magnified be our Light within which hath thus exalted us above the Prophets above the Apostles above the Martyrs and above all Christians as our dear Brother G. W. hath most excellently made it out First In opening his Text and also in the two Branches proceeding from it but more especially in the Use and Application where he hath confirmed me in not making Confession of Sin nor regarding the Ten Commandments nor those two Ordinances of Baptism and Supper all which is ratified and confirmed by G. Fox's Journal laying there on the Table But yet I have a short Testimony to bring in touching the Priests which I think our Friend G. W. left out unawares for I take it to be as necessary an Ancient Testimony to be kept up as any other only a little more Privately and Prudently for they are as great Enemies to our Design of Supplanting Christianity as any the World afford But however though we are the same we were and are not changed yet besure you do not admit that we are the first Challengers or that we begin with the Priests But to shew you in private that we were always the Beginners of all Controversies and what Cause we had for it I therefore bring in my Testimony and my Proof for the Antiquity of my Testimony shall be out of Edw. Burrough's Epistle to G. F.'s Great Mystery Printed 1658. viz. And the Word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the Deaf to hear and the Blind to see and the Dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and Terror took hold on our Enemies And first of all our Mouths were Opened * * Then the Quakers began and our Spirits Filled with Indignation against the Priests and Teachers ††True every Word and with them and against them we first began to War as being the Causers of the People to err and the Blind Leaders that carried the Blind into the Ditch and against them as the Fountain of all Wickedness abounding in the Nations and as being the Issue of Prophaneness and against them we cried shewing unto all these People that they were not Lawful Ministers of Christ but Deceivers and Antichrists and we spared not Publickly * * Then why should you be spared and at all Seasons to utter forth the Judgments of the Lord against them and their Ways and their Churches and Worships and Practices and this was our first Work ††So it was my first Work to thresh down the Quaker Deceivers we entered upon to Thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all People may see their Shame and come and turn from them neither can we pray for the Priests but for their Destruction c. And this Testimony lay upon me to bear which is in all Parts according to our Ancient Testimony Truth 's Defence c. by G. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 15. Printed 1653. For my Dear Friends and Brethren read our great Apostle G. Fox's Primer W. Smith's Primer in which there is not a Verse of Scripture quoted by which you may be sure it is agreeable to our Ancient Testimony Again read Saul's Errand to Damascus and A Three-fold Estate of Antichrist The Quakers Challenge And from all these Books you may gather that by the false Ministry we mean such as Preach out of the Scripture such as Preach a Christ without and bid People believe on him as he is in Heaven above And you 'll see first by Reprinting Edw. Burrough's Epistle 1672. and by W. Smith's Works which render the Bishops Monsters and the Clergy Witches Devils Sorcerers Jesuits Blasphemers Bloodhounds Antichrists Sodomites and an Hundred such Names This Beloved is according to our Ancient Testimony only let us word the Matter so now as to make them believe we mean not the present Clergy but those in former Days Benjamin Bealing Clerk Let us sing an Hymn of Praise and Self-Exaltation and to the Confusion of our Adversaries as you will find it written in the Epistle General of that Son of Thunder Edw. Burrough prefixed to our Apostle George Fox's Great Mystery Printed 1658. The Waters have I seen dry'd up the Seat of that great Whore Who hath made all Nations drunk with her inticing Power And caused the whole Earth She hath Her Fornication Cup to take Whereby Nations have long time err'd on whom She long hath sate But now her Miseries are seen Her Witchcrafts are discover'd And She no more shall Men deceive for Day-Light is appear'd And the Bed woful I have seen of Torments great prepar'd Whereon She must be cast and Plagues must not be spared But Woe to Her the Cup of Wrath is fill'd Her to receive And as to others she hath done the same She shall now have And Drink She must of that full Cup of God's fierce Indignation And then shall all Her Lovers mourn and make great Lamentation For Fire in Her is kindled which must Her all consume Behold Her Smoak ascendeth Day and Night up to Heaven The Antichrists who hath put on and cover'd with Sheeps cloathing And long-rul'd King on Nations Inwardly Ravening Who hath devour'd God's Heritage and had a Kingdom great I have seen Him made War against and Truth give Him Defeat Behold the Whore Her Flesh is burnt Her Beauty doth now fall She that is all Harlots great Mother whose Daughters are Whores all The Close of the Meeting by George Whitehead Friends I have still one Word of Exhortation as you will find it in the Prophecy of our deceased Brother Samuel Fisher touching Magistracy and Government which being according to our Ancient Testimony I could not well omit viz. * * * Sam. Fisher's Works p. 19 20. observ'd by Mr. Boothhouse I will hold my Peace no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so prophanely commit and do daily against my Chosen but will utterly subvert and overturn them and bring the Kingdoms and Dominions and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven into the Hands of the Holy Ones †††Meaning the Quakers of the most High and give unto my Son and his Saints to reign over all the Earth And take ALL the RULE and AUTHORITY and POWER that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints and put it down among all the rest as one of his greatest Enemies under his Feet saith the Lord. For tho' the World take no Delight in them yet I take Pleasure in my People saith the Lord And I will beautifie my Meek Ones * * * Meek Quakers with Salvation and I will put my high Praise into their Mouths and a Two-edged Sword into their Hands †††Mark this is your Ancient Testimony as well as Prophecy writ 1656. and they shall execute Vengeance upon the Heathen and Punishments upon the People and shall bind their Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and execute upon them
as they say I should have proceeded to as many Instances of their Pretence to Spiritual Discerning but I shall mention but two viz. George Fox in his Great Mystery c. p. 89. viz. The Quakers can discern who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a Word Another Place like unto it is in Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. thus None need to give us Discerning or Judgment Christ hath furnished us already and doth on all Occasions But that I may do the Quakers Justice let me give one Instance where I may shew that the Quakers differ in Doctrine from the Romish Church and if I mistake not from all other Christian Churches And indeed that is one main Reason why I thus Unmask New Rome For as A. S. the Roman Catholick said so say I as in his Reconciler of Religions c. p. 2. The true Church Militant is composed of Good and Bad of Wheat and Tares c. To this Josiah Coale in his Whore Vnvailed c. p. 10. replies like himself i. e. like a right Quaker saying Which thing I do abominate to acknowledge And it is Blasphemy the true Church is not composed of Wheat and Tares of Good and Bad but of Good only * See pag. 254 to pag. 284. whether their Church be all Wheat Another of their Teachers in his Book A Rod to drive out the Wild Boars c. says There is no Hypocrite in the true Church they that say there are Hypocrites in the true Church do erre from the Spirit of Truth c. Read the Fourteenth Chapter herein and see whether the Quakers have not Erred or whether that Grain looks like Wheat nay not so good as Tares but meer Darnel And as to their Fling at me about my Compounding as in their Anguis Flagellatus c. p. 432. I shall say little of it in this place but referr to Chap. 15. herein pag. 295 to pag. 307. only thus much I may add That there was but about a Third Part of my Creditors that Compounded at 10 s. in the Pound the rest I have and must Pay the Whole Nay some of those that did Compound I have since Paid the Whole And this Offer I now make That if the Quakers will Engage that those of their Profession shall Pay me what they Broke in my Debt or that Died in my Debt and have not paid me I then will promise to pay every Man to a Groat and if so the Quakers have no great cause to boast And yet I can in good Conscience say that great part of my difficulties have been by and through the great injustice and implacable malice of my Adversaries the Quakers who have yet no reason since my labour have been