion or Death or Atonement Resurrection or Ascension of Jesus Christ as if all these were within only for they really believe and own all these to have been done and transacted outwardly and literally as well as they truly believe and own the Mystery Spiritual Sence Influence and real Benefit and Advantage thereof as Inwardly and Spiritually partaken of felt and experienced by every Sincere and Spiritual Believer in Christ Jesus 19. That neither if you go to a Thousand of their Meetings shall you hear one of their Preachers have such an Expression in their Mouths as Consessing their Sins and Begging Pardon for Jesus Christ's sake p. 18. Note This is a presumptuous Prediction such Confession and Supplication have been oftentimes in publick among us and may be again for ought F. B. knows for them that want Forgiveness and Cleansing from Sin well-knowing that the Lord requires both true Confession and forsaking Sin tho' we do not Confess nor Pray by Book or Lyturgy after the Priest yet we feel the Spirit of Christ making Intercession with Sighs and Groans which cannot be uttered 20. That the Scriptures are Beastly Ware p. 21. Note This Reproach and Blasphemy F. B. has often most falsly cast upon us 't is Answered before several times and more fully hereafter 21. That the Quakers first rose in the North breaking all Law Order and Government p. 22. That Quakerism flowed over all our Banks of all Law Order and Government both Divine and Humane p. 24. Note Both these are gross and very offensive Aspersions before Answered and Refuted manifestly by our Christian Conversations 22. That they have a great Tax Collected to maintain their Teachers Travellers and Spies both at Home and Abroad p. 31. Note For which gross Lies F. Bugg quotes his own Authority and bids see his Books Battering Rams against New Rome and New Rome Vnmask'd wherein we do not only deny his imposed Authority but have Refuted and Confuted the same in our Answers to those his Books quoted by him 23. That by their Threatned Chronicle they i. e. the Quakers intend to represent this Nation as a Persecuting Bloody-minded People p. 34. Note No such Threatning or Intention are we justly Chargeable with nor so to Represent this Nation for 't is not so now nor were the People thereof in general such when Persecution was on foot but the Persecutors in it many of whom are since cut off did openly shew their Cruelty by Imprisoning many to Death and by making Havock and Spoil upon the Goods of many Families to their great Impoverishment and Ruin of divers besides those that were Banished out of the Land by Persecutors but Blessed be God and Thanks to the Present Government the Case is now altered much for the better on that account those Cruel Persecutions being stopt and the present Persecution we are now under being chiefly the vile Misrepresentations gross Lies and Calumnies of dark and malicious Apostates and Backsliders such as F. B. and their Adherents 24. That the Quakers prefer their own Books before and above the Scripture p. 37. That they prefer their Nonsensical Pamphlets before the Scriptures being compared with the Contemptible Expressions they give them as BEASTLY WARE c. p. 38. Note These are some of his Old Calumnies and Perversions frequently Answered and Refuted for yet again we solemnly say We prefer the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as contained in the Bible and that Book it self above and to all other Books extant in the World whether our own or any other Books whatsoever as sincerely owning the Holy Scriptures aforesaid not only to have been given by Divine Inspiration but most eminently confirmed by Divine Authority 25. That G. Keith could not in Conscience clear the Body of the Quakers from those Errors charged upon them in Pensilvania in regard he knew them guilty thereof p. 40. i. e. the Body of the Quakers Note The Body of the Quakers he did not Charge therewith but a few in Pensilvania for the Body of the Quakers there have cleared themselves thereof and he has seemed expresly to clear the Body or People called Quakers and in
Salvation and Compleat Redemption which Christ Jesus has obtained for us i. e. for all Mankind thro' his Mediation and Sufferings 7. Our Really Believing and Confessing the Lord Jesus Christ his Passion Sufferings Death Atonement and Reconciliation made for us and his Resurrection Ascension and Glorification as without us according to Scripture cannot be to Allegorize all these away as if only transacted within us as we have been unduly Accused for they were really done and transacted without us by our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ tho' our true Knowledge of the Power of his Resurrection and Fellowship of his Sufferings and our being Conformable to his Death must be Experienced within us if ever we Live or Reign with Him 8. We sincerely Prefer and Esteem the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament contain'd in that Excellent Book commonly called the Bible as most Eminently Confirmed by Divine Authority and Faithful Witnesses before all other Books whatsoever extant in the World and yet our preferring the Holy Spirit from whence the Scripture came before the Letter of the Scripture is not to undervalue the Scripture for the Spirit must needs have the Preference and Preheminence as being the Author and Original Cause and Dictator of the Holy Scriptures and Giver of Light and Life also whereby truly to understand them and to live accordingly 9. As for Baptism and the Lord's Supper they are Scripturally considered by us in their several Dispensations both as in the Figure