service which God rejects Q. p. 35. Q. Numb 43 Ch. And is not their singing an acceptable service for they that can sing praises are in a good condition Fath. But they have David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold and given them forth as they were David's condition and the drunkard and the swearer and the lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition and so they sing lyes in Hypocrisie which is not a right service nor accepted of God Pr. Pr. According to this Quakers hard measure our singing of Psalms in the time of Divine-service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying it 's not a right service nor accepted of God observe well for want of a Psalm after the Quaking mode our singing of David's Psalms in Meeter is a despised service for this reason we can make no right melody in our hearts to the Lord like so many fools we do not rightly understand what we sing the Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the spirit and with understanding when their spirit moves on their waters as for the Ministers and people of the Church of England we are sensual not having the spirit like those that sing Ballads other mens words we do only sing David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold To mount the baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the Kings-Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is according to these Quaking-lines a very prophane piece of service for here the drunkard and swearer and lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition thus in singing Psalms we do nothing else but sing lyes in hypocrisie if this be not a base lying charge drawn up by this Quaker against the known practise of the Church of England let the unbyassed Reader judg Q. p. 36. Q. Numb 44 Ch. I would know father how it is with those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine which are much used in their worship Fath. Why child as to those things they rose from the Popes invention who hath had power in the night of Apostacy and hath set up his devices which are yet continued in England and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ for he did not ordain sprinkling water in a childs face neither did he ordain bread and wine to be so used and received and the wine is another of the Popes inventions who hath invented a silver cup and pours wine into it and then the Priest gives it to the people and tells them that is the blood of Christ that is shed for them when it is wine and not blood and gives them bread and tells them that is the body of Christ that is broken for them when people neither discern the body nor the blood of Christ and so eat and drink damnation to themselves true Baptism child is in the spirit which baptizeth into one body the true meat and drink is the body and blood of Christ which the worthy receiver feeds upon in his heart so that these things be false and not to be regarded by the true Christians who live in the spirit who is the substance Pr. Pr. This Quaker hath given us a long chase in the pursuit we have quite lost Baptism and the Lords-Supper as to their right use in the Church of England as for those things called Ordinances as Baptism Bread and Wine which are much used in our publick worship this Quaker doth boldly say they rose from the Popes invention in the night of Apostacy they were conceived and brought forth they are only devices of the Popes setting up they are continued yet in England as the Pope left them nay further this Quaker doth basely add that the whole practice of those things called Ordinances as baptism and bread and wine as we use them had their institution by the Pope they were never so ordained of Christ behold is not this rake-shame stuff is it of the Spirit of God to affirm that Baptism the Lords-Supper rose from the Popes invention who before this Quaker did term them devices of the Popes setting up is it not high base to say as this Quaker doth that the whole practise of Baptism and the Lords-Supper as we use them have their institution by the Pope that they were never so ordained of Christ according to this Quakers wild assertions is it not very plain that we baptize in the Popes name and receive bread and wine only according to the Popes institution how doth this Quaker in a ridiculous manner assert that Baptism is only sprinkling water in a child face which Christ did never ordain who can read this consident ignorance without blushing Is it not another base boldness to say that neither did Christ ordain bread and wine to be so used and received as they are in the Church of England except this deluded Quaker who hath said that the wine is another of the Popes inventions risum teneatis amici who can but laugh this Baals Prophet to scorn or rather who can but pity his great ignorance the rest of his discourse is a confused Chaos surely his hasty spirit was not at leisure to digest it better only let this be noted that this Quaker owns no other baptism but that which is in the spirit which certainly is no Scripture-baptism As for the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper there is in this Quakers eye no such thing for the body and blood of Christ is as he tells us the true meat and drink but bread and wine in the Lords-Supper are not so these things i. e. baptism bread and wine according to this Quakers mind are false things not to be regarded by true Christians who live in the spirit according to the sense of this Quaking-father all Quakers are those true Christians who do so live in the spirit as that they are above Baptism and the Lords Supper these are those false things which are not regarded by them may it not be truly said Alas poor despised Church of England how low art thou fallen What 's become of thy two Sacraments which are generally necessary to salvation Art thou now beholding to the Popes invention for them How are Christs own Ordinances now made to be the Popes devices In baptizing and receiving the Lords Supper what is the whole practice but according to the Popes institution Did thine Husband the Lord Jesus Christ ever ordain Baptism and the Lords Supper so as thou usest them Why dost thou receive bread and wine according to Christs institution did he ever ordain bread and wine to be so used and received Dost thou not know that the wine in the Cup is another of the Popes inventions Dost thou not consider that Baptism and the Lords Supper are two falshoods How far art thou from true Christianity from living in the spirit