for their good though against their Wills and for which they have by all their endeavours sought my Ruin And their resolutions herein have been very strong and prosecuted with great vigour For as on the one hand they have used all possible means to render me unworthy of the Clergies notice a hint whereof you have in p. 299. so on the other hand some of them have suggested by private insinuations to my Creditors that they need not to comply for that the Clergy would assist me nay one Quaker nearly Related to me by Marriage and for whom I have done divers good offices it may be more than any Man living no nearer related than I was yet he reported to a Kinsman of his in order to blast my Reputation when I had most need of his good word and assistance that I designed to Sell my Estate and leave my Wife and Children which thing I call Heaven and Earth to witness I never designed nor did it ever enter into my heart And much more to this purpose could I relate which I shall not but desire to pass by all their Unkindness and Ingratitude in the Day of my Adversity being truly thankful to God in the first place and to his Servants in the next who have enabled me to continue to this Day not only to live free from want but to maintain my Family with all things necessary even beyond what I could have expected for in all Humane probability had not God raised me up Friends I had been miserable enough by reason my Adversaries rage was so extensive who thirsted after nothing more than my utter Ruin as I could shew were it needful in many cases And thanks be to God through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose Cause I have been ingaged though a weak and unworthy Instrument and for whose Sake nothing has been to dear too part withal he has raised me Friends and made me able to say as one of old did That I have been able to run through a Troop and to leap over a Wall which I once thought would have been too high for me so that I will not fear what Man can do unto me for God will scatter mine Enemies and confound mine Adversaries and raise me Friends in despite of the Rage of Satan and all his Instruments But since in their late Prints and Appeals the Quakers do so magnifie their own honesty I shall as I have in the Cage of Unclean Birds p. 249. to p. 286. once more add to the number a third sort not at present thinking it needful to add the fruits of others that lye snuge in the Cage and which as yet have not seen it needful to shew their Feathers since the hint already given have had some effect and I hope may have more towards their Humiliation and Amendment But that they may see if yet they do not see that they are left like other Men and overtaken with the same Infirmities I shall set forth not only Ten of their Teachers of great Note but likewise Ten of their Hearers for I love to proceed by number and weight not that I shall this time put John Kilborn and some others into the Cage to their fellow Birds but as I said in regard they so often brag of their honesty in meum and tuum I shall therefore briefly observe to them and for their Humiliation if by any means they may be wrought upon to be Humbled a few of their miscarriages on that Account that their vain pretence to a Sinless Perfection may be retracted and at last come to make Confession of their Sins and Repent thereof and Amend their ways 1. The first I shall name of this sort is Gerald Roberts who was the greatest Entertainer of G. Fox in that Day a great Preacher and one who kept the Publick Stock into whose custody was put a Rich Orphan worth 4000 l. namely Abijah Trot who by the consent of G. Fox and Alex. Parker got her Married to his Son against the Executors consent i. e. R. Cannam and Fran. Camfield against which clandestine proceeding of Fox Parker and Roberts I have much to say which at present I forbear But he broke 2. Tho
Man Christ do they now own to this Day if they would speak their Thoughts However their Writings prove it and till they condemn them all they alledge to the contrary is nothing worth Well however I and others were catched by these and the like fallacious Arguments not being well grounded in the Principles of the Christian Religion nor understanding the Wiles of Satan and by their smooth and fair Carriage by their suffering patiently the Affronts they then met with And I cannot but still remember how our Minister warned us of the Doctrine of the Quakers and told us they were Deceivers and Antichrists even those Deceivers which Christ foretold us should arise shewing Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect Matth. 24.24 (b) Which I now also believe But by this their pretended Patience in Suffering by their so much insisting on the Dictates of our Consciences which prompts to Good and checks for some Evils with other fair Words and seeming nay real Truths with which they covered over their poysonous Pills of Schism and Heresie many of us were deceived Again when I saw so much Plainness and seeming Sincerity in the Quakers and consider'd how our Minister lived it was another Motive to induce me to go after the Quakers for our Minister lived with my Father I do think some Years my Father was the chief Man that got him into the Place But both then and afterwards he was such not so exemplary as he ought to have been and I not being capable to judge of the Doctrinal Part I was carried away in my Affections being more apt to be led by Example than Precept which is not always safe However I do believe it was the offensive Practice of our Minister which I beheld in divers Particulars which was one Cause of my Stumbling whereby I fell unhappily into that Schism Not that I now judge the Occasion by him given was or is warrantable for a Separation from an Established Church Observations on the Second Chapter NOW therefore I intreat all concerned in the Ministerial Office as Pastors That they beware they give no ill Example to their Flock contrary to what becomes their Sacred Function but when they Preach well let them Practice so as believing what they say so will their People believe them to be in earnest But if they Preach never so Orthodoxly and tho' their Sermons be never so much Learned yet if they do not live in some tolerable sort answerably their People will Question Whether they believe what they teach and as a Consequence thereof will take that Liberty in Living which is not becoming Christians Or else if Seducers come will be apt to separate themselves in Hopes to get under a purer Ministry which when they come afterwards to examine they may find it to be only in Shew Notwithstanding such is the Prevalency of Example CHAP. III. Gives an Account of the Quakers Silent Meetings and the Tendency of them In which I shall speak sometimes in the Person of a Quaker respecting the time I was one HAving by this time fallen in with the Quakers in a few Years I became very zealous that way and to Silent Meetings I went and sometimes we had a few Words spoken sometimes none sometime an Epistle of George Whitehead's George Fox's Sam. Cater's or some others read in our Meetings and sometimes none But the chief of what we did hear either from our inspired Infallible Teachers or from our Friends Epistles in those private Silent Meetings was To exhort us to wait in the Light out of our Selves out of our Thoughts out of our Willings and Runnings in that which is invisible and then we should receive the hidden Manna yea Manna from Heaven which the World knew not of and that we should feel Christ to come the second time to Judgment and that Judgment was to begin at the House of God which House was our Bodies And from hence divers of us fell oft into a Trembling and Shaking I have seen about five or six together in a Meeting shake like a Leaf in Winter namely Matthew Beesly Jonas Skrook William Eyson and others yea they have shaken the Forms they sat on and this not once nor twice but frequently I do very well remember that John Kilborn the Elder did one Sunday in our Meeting fold his Arms and stood upright and by and by leaped and jumped about 18 Inches at a time until he jumped round the Room I know that some are alive still that know these things are true But let it be noted not a Chapter in the Bible was ever read amongst us but all exhorted to adhere to the Light within to obey the Light within and to follow the Teachings thereof as a Guide sufficient to lead us to Salvation yea above Scripture above Fathers above Councils and above Churches Fran. Howgill's Works p. 602 to 627. This I now confess was a Paradox not Orthodox but absolutely Heterodox For let the Scripture command Subjects to be obedient to Magistrates Children to obey their Parents Wives to reverence their Husbands and live in Subjection to them Servants to obey their Masters Christians to obey their Pastors all this signified little the Light within our Teachers taught us was Christ and Christ the Power of God the higher Power to which every Soul was to be subject yea all Power in Heaven and in