and in the Substance in the Type and Antitype as the Outward or Literal were Typical or Figurative of the Inward and Spiritual we confess and own considered in their Places and proper Dispensations but the Substance is more Excellent and Permanent than the Shadow as the Inward and Spiritual Grace is more Excellent than the Outward and Visible Signs and as Christ's Spiritual Baptism which is the Saving Baptism was Typified by John's And to Eat and Drink or Sup with Christ in his Kingdom of that Spiritual Meat and Drink which he gives for Life to the Soul was Typified or Figured forth by his Outward Supper of the Passover Bread and Cup for the Outward Element of Water cannot wash away Sin from the Soul neither can the Outward Bread or Cup give Life or Nourishment to the Soul The Shadows flee away but the Sum and Substance remain 10. We sincerely Believe and have often Confessed the Immortality of the Soul of Man that was Created in God's Image and the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead according as laid down in Holy Scripture 1 Cor. 15th Chapter and of Eternal Judgment by Jesus Christ as being Judge of the Living and of the Dead in the Great and Last Day of Judgment at the Great Harvest which is the End of the World God having appointed a Day wherein he will Raise the Dead both the Just and Unjust and also Judge the World in Righteousness by that Heavenly and most Glorious Man Christ Jesus whom he hath Ordained Acts 17. 31. before whose Tribunal-Seat all must appear to Receive their Final Judgment and Sentence according to their Deeds done in the Body whether they be Good or Evil. 11. That Christ's Gospel Ministry must be free without forced Maintenance filthy Lucre or Covetousness 12. That Magistracy or Civil Government is God's Ordinance the Good Ends thereof being for the Punishment of Evil Doers and Praise of them that do Well These Things we Sincerely Believe and Own but to do F. Bugg Right we find not that he has Charged us in the Tenth Particular about the Resurrection though some other Apostates have And we know no other Doctrine or Principle Preached Maintained or Received among or by Us since we were a People contrary to these before-mentioned nor do we Own any contrary thereunto Signed in Behalf of the said People and to Clear my own Innocency in Particular By G. Whitehead A Brief Advertisement to the Impartial Reader upon Francis Bugg's last Book falsly Stil'd The Picture of Quakerism Drawn to the Life THat it may appear that as to Matter of Doctrine and divers other things contain'd in the said Book he has frequently Repeated and Impos'd the same Notorious Calumnies and Perversions Unjustly upon the People called Quakers with other Abuses which in the foregoing Treatise and other of our Books in Answer to him have been and are fully Detected please to take a Brief Catalogue of some of his Notorious Calumnies Lies and Abuses with short Notes on them as followeth 1. In his Dedication to the Bishops of the Church of England whom he flatters thus viz. My Lords I have not leisure to trace them i. e. the Quakers in all their By-paths from the very beginning of their Rise and to shew how they branched forth from the Seeds of the Ranters Levellers and other Latitudinarians Observe pray herein he Imposeth a Nototious and Scandalous Falshood upon the Bishops it being well known that the said People call'd Quakers as to their Rise sprung and branched forth from and out of Religious Families of the Puritans so called and of the most sincere among those called Independent Anabaptist and Presbyterian Churches and Families and others and not from the Seeds of Ranters as he has grosly defamed them thereby Abusing both Bishops and other Readers 2. Their Contempt of the Scripture as Beastly Wares p. 2. Calling them Beastly Ware p. 42. That the Quakers have Condemn'd the Holy Scriptures p. 48. That our Teachers tell us that the Scriptures are Dust Death Beastly Ware c. p. 61. That their Chief Work in their Meetings as well as Writings was to lower the Power of the Magistrates Reproach the Ministers c. and the Bible Beastly Ware c. p. 97. He further saith I know if I had recommended the Scriptures ye would have rejected them as Serpents Meat Beastly Ware your frequent Epithets p. 121. And Beastly Ware again p. 125. Hist. Obs. Thus he still shamefully Abuses the Readers Bishops and others by these most gross repeated Blasphemous Calumnies manifestly Detected both in the foregoing Expostulation and other Answers to him So that he shamefully pleases himself with frequent Repetition of his old stinking loathsom Stuff to defame the Quakers 3. That possibly our Women learn'd of my self i. e. of G. W. to call the Scriptures Dust Death Beastly Ware c. p. 122. Obs. My Conscience bears me Witness he hath suggested a horrid Calumny against me herein having had a high and reverend Esteem for the Holy Scriptures from my Youth upwards 4. That they i. e. the Quakers sprung out of the Dregs of the People as Ranters c. Obs. Both which are Abusive Aspersions before Detected Query Didst thou F.B. spring out of the Dregs of the People as Ranters when first thou turnedst Quaker For shame for shame leave off such sordid Stuff 5. That the Quakers deny Christ and that their Doctrine teacheth to deny him to be Christ who was Born of the Virgin and
Cause humble this Adversary if it be his Blessed Will and let all others among us c. take warning from his woful and lamentable Backsliding and Fall Let one most Scandalous and Blasphemous Calumny be yet further Remarked viz. Fr. Bugg's repeated Charge against the Quakers viz. these Contemptible Expressions as calling the Scriptures Beastly Ware c. as before and the like we are Charged with in that most malicious wicked Piece The Snake in the Grass where divers gross Calumnies are broached from Bugg's Authority and Credit I having examined that Book out of which the said Expressions have been pretended to be taken Entituled A Brief Discovery of a Threefold state of Antichrist Printed Anno 1633. p. 9. I find no such gross Expressions as calling the Scriptures Beastly Ware but divers severe Reflections upon the Covetous Persecuting Priests in those Days then writ by some Prisoners at York-Castle 1653. and what 's there called Beastly Ware is not the Scriptures but what Babylon's Merchants sell for a large Price i. e. a Rabble of Notions heaped up in their Brain all the Week and which they sell for filthy lucre's sake c. calling them also Idol-Merchants Costly Sermon-makers who Persecuted the pure Truth the Saints live in p. 9 10. of the said Brief Discovery but not a word of calling the Scriptures themselves Beastly Ware and I am perswaded such Blasphemy and Contempt of Holy Scripture was far from the Thoughts of those said Prisoners and that which they would have abominated and rejected with Abhorrence if they had then been Charg'd therewith Thus the Perversion and Injury done by F. B. c. in this Matter is apparent in his putting Mens dark Notions for the Holy Scriptures The said Prisoners called Babylon's Merchants Rabble of Notions Beastly Ware but F. B. says it is the Scriptures which they so call what a shameful Liar and Perverter is this He pretends to prove W. Penn a Liar for once p. 38. Brief History But 't is more true that he is more than once yea often prov'd a Liar and gross Defamer of others and that his pretended Pious Endeavours by you his Approvers and Ministers aforesaid are proved very Impious and you may Answer for him and Vindicate him if you please or can since you have given him such high Approbation and Congratulation which he has divulged to your Disgrace for F. B's Answering by repeating Calumnies and Slanders against us will deserve little further notice since so often unanswerably Confuted already and if you his Approvers will not adventure to attempt his Vindication as well as Approbation nor yet shew any publick dislike of his Abuses scandalous and reproachful Scribling but leave him to his own Vindication and farther to reproach us we may take it as an Indication that you are Conscious his Defaming Work is not justifiable nor warrantable in the sight of God or Just Men and that you have over-shot your selves in his Approbation and the more guilty your selves in suffering Sin to lye upon him without just Reproof suitable to his publick Offence and Crime against Truth But if you will be mute in this Matter and suffer him to persist in his wonted Course of Vilifying and Abusing us without your publick Reprehension or Dislike thereof then may you be farther justly called in question and Exposed thereupon for your neglect of Justice CHAP. VI. A Brief Answer to Fr. Bugg's Two Printed Papers Dated March 1696. TO his Printed Paper unduly Stiled George Whirehead's Oath unjustly Accusing the Quakers with Prevaricating about Swearing His Story hereupon both first As to the Form of the Oath pretended Secondly And as to its being Read to him G. W. affirms he is wronged in this Accusation and Story by F.B. and that he is not Conscious to himself thereof but as preferring Truth 's Reputation before his own patiently suffers and bears it among many other Personal Injuries Misrepresentations and Detractions cast upon him by this Adversary whom I ask 1. F. B. who was thy Informer about this said Oath pretended 2. Out of what Book was it Read to G. W. and by whom 3. Suppose I had failed of our Principle in that Case as I have not hast thou done either fairly or justly thence to asperse the Quakers in general with Prevaricating about Swearing Must they all suffer for my Fault if I had committed it which I did not as many can Witness As to the Association and his taunting Insinuations concerning the King and Government and our Affection and Fidelity towards them and forming an Address for us like an Officious Agent we hope we have given that Satisfaction as to our Innocency which this and the rest of our most Inveterate Adversaries cannot extinguish and the Acceptance and Favours which as a People we have received through God's Providence from the Government no doubt does vex and fret this our Implacable Adversary seeing his many Attempts and strenuous Endeavours to render us Obnoxious and to Incense the Government against us and by his utmost Endeavours that way to prevent our Belief are so manifestly disappointed and frustrated Blessed and Praised be our God for Ever who hath attended our Endeavours But let it be observed how sordid brutish and unnatural it was in F. Bugg so strenuously to labour to prevent the Quakers Relief in the Case of Oaths since he Married his Son into an Honest Family of Quakers so called and appeared very officious as I am credibly informed to promote the Marriage as if he would rather have them also Ruined than Relieved As to our Christian Confession of Christ his Divinity and Humanity and his Glorious Body in Heaven we have sufficiently and sincerely evinced according to Holy Scripture against this Adversary and other Opposers which they are not able to Confute knowing also that we are not necessitated to give farther Answer to his Impertinent Questions especially since his Work is so much falsly to Accuse and Asperse us with sly and unjust Insinuations to render us