Earth was committed to the Light Perverting John 5.23,24 Acts 17 to 31. See Josiah Coal's Works p. 93. And that no Command in Scripture was any further binding than as we were convinced of the Lawfulness thereof by the Light within us Ed. Burrough's Works p. 47. So that all our Obedience to God and his Commands were bottomed and founded on our Conviction by the Light within that being the only Rule Judge and Guide both superior to the Scriptures Fathers and Councils Quakerism a New Nick-name for Old Christianity by W. Penn p. 71. For said they to us That what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. By which it is self-evident That these Silent Meetings were designed to wean us off from so much as the Remembrance of all External Religion and also to prepare us to receive the false Notions of Quakerism for had they indeed exhorted us to have regard to our Light within and the Dictates of our Consciences which prompts to Good and checks for many Evils in Obedience to the Commands of Holy Scripture this would have been safe for I believe we ought so to do and 't is the same the Ministers of the Church of England press and exhort us to Oh! but this would not do our Teachers Business they must bring us off from the Scripture Commands as inferior to their Sayings and Speakings for the Book last quoted is said to be given forth from the
World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath Ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead I say Is it so And have the Quakers perverted these Texts in St. John and put on a new Translation saying All Power in Heaven and Earth is committed to their Light Quoting John 5.23 Josiah Coal's Works p. 93. This is a bold Attempt this is most Horrible if not Blasphemy thus to subvert the Gospel to serve their Corrupt Ends. How wary then had People need be of receiving the Quaker's Doctrine Is it so that People being thus caught in a Snare and brought over to their Silent Meetings and thereby weaned and drawn off from the Principles and Practices of the Christian Churches in all Ages as Baptism the Lord's Supper the Lord's Prayer Ten Commandments the Apostles Creed Confession of Sin and reading the Scriptures in their Meetings in the Worship of God Oh! what Care ought to be taken that these People should be shunned and these false Worshippers be rejected as a contagious Disease Is it so that the Quakers hold that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of greater Authority than the Holy Scriptures which was ever since the Days of Christ and his Apostles brought as a Proof to cast the Ballance in all Controversies And do they indeed hold as their Books teach That that is no Command of God to me what he commanded to another and that no Command in the Scripture is any further obliging upon any Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience as W. Penn and their Prophet Burroughs teach Burrough's Works p. 47. Quakerism a new Nick-name c. p. 71. This surely is the Womb of all Iniquity in the World this opens the Flood-Gates to all Errour Atheism Deism Socinianism Arianism and what not This therefore ought to precaution all People to beware how they receive the dangerous Pill of Quakerism how excellently soever it is covered with some plausible Pretensions and fair Arguments Is it so that the Quakers have not nor ever had since the Days of Symon Magus none like them amongst the Christian Churches who denied the Ordinances of Baptism Supper and Confession of Sin but John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton How then does it behove their Followers to examine the Doctrine and Practice of their Teachers and to turn from them and flee as for their Lives CHAP. IV. Shews that this Anarchy did not last long but a Government was set up Sometimes a Single Person as Pope over us and sometimes the Light in the Body of Friends claimed a Power over the Light in the Particular FOR after we became dead to the Rudiments of the World as we accounted those Christian Duties commanded by Christ and his Apostles and practised by Christian Churches downwards as Baptism Supper Confession of Sin c. and became stedfast and fixed in the Notion of Quakerism of which I gave only a Hint as I passed thro' my Pilgrimage in that Particular then our Teachers began to bethink themselves of the Necessity of a Government in our Church as well as our Neighbours and if a Government then a Governour and this Government must be either Inward or Outward The Inward we had tried and found defective for the Disciple pretended he was enlightned as well as the Apostle and he thought he had as much Right to follow his Guide i. e. his Light within as to follow and obey the Light in his Teacher or the Light in any Man Upon this the Teachers met in Council at London in the Month of May 1666 to settle this so necessary as well as difficult Point and many Arguments passed between the Clergy and Laity viz. between the Teachers and the Deputies At last it was decided That the Body should govern and the Light in the particular should submit to the Light in the Body But still this Body being without a Head seemed like a Monster so that there was a Necessity to find a Head to clap upon this Body Well this Head must either be visible or invisible the latter it could not be for then the least Hearer would plead his Light his Guide his Judge his Leader as the Teachers told them in the beginning when they decoyed them over to them So then it was resolved it must be George Fox he being the first must become our Great Apostle who together with the Body was to Govern from East to West and from North to South Since which time it was in vain for any single Person to plead the Sufficiency of his Light or the Authority of it for to the Light in the Body was all Power in Heaven and Earth committed Jos Coal's Works p. 93. And to support this Glorious Cause Will. Penn wrote a Book wherein he affirmed That it is a Dangerous Principle and Pernicious to True Religion and which is worse it is the Root of Ranterism to assert That nothing is a Duly incumbent upon thee but what thou art perswaded or convinced is thy Duty c. A Brief Examination and State p. 3. This was Printed in 1681 and and written by the same W. Penn who in the Year 1673. wrote his Book stiled Quakerism a New Nick name for Old Christianity where he then Judged it so far from Ranterism to act as they were perswaded that Page 71. he saith No Command in the SCRIPTURE is any farther OBLIGING upon ANY Man than as he finds a CONVICTION upon his Conscience otherwise Men said Mr. Penn should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man c. Thus then it 's plain That with respect to the Commands of God recorded in the Holy Scriptures Men are to be at Liberty they are to obey if they be convinced or perswaded it 's their Duty so to do if not they may by Mr. Penn's Doctrine be at Liberty And so saith E. Burroughs for says he That is no Command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints that we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves c. Burrough's Works p. 47. And if we read on in the same Page we may find that these Commands of God thus rejected by the Quakers unless they have them anew as the inspired Apostles and Prophets had were Baptism and other Ordinances And now let me return to see what things Will. Penn would have done and obey'd Conviction or no Conviction and this will give us some Light into their Mystery of Iniquity thus to reject the Commands of God recorded in Scriptures and teach that none need to obey them unless convinced of the Usefulness of them as they have done these 40 Years GO TEACH ALL NATIONS BAPTIZING c. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME c. When you Pray say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE c. Matth. 28.19,20 Luke 22.19,20
in the Church or amongst them that profess to be Members thereof WE do declare and testifie That the Church with the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ HAVE POWER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SUCH WHO DISSENT FROM THEIR DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE TO HEAR AND DETERMINE THE SAME All Property is now lost unless there be Conformity and Submission like the Star-Chamber and High Court of Justice c. And if any pretend to be of us and in Case of Controversie will not admit to be TRIED by the Church i. e. the Body nor SUBMIT to the JUDGMENT given by the Spirit of Truth in the Elders and Members of the same but kick against their Judgment as only the Judgment of Man WE testifie in the Name of the Lord That if any Judgment so given be risen against and denied by the Party condemned then He or She ought to be rejected as having erred from the Truth and persisting therein presumptuously are joined in ONE with Heathens and Infidels George Whitehead Josiah Coale Stephen Crisp John Moone Thomas Loe Thomas Greene John Whitehead Thomas Briggs James Parke Alexander Parker Rich. Farnsworth c. Having by this time shewed First How our Teachers in order to bring us over to them and to decoy us told us the Light within was a sufficient Guide Teacher and Leader even sufficient to lead to Salvation yea above Scriptures above Fathers above Councils and above Churches I have in the last Instance shewed the Fallacy of their so early and smooth Pretences and that from the beginning they have been a false perfidious and treacherous Tribe of Deceivers as ever the World produced Well now they appear plainly to be a Body and I having found who is the Head of this Body namely George Fox it will not be amiss to recite the Quakers Creed and his Commandments which whatever Quaker do not submit to convinced or not convinced of the Reasonableness of their Obedience it 's now plainly seen what will befall them I need not Comment upon the recited Canon Creed Fox's Commandments nor their Zeal to maintain them as their Ancient Principles altho' God's Commandments by Moses the Apostles Creed and all the Scripture the Quakers slight and reject as not to be read in their Meetings not to be taught their Children nay so proud is G. Whitehead that he tells you as above The Jews might as well have carried them to Christ in the Days of his Flesh Viz. the Ten Commandments for him to learn observe and obey them as for the Christians to carry them to the Quakers to learn observe and obey them Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 18. For saith he What is spoken by the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Bible and Chapters are and greater Burroughs Works p. 47. This is the Tenure and Purport of his Doctrine and I do affirm it 's right Quakerism For Edw. Burroughs said That was no Command from God to me what he Commands to another And W. Penn confirms the whole saying No Command in Scriptures is any further obliging upon ANY Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in Man c. Quakerism a New Nick-name for old c. p. 71. But for their poor infatuated Disciples to plead whether to conform or not whether to obey or not the Commands of G. Fox i. e. not paying Tythes not to be Married with a Priest not to put off the Hat not to open their Shops on Feasts or Fast-Days I say to plead to be left to their Freedom herein and the Grace of God in their Hearts Oh! no Says W. Penn This is a dangerous Principle this is a pernicious Plea this is perfect Ranterism VVhat to have Liberty whether to obey the Commands of the Body given out by the Head thereof This is wicked indeed as by their Yearly Epistle above-recited is plain However I shall recite both the Quakers Creed and the Commands of G. Fox Viz. 1. The Quakers Creed WE believe that the Light within us is the True and Eternal God which Created all things and that by me the Light all things are upheld and that there is not another besides me that can save and thereupon we believe we are endued with the Almighty Power of God and thereby have wrought Miracles and conclude we are equal to God and that our Speaking is of greater Authority than the Bible VVe believe our Light within is Jesus Christ the Son of God the Man Christ Jesus to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed tho' we cannot believe that this our Light within to whom we direct our Disciples to expect Salvation by was ever crucified by Nailing to a Cross nor that he Died or was Buried nor that he was Buffered Spitted upon Smote with the Palms of the Hands of the Jews for he never was seen with Carnal Eyes nor that he Rose from the Dead the Third Day nor that he Ascended in the Sight of the Galileans into Heaven and there Sit at the Right Hand of God but that all Apostate Christians that so teach are false Ministers nor do we believe that our Light within shall come at the last Day to judge both Quick and Dead For the Light within us is the Judge and the Book is opened within the Sentence of Death and Judgment is pronounced within from the Mouth of our Light within against every idle VVord and all the Deeds of the Body within and Judgment is executed within and the flaming Sword within which proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb i. e. our Light within which will cast thee into Hell within where is weeping and wailing within sealed down under the Wrath of God's Eternal Judgment within We believe the Light within us is the Holy Ghost and that these three are one and not distinguishable and that such as talk of three Persons in the Godhead like Conjurers are to be shut up with their three Persons they dream of which they would divide out of one in perpetual Darkness in the Lake and the Pit That the Scripture which the Apostate Christians build their Faith upon for this their Trinity of Persons in the Godhead is a rotten Foundation yea Dust Death and Serpents Meat and therefore their Ministers that tell their People the Scriptures are the Word of God are Deceivers For the Father Son and Spirit the World and their Teachers call three Persons but they speak they know not what therefore believe them not We believe our selves the only Catholick Church and Elect People of God and that none are in the Truth but we our selves We never did in any of our printed Books or printed Prayers from 1560 to 1690 make any Confession of Sin nor ask Pardon of God for Jesus Christ's sake who was Born of the Virgin and why We testifie that the outward Person that suffered at Jerusalem was
in the Power of the Highest in which thou Rules and Governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is Established in Peace and the Increase thereof is without end Judas and the Jews p. 44. Secondly Dear and Precious one in whom my Life is bound up and my Strength in thee stand by thy Breathings I am nourished by thee my Strength is renewed I cannot Reign but in thy Presence and Power Glory unto thee Holy One (p) Holy George for ever John Audland's Letter to George Fox Thirdly George Fox said John Blaikling is blessed with Honour above many Brethren and Thousands will stand by him in a Heavenly Record that his Life Reigns and is Spotless whose Eternal Honour and Blessed Renown shall remain yea his Presence and the Dropping of his tender Words in the Lord's Love was my Soul's Nourishment The Christian disting Part 5. p. 77. Fourthly George Fox a Prophet indeed it was said of Christ that he was in the World and the VVorld was made by him and the VVorld knew him not SO it may be said of this Prophet G. Fox The Quak. Challenge p. 6. Fifthly To confirm all this William Mead now living when he gave William Harris one of George Fox's Journals he said to him Here W. Harris I will give thee one of Geo. Fox's Journals it is a very good Book yea better than the Bible Object 1. But some may say this is only W. Mead's Judgment surely the Quakers do not hold that either their Books or Fox's Journal is better or of greater Authority than the Bible for the Fathers and Councils all submitted to the Test of Holy Scripture as the VVord of God Answ To this I answer That W. Mead is a knowing Man I will not say a wise Man unless in that one Action of his whereby he vigorously opposed W. Penn and endeavoured to exclude him out of their Ministry when he was proclaimed a Traytor to his Country for being charged to be in the Plot with the Lord Preston and others and was therefore forced to hide many Years and for which his Preface to Fox's Journal was not admitted to be bound up with the Journal but waited upon it like a poor Lacquey with its Blue Livery I say this Action of his excepted I will not say he was a wise Man yet as I said he is a knowing Man and spake the Heart of Quakerism in saving George Fox's Journal is better than the Bible First As you have heard 't is question'd by the Quakers VVhether Moses or Hermes was the first Pen-man of the Scripture indeed VVhether either or neither of them The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 17. But as for what G. Fox and Friends write it is from and by the Motion of God's Eternal Spirit and avouched so to be by a General Council of the Yearly Meeting (q) Held at London May 1695. And what any of our Friends speak from the Spirit of Truth is of greater Authority than the Bible and Chapters are Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. Now who can blame W. Mead on the Quakers Principles Is not a Certainty better than an Uncertainty Secondly The Scriptures lay many Obligations upon us it teacheth us the Observation of the Ten Commandments the Lord's Prayer the Apostles Creed Baptism and the Lord's Supper which the Journal does not at all teach nor inforce the Belief of only to listen adhere and hearken to the Light within and to obey its Dictates Therefore as the Journal is most certain so it is most easie and therefore the best Book and of most Authority and on the Quakers Hypothesis confirm all those Particulars above quoted Thirdly The Scripture teacheth to obey Magistrates as the higher Power and that we should submit our selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Matth. 