Offensive and Obnoxious to the Government Besides One Fool may ask more Questions than Twenty Wise Men may Answer To F. Bugg's Paper Stiled A Brief Reply which with the other before-mentioned he having delivered at the House of Lords which one of them gave me His false Charge of our Contempt of Christ and the Scriptures being Answered and Refuted before in several Answers to his Malicious Books and Pamphlets he proceeds in his wonted Course of Perversion and Defaming still for which he frequently quotes his own Presumptuous Authority and Refuted Pamphlets As to his offence at the Words he Cites of an Imagined God beyond the Stars and their Carnal Christ. We say First The True Infinite and Omnipresent God tho' in Heaven above yet is not confined or limitted to beyond the Stars nor can the Heaven of Heavens contain Him 2. The True Lord Jesus Christ who Ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things He is not a
A Sober Expostulation With some of the CLERGY Against their Pretended Convert FRANCIS BVGG His Repeated Gross Abuse of the People called QVAKERS in his Books and Pamphlets viz. His New Rome Arraigned History of Quakerism Second Summons Picture of Quakerism And other Pamphlets which may serve to Invalidate the Authority of the Snake in the Grass as it refers to his Books He that inventeth a Slander is a Fool Prov. 10. 18. A Fool rageth and is confident Prov. 14. 16. He flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity is found to be hateful Psal. 36. 2. London Printed for T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street and at the Bible in Leaden-hall-Street near the Market 1697. ERRATA PAGE 2. l. 23. for Principle read Principal p. 6. l. 4. r. to his p. 7. l. 28. f. Antimonarchicate r. Antimonarchical p. 8. l. 14. f. whither r. whether p. 30. l. 13. f. Letters r. Letter p. 31. l. 27. f. for r. so p. 32. l. 22 23. i. e. the first impression add a Parenthesis p. 52. l. 11. f. Thundred r. Thundring ibid. l. 31. f. in r. to p. 54. l. 21. f. Nature r. Name ibid. l. 24. f. Relation r. Relative p. 59. l. 7. f. snared r. skared p. 70. l. 2. f. Detection r. Detected p. 76. l. 8. f. Again r. Against p. 93. l. 14. f. placed r. places p. 98. l. 10. add in the Margent See p. 104. p. 104. l. 20. add in the Margent See p. 98. p. 108 l. 22. f. Belief r. Relief p. 115. l. 24. f. who r. whom p. 120. l. 2. f. 's r. see ibid. l. 18. f. Witness r. Wretch TO THE READER Impartial Reader THE Ensuing Answers were severally drawn up soon after the several Books and Pamphlets of Francis Bugg referred to were Extant but the Printing thereof delayed thus long 1. That we might see what more he would bring forth be being a Contentious Scribler against us that they might be all Remarked if he brought forth any more of like Import 2. His other Books and Pamphlets published before these against us were mostly so fully Answer'd and his Apostacy Malice and Abuses so fully and clearly Detected that his evil and fruitless Attempts are of so little Credit with all Sober Indifferent Persons that have viewed them that we thought our selves the less obliged to use Expedition in the Publication of particular Answers to each 3. We finding him not able to Clear himself from his many Lies Slanders Absurdities and Contradictions Charged upon him in our former Answers nor to make any Rational Replies Answers or Rejoinders thereunto but rather to repeat and impose his former Gross Abuses instead of fair Proofs that the less Credit they are of the less we are affected therewith and the less concerned to follow him with expeditious Answers or Replies And the Reasons why this present Expostulation is divulged is 1. Because we have found no Redress upon our Application and Complaints of his foul Abuses to those of the Clergy whom he seems to Esteem and Affect but that they have rather Strengthened and Incouraged him in his perverse Gainsaying and injurious Abuses and Misrepresentations of the People called Quakers either by their esteeming him an Eminent Convert or giving Certificates in Applause of his Work against the said People 2. Because the said F. Bugg seems to have that Esteem with some of the more Envious Persons even of the Clergy that his Vnjust and Confuted Authority is made use of and quoted against us to Reproach us particularly in that most Virulent Malicious and Persecuting Book stiled The Snake in the Grass 3. Because he does not only boast and flatter himself in the Commendation and Encouragement of those his Ministers concerned but also has most presumptuously and unwarrantably proceeded to divulge an Impeachment on behalf of the Commons of England against our Yearly Meeting also very imperiously from his own Arbitrary Vsurped Authority given out divers Summons and Threats against particular Persons of our Friends who are the King 's Peaceable Subjects And that the Abominable Pride Presumption and Imperiousness of this Pretended Convert may be the more obvious I shall here insert one of his late Summons's sent in Writing to several Places and Persons named as followeth A Third Summons TO John Hubbard Thomas Brewster John Haws Edward Dikes Sen. John Peacock of St. Ives John Cranwell Joseph Carver Samuel Hallifield William Mead Simon Burgis Ambrose Friend John Knight Hearers among the Quakers to bring forth George Whitehead to stand to his own Proposition in his Printed Sheet deliver'd to the Parliament Anno 1698. Intituled The Quakers Vindication c. p. 4. or else your selves to give me a Meeting and timely Notice thereof within Twenty Miles of my Dwelling and then and there openly and publickly justifie the Books of your Teachers or if not possible for you so to do then to Condemn the Errors contained in them for the prevention of further Controversie thereabout if not then know that my Hand will be still heavier upon you if God permit July 20. 