22.21 Titus 3.1 Rom. 13.1,2,3 1 Pet. 2.13,14,17 See also Tindal's VVorks Obedience to a Christian Man c. p. 111. But the Journal p. 40 to 400. and our Friends Books teach both by Precept and Example That the Light in every Man is the higher Power to whom all must submit and obey for to it all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed Jos Coale's VVork p. 93. and that this Light is one in the Male and in the Female but to a proud heady high-minded Man there is no Honour due tho' he be in a place to Rule Smith's Primer p. 43. And if so who can say that W. Mead spake unadvisedly in saying The Journal of Fox is better than the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles I think him a right Quaker a knowing Man and one that loves a Certainty better than an Uncertainty Fourthly The Scriptures teach That VVomen should obey their Husbands yea that they Reverence them and live in Subjection to them as their Head Gen. 3.16 Numb 30 to the end 1 Cor. 11.8 1 Pet. 3.1 Tit. 2.5 Colos 3.18 Ephes 5.22 quoting Sarah as an Example But the Journal teaches That the Light is the higher Power that it is one in the Male and in the Female and 't is the Light in each that is to be obeyed for to that all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed Smith's Primer p. 13. The Journal p. 50 to 450. and that there is to be no respect of Persons and if the VVife conceive her Husband to be gone from the Light and the Guidance of it and she be moved to rebel against her Husband betray his Secrets to his Adversaries yea to give publick Testimony against him she does well and shall have Praise of the same The Content Apostate c. p. 5. And for this Reason the Quakers do not put in or make the VVoman promise by their Marriage Certificate to obey their Husbands which as it is contrary to the Tenure of the whole Book of God both the Old and New Testament so 't is agreeable to G. Fox's Journal and their Antient Testimony See their Marriage Certificate Fifthly In a word the Scriptures teach That Children should obey their Parents and honour their Father and Mother that Servants should obey their Masters that Subjects should submit to their Governours and obey Magistrates that Christians should obey their Pastors who are over them in the Lord who watch for their Souls as those that must give an Account But the Journal p. 20 to 320. teaches the contrary both by Precept upon Precept as also by the Practice of their great Apostle G. Fox who not only broke the Laws in disturbing the Ministers in their Churches but taught so to do not only refused to pay Tythes but taught so to do not only slighted the Magistrates Command who oftentimes commanded a strict Fast to be kept but taught his Followers so to do Nay lately one Thomas Mash an Antient Quaker living at Newberry in Berkshire was moved by his Light within to open his Shop-VVindows on the Lord's-Day as on Market Days and set out his Goods to Sale this the Journal justifies p. 200 to the
thy many Abuses Scorns and Injuries against me c. But Canes timidi vehementius latrant An Account of the Children of Light c. p. 16. I shall conclude this Head in the Words of W. Penn to the Clergy and I shall only turn the Scales and apply it to the Quakers Teachers and hope it may be useful to their Hearers as well as shew Geo. Whitehead thereby how Injurious Scornful and Abusive the Quakers have been to the Clergy who never yet exposed them to Terror but I thank God England is not Pensilvania where the Quakers tho' they cannot Fine Whip Imprison and Fight as Quakers yet they tell you they can as Magistrates The Words are these The Guide mistaken c. p. 43. viz. Tho' manifold are the Stratagems of Satan that old Serpent by which he does surprize the Immortal Souls of Men with most deplorable Woes yet there is none that proves so generally effectual as HYPOCRISIE it 's his Misterium Maximum a Study and Employment fit for none below the Form of his Arch-Angels such make his archest Emissaries and most subtle Meanders sublime Devils masqu'd with a Vizard of Sincerity palliating themselves from what they really are by seeming what as really they are not outsidewash'd Platters Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing inside rotten but outside whited Sepulchres in short the muddy Sensualist (h) T. G. and others knew Crisp to be a great Sensualist if not an Atheist refin'd to a counterfeit Fidelity and Imitation of the Form of Godliness the more unquestionable to Deceive and securely to insinuate candid Apprehensions of his Purpose who is the most impudent Despiser of his God Destroyer of Souls Contemner of Laws Perverter of Truth and Treacherous to the end against whom the Sharpest Woes are denounced and Punishments reserved to Eternity Now how the Quakers (i) W. P. apply it to the Clergy have rendred themselves obnoxious to the Corrector of a Hypocrite has been my Business in this Chapter and will be in the ensuing Discourse farther to manifest c. And thus have I by answering these three Objections shewed the Quaker Teachers their Specialis regula triplex by which they are governed viz. Pride Hypocrisie and Covetousness in which they all agree in Case Gender and Number I do grant I have the Consent of some worthy Gentlemen in this my Undertaking I also grant I have met with Discouragement from some others of equal Worth and Merit who are not so Apprehensive of the Danger of their Errors both respecting the Church and State but no Man hath been privy to or viewed what I have wrote and so I take it wholly upon my self as what I think my self called to And if G. Whitehead or his Associates should threaten me with Terrour as they do G. Keith for his Christian Testimony against their Vile Errours I first let them know they cannot bring me much lower than they have already done next that I am as willing to suffer Three Years and Four Months Imprisonment under their Rage and Fury if God and the Government permit them to execute their Fury so far as ever I was to suffer the like Term when amongst them in Ely and Wisbech Goal and whatever I thought then and what Satisfaction I then had in my Sufferings I have reason to believe I have far more solid Reason for the Cause I am now upon and therefore I shall not spare this painted Reason but lay her bare to the View of her Lovers let her Fret and Fume Rail and Rage never so much for as she have dealt by others (k) Viz. the Magistrates Ministers and People by false Accusations without Mercy so shall I by a true and faithful Testimony from Matter of Fact deal by her without all Pity or Compassion For why should Jezebel be suffered to Seduce the Nation undiscovered Why should she Dialogue the Bishops Contemn the Magistrates Revile the Ministers of the Gospel at their own ungodly Rate without Contradiction No let Gog and Magog join together yet shall there be War proclaim'd against them for ever as long as the Sun and Moon endures CHAP. VII Shews the manner of the Quakers Yearly Meeting or General Council with the Vse of it and the Consequences thereof Reader BY way of Introduction observe that as I begin my Entrance into the Quakers Church-Government with the manner of their ANNIVERSARY SYNOD so I shall compleat the Discovery thereof in a distinct Chapter by it self touching their Yearly Meetings For as all Proceedings in our Courts of Judicature in our Assizes General Quarter-Sessions Monthly Meetings of the Justices of Peace Commissioned by his Majesty are Authorized and derive their Power from Acts of Parliament so all the Proceedings of Monthly Quarterly Six Weeks and Second-day Meetings of the Quakers Government which is a Government within the Government and which is still worse against the Government derive their Power and Authority from their Yearly Meeting where their Acts are made their Orders are framed and their Methods agreed upon in a Parliamentary Way And these in their Order I shall briefly go through beginning with their YEARLY MEETING shewing their way and manner and that part of their Business which I still remember when I was a Member thereof and what else occur to my Memory as well as by the best Information I can get and ending with their YEARLY MEETING shewing their Doctrine by which they influence the Deputies sent from all Parts of England and Wales to agree in Council to maintain their Ancient Testimony c. As to the manner of their House and Meeting therein First They are Men chosen and deputed by all the Quarterly Meetings of the Quakers in England and Wales and sent up to London to sit in Council every Penticost or Whitsun-Week Annually as the Representatives of the Body of the People called Quakers to which there is resort from Scotland Ireland Holland Pensilvania East and West-Jersey Maryland Long-Island Road-Island Virginia Carolina Friezland Antego Mevis Dantzick Germany Holstein and all other Places where-ever they have got footing London being the Quakers Metropolis as Rome is in Italy where they hold their general Rendezvouze from all Parts of the World (l) A notable way of Intelligence and how to espy the Weakness of every Country as well as their own Strength to Negotiate their Affairs Settle their Orders Confirm as well as Make Decrees Erect Canons Repeal not verbally yet virtually so far as their Power reaches all Acts of Parliament which suit not with their Light within which is the Higher Power to which together with the Body (m) See the Fifth Chap. the London Edict 1666. absolute Obedience is required and Submission expected nay decreed for to the Light say they all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed and from whose Sentence there lyes no Appeal Jos Coale's Works p. 93. Smith's Primer p. 13. Secondly As to their Convocation-House it is scituate and being in White-Heart-Court in