1696. Fra. Bugg Sen. Now I shall not need to make any long Remark upon this Summons the Matter bespeaks it self and what Pride Presumption and Insolency it proceeded from in the Man thus to assume to himself a Power to Issue out such a Mandatory and Menacing Summons to so many Persons in divers Counties and Places as London Suffolk Norfolk Norwich Huntingtonshire where the Persons summoned severally reside to bring forth G. W. or themselves to meet him within Twenty Miles of his Dwelling and hereof not to fail at their Peril that is of his heavier Hand upon them See the Ambitions Presumption of this Imperious Person he can presume to Impeach Men in Behalf of the Commons of England he can Issue out high Mandatory and Menacing Summons in his own Name to the King's Subjects to bring forth such a Person as he has most spight against or to appear themselves before his own exalted Highness upon Pain of bringing them under his heavy Hand being threatned that his Hand will be still heavier upon them but all this without producing any Parliamentary or other Legal Authority for such Impeachment Summons or Threat If F. Bugg and his Abettors of the Clergy had such occasions of Advantage against any of us called Quakers which thus affects the Civil Government tending to Infringe the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects I am apt to think we should be rendred highly Obnoxious and Arbitrary if not Guilty of High Misdemeanour but I leave that Matter to the Impartial and Judicious to judge of as I owe him no Ill-will I would not hurt his Person or render Evil for Evil or Revenge upon him His Commanding the Persons Summon'd to bring forth G. W. to stand to his own Proposition mentioned is a meer empty idle Boast false and groundless Crack and Vapour he knows in his own Conscience and 't is well known to many in this
do here follow Some of Francis Bugg's Principal Calumnies and Misrepresentations of the People commonly called Quakers I. F Bugg charged us i. e. at least Twelve of us as being A Pack of False Witnesses and Perjur'd Persons And this from his own Scandalous Mock Trial Conviction and Condemnation unwarrantably acted by him in his New Rome Arraigned Epistle to Bereans p. 7 8 9 10 11. and p. 33. And all this for our Negative Testimony against the matter of his Charge contained in the Four following Articles of his false Accusations against us the said People viz. 2. That they i. e. the Quakers deny Jesus of Nazareth See The Converted Quaker p. 5. 3. That they call Geo. Fox the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem hereupon Bugg also falsly saith That they did not mean Christ but G. Fox 4. And that the Quakers Prophets give witness to Geo. Fox instead of this Christ p. 82. and Chap. 3. p. 16. they say That God Man the Man Christ Jesus who was Born of the Virgin was But a Garment a Vail a Vessel which is expresly contrary to our Principles as Answered in Print His Converted Quaker p. 2. 5. F. Bugg Accuses the Quakers with Contempt of Scripture i. e. the Holy Scripture and as intending down with the Holy Scripture affirming that they say the Holy Scripture is carnal Dust Death and Killeth tho' we find not that saying in any of our Friends Books quoted by him and are sure 't is contrary to our Principle as the foregoing are yet Bugg is not ashamed to say viz. I have not set down one Line or Word as theirs that is not theirs New Rome Arraigned p. 22. Note That these Precedent Accusations are not only expresly contrary to our Principles and Concurrent Testimonies extant in Print both for Jesus Christ the Holy Scripture and Divine Authority thereof but also to F. Bugg's own Testimony in his Book Of Christian Liberty the Second Part Chap. 1st Where he confesseth our Principles Received in the beginning to be Principles of Truth and in our Name and Person Testifieth unto the Holy Scriptures that they are good and a true Declaration of those things which were most surely believed by the Apostles and by us ought to be believed thus far F. Bugg when a kind of a Quaker Besides his Contradiction herein to himself he Confesseth that here we agree i. e. G. Whitehead and himself namely What the Holy Scripture is That we do not Ascribe Holiness to the Paper and Ink or Dead Characters but to the Holy Doctrine and Blessed Precepts therein contained which therefore is called the Holy Scriptures New Rome Arraigned Apol. Intro p. 6 7. Qu. Where then can he Prove either that the Quakers Condemn the Holy Doctrine and Blessed Precepts or Say that the Holy Scripture is Dust Death c. We Challenge him or any of you his Abettors to prove such Contempt or that Saying as the Quaker's or their Principle 6. F. Bugg's Charging the said People called Quakers with Contempt of Governours Reviling Christ's Magistrates accounting Magistracy a Cumbersome Tree and their Principles as being Antimagistratical and Antimonarchicate Note Herein F. Bugg appears Mischeiveously Malicious unjustly to render us Obnoxious to the Civil Government like Judas and the Jews against Christ and rendering him an Enemy to Caesar. 