Grace-Church-Street London where there is a very large Room four square with a very large Table which is covered in Convocation time with a curious Green Carpet about which may fit Forty or Fifty of the Principal Men their President being their Light within which is to speak thro' some or other infallibly and so to be taken c. and round about there are Seats set one above another like the House of Commons where may convene about Six Hundred and their Speaker being below they can all hear him and he them with Ease and Delight Thirdly When this is done the Doors being well secured i. e. either lock'd and barr'd or else Two or Three lusty Fellows to keep Guard then the Clerk opens his Bags and takes out his Books opens the black Roll and calls over all the Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and the Names of the Deputies and is as careful to see that none be wanting as Jehu was who said Call unto me all the Prophets of Baal let none be wanting 2 Kings 10.19 This done they proceed to examine first the State of their own Affairs next that of the Nation which any way affects them First As to their own Church Affairs it is to see that none Preach contrary to their Antient Testimony if they do they Excommunicate them and Expel them out of their Unity as in the Case of Geo. Keith which in regard it is made so Publick by several printed Books particularly his Three Narratives I think I am the less concerned to be particular on that Head as First To shew how they Summoned him to appear before them Day after Day I think 10 or 12 Days together where G. Keith as readily appeared as Luther did at Wormes (n) And there was as much need for him for New-Rome is as fatal and as dangerous to the Protestant Interest as her Elder Sister and when they could not make him truckle but that he manfully stood his Post they then cast him out as a Troubler of their Israel and called him Apostate one separated from the Holy Fellowship of the Church of Christ and one not fit to Preach and Pray in their Meetings in that unreconciled Estate until by a Publick and Hearty Acknowledgment of his Offence and Condemnation of himself therefore he return to Mother-Church c. as by the Words of his Excommunication bearing Date May 17. 1695. may more fully appear Thus then is their Boldness manifest First In presuming to Summons the King's Subjects to appear before them and then to Interrogate them Sentence and Condemn them yea and that too for holding no other Articles of the Christian Faith than what every Orthodox Church holds Secondly That he is an Apostate whilst no matter of evil Fact or false Doctrine they could lay to his Charge I say this is bold in Fact I will not deny but that Dissenters have sometimes admonished scandalous Walkers and if they have persisted therein to the Scandal of their Church-Society rejected them c. But I deny that any whether Presbyterians Independants or Baptists ever yet took upon them to call a General Council and then and there assume an Authority to call before them the King's Subjects examine try and judge them Apostates for differing from them in Matter of Faith and Doctrine especially when G. Keith held no other Articles of the Christian Faith than all sound Protestants hold This then is a Figure of their Church-Government respecting the Doctrinal Part thereof Next As to their Interfering with the Government and their calling in question Acts of Parliament and absolving their Hearers from their Obedience to them if this can be made appear I think 't is worth noticing the dangerous Consequences thereof are so Many and so Pernicious And THEREFORE observe what W. Rogers wrote in Answer to an Objection Whether it were lawful or no to pay Tythes if the Supream Powers command it c. The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate in five Parts Part 2. pag. 43. Printed 1680. Ans We are so far from condemning all those who freely pay them and not by Constraint that we look upon it the Duty of all professing Christianity to contribute towards the outward Maintainance of such whom they usually hear and account to be the true Ministers of Christ in case they have need and if the Charity of any should be such as to bestow upon them one Fifth Part instead of a Tenth far be it from us to condemn it c. This Book did so startle the Foxonian Quakers that Tho. Ellwood one of their best Tools wrote an Answer to it and fearfully complains of this extensive Charity of W. Rogers and the Dissenting Quakers called Storians for Distinction c. saying In this Answer saith Ellwood you discover an Error of Judgment otherwise you would not be so far from Condemning all those who pay Tythes freely as you say you are FOR TRUTH ALLOWS NO PAYMENT OF TYTHES AT ALL UNDER THE NEW COVENANT BUT CONDEMNS IT And so would you also if your Hearts were right in Truth THEY who PAY TYTHES do THEREIN uphold a legal Ceremony abrogated by Christ and THEREBY DENY CHRIST to be come in the Flesh which IS a MARK of ANTICHRIST 1 John 4.3 (o) This Proof of Tho. Ellwood's out of 1 John 4.3 is like many of their Proofs for there is not a word of Tythes or that it is a mark of Antichrist to pay Tythes However whether you condemn or approve it the faithful Followers of the Lamb see and discern this Spirit the Nature of it and the End it tends to which is downright RANTERISM An Antidote against the Infection of W. Rogers's Book p. 78. Again p. 139. poor T. Ellwood makes a sad Complaint of some that had been convinced Ten nay some Twenty Years and yet can pay Tythes without any Acknowledgment of Evil therein (p) See what a sad thing it is to break one of Fox's Commandments Is it not savoury Language says Ellwood for such to say I must stay until I be convinced Can such as see not such manifest Evil (q) Possibly the poor Men had not seen G. Fox's Commandments or at least not well conn'd them be said to be faithful c. Well these Differences grew high and very difficult to decide but in time the Matter came up to the Terms of W. Rogers's Objection viz. the SUPREAM POWER continued the Payment of Tythes in that very Act of Parliament by which the Quakers claim their Toleration and therefore 't is worth the while to see how the Quakers take this very Act of Parliament and bring it to their Light which is say they the Higher Power all Power in Heaven and Earth being committed to it Smith's Primer p. 13. Jos Coal's Works p. 93. and how they null make void and repeal that Part of it relating to Tythes Repairs of Churches c. viz. so far as it concern the Quakers Anno Regni
Fellowship with him until unfeignedly he shall return unto the Truth by Condemnation of that Work and Spirit which in the Love of God we exhort him to and desire that for him a Place of Repentance may be found Reader What Person living who is a Stranger to the Quakers deep-dyed Hypocrisie but that would think this John Barnard had committed some more than ordinary Immorality nay some almost unpardonable Crime Here is such Endeavours said to be used such Gospel-Order exercised such Stiff-neckedness on his Part wilfully persisted in but behold all Centre in a most profound Piece of Hypocrisie as I shall shew and that from divers Reasons And FIRST In that Benjamin Clark their Bookseller a great Quaker in their Unity †I should have said Confederacy sold at the same time Play-Books Popish-Books Gypsie-Books yea Baudy-Books such as I never saw before and yet never Reproved never Admonished according to Gospel-Order never Sentenced and Condemned neither he nor his Spirit By which it may appear how zealous they are for preserving their own good Name and Esteem amongst their Proselytes and their own Law and Commandments from being brought into Disrepute and yet all these their Proceedings they father upon the Lord who hates Iniquity and whose Laws condemn such wicked Books as their own beloved Brother sold and vended every Day Thus do they Pharisee-like make void the Law of God by their Traditions For as soon as this Excommunication came to my Hand I as a Country Man went to the said Ben. Clark's and asked for some pretty Play-Books for Children and he produced me a Parcel of all sorts ut supra of which I bought Eighteen Pennyworth and noticed it in my next Book Intituled De Chr. Lib. Part 2. p. 207 which they never did deny nor did they ever sentence him as above SECONDLY In all the Records of Condemnation that ever I made or ever saw made during the 16 or 18 Years I was their Clerk I never knew of or saw any Record of Condemnation against any Quaker for the Breach of any Scripture Commands but either for writing against their Teachers * As my self or for paying Tythes or for dispersing and selling such Books as allowed of the Payment of Tythes †As W. Rogers or for not Marrying according to their Orders or for the Breach of some one or more of G. Fox's Commandments An Instance of the last followeth Hadenham Quarterly-Meeting the Fourth of the Seventh Month 1678. We at this Quarterly Meeting having the Business of John Ainslo's taking his Wife contrary to the Order of Friends brought BEFORE US and Friends having several times spoke to him about it and he not giving Friends Satisfaction WE do testifie That WE have no UNION with him in this his so doing c. THIRDLY I never knew any Book wrote against any of their Teachers in the Unity tho' guilty of notorious Immoralities †As in the opening of the Cage I shall shew no here was no Conscientious Concern manifested no Gospel Order exercised no Publick Condemnation sent out against them but against my self George Keith Tho. Crisp and others for discovering their Errours Here they pretend a great Case of Conscience and having shewed who they account Scandalous Walkers and who they frequently Record out of the Unity and who they write their Books against I shall conclude this Chapter with one of their Yearly Canons and if any desire to see more of them I refer to my former Books De Chris Lib. c. Part 2. p. 40 to 52. the Fifth and Seventh Chapter of this Treatise London the 27th of the 3d Month 1675. Concerning Recording the Church's Testimony and the Party's Condemnation That the Church's ††The Light and the Body join'd Testimony and Judgment against Disorderly and Scandalous Walkers also the Repentance and Condemnation of the Party 's Restored be Recorded in a distinct Book in the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meeting for the clearing Truths Friends and our Holy Profession to be produced and published for that End and Purpose so far only as in God's pure Heavenly Wisdom they shall be needful And 't is our Advice in the Love of God That after any Friend's Repentance and Restoration he abiding faithful in the Truth that condemns the Evil none among you so remember his Transgression as to cast it at him or upbraid him with it for that is not according to the Mercy of God Thus Reader you see First Who are the Scandalous Walkers they Record out of their Unity 2 dly You see here is an Order from the Yearly Meeting to get a Book distinct for that Use 3 dly You see also that here is a Door open that if any repent of Writing against them of Paying Tythes of Marrying contrary to their Infallible Order they may be restor'd to their former Dignity for they have Power to bind and to loose †Yea whom they please See Judas and the Jews p. 85. Jos Coale's Works p. 243. to condemn and to acquit and that it may evidently appear so I shall recite one of their final Sentences pass'd upon one of their Adversaries Irrevocably viz. In the Name of that God that spanneth the Heavens with a Span and measureth the Waters in the Hollow of his Hand I bind thee here on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven and in the Chain under Darkness to the Judgment of the Great Day thou shalt be reserved Was there ever the like Insolency Josiah Coale Some Inferences from the Eighth Chapter IS it so then that these Monthly and Quarterly Meetings who derive their Power and Authority from the Yearly Meetings assume to themselves this great Boldness to Arraign Sentence and Condemn Persons for disregarding their illegal Laws and for the Breach of their Unscriptural Commands †No nor one Scripture Proof was ever produced to strengthen their Laws or condemn Actions What need is there then to suppress these Meetings that thus alienate His Majesties Subjects from their Obedience to their lawful Soveraign and his Laws and to limit this Arbitrary Government thus exercised in these new Spiritual Courts whilst it may be lest the time come wherein they may capitulate with the Supreme Magistrate and tell him with a Carnal Weapon in their Hand that the Light is the Higher Power and all Powers and Dominions ought to cast their Crowns down at its Feet in the Saints However I have given warning by pointing at the Danger and hope to prescribe a Remedy and let not THE POOR MAN'S COUNSEL be rejected lest the time come wherein it may be said Eccles 19.14,15 It is too late for the Gibeonites hath deceived us with their Wiles Pray read the Ninth Chapter of Joshua at your leisure Joshua the 9 th read and ponder I beseech all wise Men. and think it not a strange thing to be deceived by the Quakers fair Shews and innocent Pretences when you see
sought for a proper place of Scripture and when he had read he then in a friendly manner gave the Minister his Book again and did not fall upon him and call him Conjurer Beast Dog Witch Devil Bloodhound c †As the Quakers does our Ministers but preached out of what he read and expounded it to the People insomuch that the Eyes of all the Assembly were fastned on him when they heard his Gracious Sayings Luke 14.14,16,17,18,19,20,21 and at another time suitable to his own Example he bade the Jews search the Scriptures for they are them which testifie of me John 5.39 And after he was risen from the Dead how did he appear to his Disciples and reasoned out of the Scriptures Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself saying unto them These are the Words which I spake unto you whilst I was with you that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me John 24.27,44 Thus did he confirm the Scriptures by his Holy Example both before and after his Crucifixion he did not question whether Moses or Hermes were the first Pen-man thereof or whether either or neither as the Quakers do in order to invalidate it and to overthrow the Divine Authority of it The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 17. no no he confirm'd them saying The Scripture cannot be broken John 10.35 Think not said he that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets No no it is said he easier for Heaven and Earth to pass than for one tittle of the Law to fail till all be fulfilled Matth. 5.17,18 Joh. 16.7 And St. Paul said The Law is our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 3.24 And it was his manner to go into the Jews Synagogue to Reason with them out of the Scriptures opening and alledging that Christ must needs have Suffer'd and Risen from the Dead proving out of the Scriptures that the same Jesus which he Preached who was Prophesied of and in due time was Born of the Virgin Mary was the Christ Read Acts 17. Micah 5.2 Psal 2.2.22.18 Isa 61.1.9,7 Deut. 18.15 Jer. 23.5 Exod. 12.46 Numb 9.12.21.9 Read New Rome Arraigned c. pag. 55 to 58. c. Here we may see that neither the Ministers of the Church of the Jews nor Christ nor his Apostles call'd the Scriptures Death Dust Beastly Wares the Husk Carnal Serpent's Food c. as the Prophane Quakers Blasphemously do as appears from the Books of their Prophets of greatest Note Fox Whitehead c. See the Quakers Plainness c. p. And if you will look into the Apology of Justin Martyr and the Writings of the Fathers as St. Cyprian St. Augustin Origen Chrysostom Isidorus Tertullian c. and into the Practice of our present Church of England you will find the same But for your further Instruction in these Matters I rather refer you to our Reverend Bishops and Clergy who can better inform you Thus having kept nothing back from you which I think may make a Discovery of the Quakers Faith Doctrine and Practice to be contrary to the Faith Doctrine and Practice of the Jewish as well as the Christian Church to that of the Apostles Primitive Christians Saints and Martyrs in all Ages I shall conclude this Chapter begging of God to bless my Labours to those Ends by me designed which are best known to him and my own Conscience which whether you believe it or not is That you may thereby be helped to understand your Errors that thereby you may be prevailed upon to beg God's Assistance to help you out of them and receive the Benefit of it Amen Fran. Bugg July 30. 