7. His Reproachful Characters to Scandalize the People called Quakers viz. New Rome Rome ' s Sister Rome their Elder Sister and calls those their Brethren that pretend to Sell-Pardons and pray Souls out of Purgatory and saith that these i. e. Quakers follow The Steps of the Jesuits And withal F. Bugg in the Title of his Book in Print New Rome Vnmask'd Scornfully and Reproachfully Termeth G. Whitehead one of her Chief Cardinals Remark Now pray let it be considered Whither Bugg's thus wickedly Misrepresenting the People called Quakers as Papists does not greatly tend to gratifie the Popish Interest by thus Magnifying of it and to lessen and injure the Protestant Interest and Consequently to Contradict and Affront the Government which hath been pleased Legally to Recognize us as Desenting Protestants Qu. Whether F. Bugg's Affront and Contradiction hereunto be not Seditious i.e. to Sow Discord Strife or Contention 8. Because of our Solemnly Declaring to the King and Parliament That we believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given forth by Divine Inspiration And they have accepted this our Declaration and Legally made it a Condition of our Liberty Bugg passeth this Judgment on us the said People viz. The more shame for you to be so Deceitful to give in a Testimony so contrary to your Belief And that the Quakers Pretending to the Parliament they believed them namely the Holy Scriptures to be given forth by Divine Inspiration was to serve a Turn New Rome Arraigned p. 40 42. Remark Herein Bugg hath not only most grosly Belied our Belief for the Holy Scriptures but also Contradicted the Parliaments Charitable Acceptance and Belief of our Testimony therein What Insolency and Audacious Attempt is this Dost thou approve or disallow hereof Bugg also very unjustly accuseth the Quakers that they Revile Christ's Ministers Undervalue his Death and Sufferings Condemn his Laws Despise his Ordinances all which is Expresly contrary to our Principles and how proves he those to be Christs Ministers whom our Friends have Testified against viz. The Covetous Cruel Persecutors Here he Imposeth and shamefully begs the Question 10. Moreover he Treats the said People with these Characters Black-Guard of Lyers Horrible Blasphemers Impudent Imposters Cowards Cunning Sophisters Juglings Legerdemain Great Deceivers Horrible Blasphemers Wretched Imposters That surely Simon Magus never exceeded these Imposters Acts 8. With much more such like Outragious Railery and Defaming Treatment too tedious here to recite being far Louder in Clamours than Proof Barking loud at a Distance but fearful fairly to Ingage NOW Friend Smithies seeing thou hast refused to Personate thy Convert F. Bugg or to be his Advocate or Vindicate him in his Charges and Books against the People called Quakers as I Proposed to thee and Offered thee a Meeting for that End I desire to know of thee If thou wilt please to give a Check to him and put a Stop to his defaming the People called Quakers in Print or if he refuseth thy Advice thereunto If thou wilt give publick Testimony against him by disowning his perverse Work and tell the World he is Heady and Wilful and no real Convert If neither it will Reflect upon thee Note But to this Enquiry or Letter I never received Answer from William Smithies as yet I Hear he is again Printing against us supposed as one Bent in his Malice to Scandalize us which we resolve with God's Help not not to lye under for we are assured he has wickedly Wronged and Misrepresented our Christian Religion and
Principles and Shamefully and Undeservedly Scandalized particular Persons both Living and Dead and an Innocent People also As we hope in Christ ever to approve our selves both in in the sight of God and Men with due Honour to Jesus Christ in all his Works and Sufferings and tender Respect to the Holy Scriptures As by the Harmony and Concurrence of our Ancient Friends Testimonies is publickly Demonstrated and we can make appear contrary to thy Converts Unjust Pretences and Misrepresentations and therefore if thou dost not put a stop to his Mischevious Attempts which severely Affects both our Christian and Civil Reputations in Rendring us both Blasphemous Imposters and Perjured Persons his Malicious Mischievous Work will Affect thee and some others who have Abetted him and the Cry will be loud and ascend higher than to thy self I hope thou wilt Charitably accept this Information and Advertisement and prudently Consider and make Use of the same London the 1st of the 1st Mouth 1693-94 FROM thy Friend and Well-wisher Geo. Whitehead Expecting shortly thy Ingenuous Answer c. But no Answer yet CHAP. II. A Copy of a Letter to Isaac Archer Vicar of Milden-Hall Suffolk London the 2d of the 1st Month 1693-94 Friend Isaac Archer I Desire thee Charitably to accept these Lines and prudently to Consider them for the Truth 's Sake as also for thy own Reputation I remembering how Officious thou wast in Accompanying and Abetting thy Follower and Disciple F. Bugg in the publick Disturbance he made of our Friends-Meeting at Milden-Hall the 30th of the 2d Month called April 1691. Contrary to the Intent of the present Government and of the Law of our Liberty in the peaceable Exercise of our Religious Worship toward Almighty God and how thou with him then Deemed our said Meeting an unlawful Conventicle because our Friends there had omitted a Circumstance of Law in not entring that Meeting-House upon Record as the Law directs which did not bespeak a Charitable Disposition on thy part towards us And also how thou hast Gratified Encouraged and Abetted the said F. Bugg if he writes true of thee by giving thy Approbation for his Abusive Book Which he saith he hath recited only an Abridgment thereof in his most Scandalous Book Stiled New Rome Arraigned as followeth viz. I do own the Substance of this Book as a Defence of those Eternal Truths by which I hope for Salvation and