1698. To write no more I long since did intend But now I hope that Work is near an end For abler Men do daily now come in To finish what I think I did begin * Respecting some particular Discoveries not but there were earlier Pens at work against Quakerism AN APPENDIX DISCOVERING A most Damnable PLOT by a Vnited Confederacy carried on by the chief Emissaries of New-Rome against the Christian Religion and Christian Reputation of the Professors thereof with a Remedy against it both Easie and Safe READER HAving gone thro' many things tho' briefly I do now say that it was not of my seeking nor my Choice I could have been glad to have seen the Quakers to have Retracted their Gross Errors and thereby remove the Cause but they have slighted all due Methods that are consistent with a Reformation Observe what Proposals I and others have made in our Books For when G. Whitehead gave forth a Sheet Entituled The Quakers Vindication c. saying Col. 2. P. 3 4. I G. W. freely offer and am willing to make it plainly appear before ANY Six Ten or Twelve Competent Witnesses who are moderate Men of common Sense and Reason That Francis Bugg has grosly wronged the Quakers both in Charge Citation and Observation c. I then did meet him and we agreed upon the Preliminaries upon which we were to debate but when I came to name Persons he flew off Now by the Contents of his Offer I had my Liberty to chuse any yea all the Men provided they were moderate Men of common Sense and Reason But to avoid his Charge of Partiality I admitted that he should have his equal Choice of one part of the Men And that he might see I would take no Advantage at his Word any whereby I was left free where to make my Choice as well as who I offer'd to chuse out of the Ministers of the Episcopalians Presbyterians Independants or Baptists I mention this here because 't is Rumour'd in Town that he offered to meet me with the Baptists a horrible Lie but none would down with him but Quakers Nay to chuse our Men out of any or of all those Four Christian Societies which had he been sincere he could not have denied since it was his own voluntary Offer Nay when he refused to close on this Bottom as if he feared he could not chuse Six moderate Men of common Sense in all those Societies I then offer'd him to chuse each of us Three Members of the Honourable House of Commons and to them we would leave our Matter in contest Viz. Whether I had wronged them in Charge Quotation or Citation c. Febr. 1693. But this he refused also and there being some Gentlemen present they advised me to send him a Letter to that end and they would subscribe it which I did their Names are as followeth viz. Samuel Grove Samuel Plaice Henry Symons John Fenn and also Danil Hassel But this Offer G. W. also rejected which the Gentlemen above-named as well as to my self and indeed to all that have since understood it was and is a Sign of great Guilt and Insincerity in him which indeed is manifest in most of his Answers to
long been seen to lye hid amongst that Tribe called the Ministry the Teachers and Leaders of the Quakers even such Spiritual Wickedness which if practised amongst Presbyterians Independents or others whom ye disown and can see nothing in them that is good they would abhor themselves therein which you as with a Whore's Forehead boldly maintain and defend You are in truth those that justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your Hearts and the Day is at Hand even at your very Door which will Discover Reveal and Preach as upon the House-tops many and great Abominations which yet lye hid amongst you that so you may be judged according to your Deeds This Witness is true as St. Paul said Tit. 1.12,13 I am constrained contrary to my Nature to plead like a Man of Contention against this Proud Pharisaical and Perverse Generation this Leviathan and Crooked Serpent in whose Nostrils unless a Hook be put would swallow not only the Rivers but also the very Sea into himself viz. Receive all tho' never so unclean in Heart and Spirit if outwardly they will but own him receive his Mark Of Thee and Thou and the Hat and walk in outward Observation and Shew conformable to them who while they profess themselves free from Sin and being the only Children of GOD are notwithstanding found bitter Persecutors of the Truth and Enemies to the Unction the Anointed One in whomsoever he doth appear thereby rendring themselves guilty of all the Innocent Blood which hath been spilt from the Blood of Righteous Abel even to this Day All which Blood cryeth aloud for Vengeance upon the well-favoured Harlot Mystery Babylon who in the Golden Cups and goodly Shew of an outward Profession hath inwardly with a bitter ravening and devouring Spirit made her self Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus This Witness is true I have observed that those that forsake Father and Mother the Sect that nourish'd and brought them forth to follow the Lord fully and Holy as did Caleb Joshua and Jesus c. not minding their own Reputations or Fame not loving their Lives to the Death such I say have been accounted as in all Ages so by this Hypocritical Proud Self-righteous Generation as the worst of Men calling them Ranters Atheists Blasphemers Devils any thing even all manner of Evil so they may wound the Truth and slay the Innocent Defenders thereof whose harmless Souls I see lying under the Altar of Truth sorely oppressed for their Testimony thereunto and crying out How long Lord God Holy and True will it be e're thou dost Judge and Revenge our Blood For whose Elect sake the God of my Salvation will suddenly arise and behold Enmity Lies and Falshood c. even all that Spirit of Wickedness will surely fly hide it self and sink again into the bottomless Pit from whence it came They care not whom they slander or what Lies they tell so they may Advance Strengthen and increase their Party and Sect. By all which it evidently appears that the Spirit of Deceit and Falshood is crept in and doth inhabit amongst this People You are now like that Evil Spirit cast out running to and fro walking in the dry places of your Elders Traditions those you call good Old Friends seeking rest but never shall find any so long as Balack and Balaam that bitter Spirit leads to Curse whom God will surely Bless and bring over you for ye must fall and with Haman Saul and Herod be insnared and taken even in the same Pit of cruel Deceit which you have digged for your Innocent Brethren and herein for some time will the Faith and Patience of the Saints be exercised Thus am I clear from the Blood of all Men in that I have not ceased both by Words and Writing to forewarn of the coming of this Antichrist among the Quakers who for more than Ten Years last past have been that poor Ass speaking as with Man's Voice reproving and withstanding the Madness of this Lying Wrathful Bitter Persecuting Spirit knowing right well when it entred and You thereby came to reject the Lord that he should not Reign over You by his Spirit of Light and Love but rather chose to your selves a King for to Judge and Rule You who was not the Unction nor the Anointed of the Lord nor yet the Olive Fig nor Vine that could heal rejoice or bind you up but the Bramble and King of the bottomless Pit that shall so Rend Tear and Devour you till not one Stone shall be left upon another which thing tell G. F. that Fox your King By what is written you may see how this high and Luciferian People the Quakers who for their Shew and Numbers have been as the Stars of Heaven and who for their Pride and Enmity are to be cast down whose fall is the Riches of the World So that the first in Profession are now become the last in Possession of the Kingdom which standeth not in Words nor yet in Outward Appearances but in Humility and Love unfeigned yea in Righteousness Peace and Joy c. The foregoing Passages are taken out of Robert Riche's Letters which were Printed 1669 and Reprinted 1676 7 He was a Merchant and was one of the Eminentest and Ancientest Quaker that Lived in London I know says R. R. G. F. is raised up of God for this very end to Try Refine and Purifie many as Pharaoh was and tho' many fall in the Tryal under his Power yet many will be delivered into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God I likewise see that daily more and more will fall off from that Body and that some that separate from them will with Daniel stand in their Lot and follow the Lord in the Spirit of the Lamb more fully than they have done These two last Paragraphs was Printed in 1680. P. 19. II. HOW low and humble were they i. e. Quakers in their Spirits in the beginning How few were they in Words Their Yea was Yea and their Nay Nay Ah! let me take up a Lamentation How are the Mighty fallen How have the Stars ceased to give their Light How are the Poor distressed and the Young Ones bruised by the high Mountains and lofty Cedars whose Habitations were once in Heaven but now upon the high Places of the Earth to impose upon the Conscience and to establish an Arbitrary Power by a Law These are the Armed Beasts and the many Antichrists which break the Unity in Spirit and the Bond of Peace P. 10. The Foxonian-Unity is to yield Subjection to the Order of the Body so called though no manifestation within And this Unity they glory in by this is their Kingdom upheld from this they are able to boast Who is able to make War with us Who can stand before us Do not all fall that are risen up against us Are not these the high-swelling words of Proud Babel whose tow'ring Thoughts must be abased Whose practice hath been to crush the