which are as a Comfort to me in my Pilgrimage Peace be to those that own them and the Lord open the Eyes of them that deny them Isaac Archer Now thou having thus far Countenanced F. Bugg and approved of his Writing against us as a People who are commonly called Quakers Please to Consider how far his Injurious Work of Envy and Contention against us and the Consequences of it may Affect thy Self and thy Reputation And therefore for thy Information and Caution I hereby give thee a short Recital of some of F. Bugg's Notoriously False Charges against the said People called Quakers where he chargeth them 1. With denying Jesus of Nazareth 2. Contempt of Holy Scriptures 3. Calling us Perjured Persons for our Negative Testimony against his so charging us and thereupon acting his Mock Trial forging our Answers and Erecting the form of a Pillory and therein Scandalizing divers Citizens and Tradesmen in and about London as Perjured Persons tho' Persons of good Repute and Credit better than himself thereby Affecting not only their Christian but Civil Reputations 4. Contempt of Governours and being against Magistracy in Principles he also Charges upon the said People giving them these Characters viz. New Rome Rome ' s Sister the Papists their Brethren and that they follow the Steps of the Jesuits 5. Terming one of their approved Ministers one of her chief Cardinals i. e. New Rome's 6. Our Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration he renders Deceitful and Contrary to our Belief and to serve a Turn 7. He Accuses the said People with reviling Christ's Ministers undervaluing Christ's Death Sufferings all which is expresly contrary to the said People's Faith and Principles 8. Terming the said people Black-Guard of Lyers Impudent Imposters Cowards Horrible Blasphemers Wretched Imposters and such as Simon Magus never exceeded cum multis aliis c. With many more such like gross Calumnies and Raileries are Bugg's Malicious Books stuft with all to render us Odious and Obnoxious in the Eye of the Government and Nation for which the Righteous God will Judge him and his Abettors for such his Intolerable and Mischievous Attempts Please to observe that tho' F. Bugg by his Partial Picking Words and Broken Sentences out of some Ancient Books of George Fox Edward Burrough's and Isaac Penington's he would seem thereby to Colour such his false and erroneous Charges before cited and Fallaciously cast them on a whole Body of People yet the same Books of theirs in other Passages explanatory and more plain do clear them and their Principles as to their sincerely owning Jesus of Nazareth highly Esteeming the Holy Scriptures truly owning Magistracy and so far from Popery as that they were in their Day true Witnesses against it and against all Idolatry and Superstition and that our Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration was sincere on our parts and in the sight of God according to our Belief and Principle as by many of our Books and Testimonies is Evinced as also that we highly Esteem and Value Christ's Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for the Reconciliation of Mankind unto God as by the Harmony and Concurrence of our publick Testimonies and solemn Confessions which have been Extant for many Years is clearly and fully Demonstrated whatever F. Bugg and his Abettors have Maliciously Suggested to the contrary against us whose work of deadly Malice and Persecution therein does not only affect our Christian and Civil Reputation but the Civil Government under which we Live and with true Gratitude enjoy our present Liberty in the Exercise of our tender Consciences towards Almighty God in point of Worship For 1. Bugg's Rendering our said Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture deceitful on our parts This is to go about to Invalidate and Destroy a Principal Condition of our Present Liberty and to confront the Government 's acceptance of our said Declaration 2. Bugg's Unjustly and Maliciously Representing the said People called Quakers under these Black and Odious Characters of New Rome Rome ' s Sister and as Brethren to the Papists following the Steps of Jesuits c. And Consequently no better nor other than Papists Whereupon I ask thee these Questions viz. 1. Does not this greatly tend to gratifie the Popish Interest by his thus Magnifying of it far bigger than 't is and to lessen and injure the Protestant Interest and consequently to Contradict the Government which has been
e. for Conscience sake be duly gathered truly entered and kept implies their Passive Obedience to the Government wherein they cannot for Conscience sake actively Obey consequently no Sedition nor Design of Subversion to the Government on our Parts either in the said Meeting or Epistles Which said Epistles are no Impositions a◠falsly Charged being Recommended to our own Friends as Concurring with their Antient Testimony received not from Men Assemblies or Humane Contrivance but from Jesus Christ as is our Christian Testimony against that known Oppression of Tythes as Claimed and with severe Persecution Imposed by divers of the Clergy which renders them not only a Burthen or Yoke but the more against Christ as Persecution is tho' our great Offence to this Mocker is to deem Tythes now Antichristian we mean 1. Because Abolished by Jesus Christ. 2. Ab Origine i. e. since ended by Christ as Imposed by the Pope and his Clergy 3. As Imposed and Forced with severe Persecution Imprisonment Sequestrations and Seizures by Pretended Ministers of Christ contrary also to his own express Command Mat. 10 8. as well as to his true Ministers Example 4. Contrary also to the sincere Testimony of divers Reformed Protestants and their Martyrs who were both Men of Good Fame Piety and Learning as was John Wickcliff William Swinderby Walter Brute William Thorpe and the Bohemians with others mentioned in the Book of Martyrs c. did bear Testimony against the Corruption of the Popish Clergy and against Tythes and Compelled Maintenance by the Civil Authority and this of their opposing Tythes was made a principal Article against them by the Papists as more largely appears in the first Volume of Martyrs in the Reigns of Richard II. Henry IV. and Henry V. To this the Mocker gives us but a very slim Answer and poor Come-off viz. By which you seem to make no difference between a Popish and Protestant Clergy for which the Church of England will not thank you p. 1. Pray observe what a silly Argument this is as if that which is a Sin and Antichristian in Papists were not a Sin in such Protestants who are guilty of the same Fact but testified against by true Protestants and Martyrs and yet therein no Contrivers of Sedition or Conspiracy to Subvert the Government as in effect we are Injuriously Accused by this Cruel Mocker the principal Article of his Charge or Impeachment being that of deeming Tythes as now Claimed by Priests Antichristian or against Christ although for this we Cited both John Wickcliff in particular and William Thorpe also more at large who expresly saith Those Priests that will Challenge or Take Tythes deny that Christ is come in the Flesh which to do ☞ is Antichristian Did not William Thorpe deem them Antichristian then And has not this Mocker then like the Papists Accused these Martyrs and others Testimony as tending to Sedition and Subversion of the Government as well as he has done by the Quakers But the Cruel Mocker mutely gives the Go-by to William Thorp's Testimony and John Wickcliff's also against endowing the Priests with Tythes and Temporal Possessions largely Cited against him in our Answer to his Impeachment p. 2 3 4. All this he silently passes by and instead of entering into the Merits of the Cause thereupon he repeats and aggravates his Impeachment and Charge with Persecuting Invectives fleeing to and preferring the Secular Power to Christ's Power and Humane Law to Christ's Law as what is made Law at Westminster is made Vnlawful at your Yearly Meeting yea a Grand Oppression and Antichristian Yoak and as such you Charge and Command your People not to pay Tythes p. 2. But where we do so Charge and Command he shews us not we find it not in our Epistles which he grounds his Impeachment upon He Argues not like a Christian but like a Temporizing Persecutor in preferring a Humane Law to Christ's Law If Tythes were Abolisht by Christ's Law as the said Martyrs Argue who therein were not guilty of Sedition or Treason by preferring Christ's Prerogative and his Law to all Temporal Power and Laws His Accusing me with refusing to meet him according to my Proposal p. 9. and saying I find G. W. will not come forth himself he feareth the Fate of Hungate the Jesuit against Hall p. 11. are both notoriously false the contrary is well known first G. W. earnestly pressed for a meeting with him according to his own Proposal which was To make it appear before any Six Ten or Twelve Competent WITNESSES who are Moderate Men of Sence and Common Reason that Fr. Bugg has grosly Abused and Perverted Truth and Wronged the People called Quakers both in Charge Citation and Observation c. and this is all fully proved against him in the afore-mentioned Answers quoted in the Preface and which Proposal G. W. never declined but F. B has evaded and perverted it Instead of so many Witnesses to bear Witness to what passed he 's for the Judgment and Decision of so many Episcopalians Presbyterians Independents and Bapists whose Hand he confesseth is against G. W 's Impeachment p. 2. So that F. B. would not be content with their being Witnesses only as G. W. proposed but must have them Judges for Decision that he might be sure aforehand to have G. W. Condemned by a Party against and contrary to him even in some Points of Doctrine concerned in the Difference yet would have G. W. submit to their Judgment and Decision or else no meeting with him Witnesses as proposed by G. W. would not be accepted but Judges for Decision which was to pre-engage G. W. to submit and give away his Religion Faith and Conscience aforehand to Persons of different Perswasions Oh sad Oh dark Oh irreligious Witness yet if esteemed Moderate the more fit to be Witnesses of the Controversie than Judges or Lords over G. W. his Conscience and Faith who dare trust them with the former but may not submit to the latter As also the Evidence of any Moderate Men tho' of different Perswasions might be trusted to decide whether F. B. had rightly and truly Cited and Quoted the right Book and Page but whether he had thence fairly observed the true Sence thereof this would include some Matters of Doctrine and Conscience wherein G. W. and all true Christians refuse to be Imposed upon by opposite Parties To pass by many of F. B's foul Aspersions and cruel Mockings in p. 4. he perverts both mine and Isaac Penington's Words and Intentions as where in Counterfeit Convert p. 72. I said I may see cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same whereupon F. B. thus observes viz. The English of which is though Is. Penington deny Jesus of Nazareth to be Christ and make HIM but a Vail a Garment c. and G. W. confess him to be Christ yet they mean all one thing ONLY a Garment And the Light that was therein Crucified is the Christ p. 4. Answer