the dust the Serpents meat which they feed upon they do strangely feed death with death the Scripture is no more in this Quakers esteem but the carnal letter with which they feed their carnal minds they are no Ministers by the will of God they do only come by the will of man and are upheld by the will of man their call and ministry are both bad alike all real Quakers do deny them as for their call and ministry this Quaker tells us it is as bad as Baptism for it is nothing but a formal imitation and invention of man a meer delusion their ministry is very bad also it is dark without the true light dead without the true life cold without any holy warmth surely these quaking-lines do eat like a canker the true David's messengers are shamefully abused by this Quaker surely these are hard speeches which no truly good man dare own Q. p. 80 81. Q. Numb 73 Some of us are esteemed not worthy to live in the Nation both by Priest and People and Rulers who are out of the commands of God vagabonds and fugitives from God who go in the way of Cain to envy and murther the innocent now heads of England and such Ministers and their Ministry we deny here is the difference of the Ministers of the world and the Ministers of Christ the one comes by the will of man the other by the will of God the one is upheld by the will of man the other by the will of God the one is of the letter the other is of the spirit the one hath the form and shadow the other the life and substance but from such turn away for they are meer deceivers and witches bewitch the people from the truth Pr. Pr. This Quaker is become like a raging-wave of the sea foaming out that which is his own shame I might truly say in this Quakers dunghill we have filth enough cast together you sind priest people and rulers as bad as bad can be not only priest and people but the rulers of this Kingdom are by this Quaker declared to be very bad how bad so bad as that to speak this Quakers mind they are lawless the commands of God do not bind them like cursed Cain that was of the Devil they are Vagabonds and Fugitives from the Lord as wicked Cain slew his righteous brother Abel so priest people and rulers saith this Quaker do go in the way of this bloody Cain to envy and murther the innocent But hear this Quaker speaks more fully now there are neither heads of England nor Ministers nor Ministry whom the Quakers own it 's hence very clear that both the Magistrates and the known Ministry of Fngland are absolutely denied by all thorough-paced Quakers As for the ordained Ministers of the Gospel this Quaker hath given this differencing-account of them They are the Ministers of the world such as come by the will of man such as are upheld by the will of man they are Ministers of the Letter they have only the form and the shadow they are meer deceivers and witches they do bewitch the people from the truth the preaching of the Gospel by any Priests of the Church of England in this Quakers account is only the Ministry of the world that which is set up only and maintained by the will of man there is nothing of good in it nor of the Ministration of the Spirit it doth only consist of form and shadow nay the preaching of the Gospel by any such Priests is but deceit and witchcraft for they by this Quaker are termed deceivers and witches such as do bewitch the people from the truth If this be not a foul slander then let all unquakerized Readers judg Q. p. 81 82 83 84. Q. Numb 74 We own Magistracy in its place but the righteous are from under the outward Law for they are a Law unto themselves they neither know how to rule or govern who are guided by their own wills such rule with partiality and respect of persons and give forth Laws in their own wills persecute the righteous encourage the heathen who know not God so Cain slays Abel within them and they suffer Cain to slay Abel without them the wicked have more liberty in the Nation than the righteous the Land abounds with iniquity oppression and treachery because such corrupt Magistrates wink at deceits for carnal ends and uphold iniquity and oppression and tread truth under foot corrupt Magistrates put corrupt Magistrates in office such as these uphold corrupt Ministers and false prophets which the Nation swarms of the Beast upholds the False-prophet and they combine together against the simple and the Law is made a stalking-horse to deceive the simple such Magistrates and such Government we honour not by such Magistrates and Government did the righteous ever suffer and Haman who stood in the corrupt will would have destroyed Mordecai because he could not bow to him and also Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar and Herod who beheaded John who stood in their own wills but the hands of the Lord they did not escape but Christ comes to end all outward Laws and Government of man and he himself will reign as truth and righteousness grows the Law is fulfilled and passes away this is the cause why corrupt Magistrates beat down the truth as much as they can but Pharaoh God will plague and confound but such Magistrates as are guided by the light of God in the Conscience and rule by it we own and honour in our hearts such are a terror to evil-doers such bear not the sword in vain this Government is of God Pr. Pr. From these lines this Quaker gives us plainly to understand that the Real Quakers are none of the Kings loyal subjects for they do own no Magistrates but such as are Quakers like themselves this is a sun-beam-truth That no Magistrates no Government no Laws without Quakerism stampt on them are either owned or honoured by any Quakers as for any other Magistrates Laws Government no right Quakers do own them but let this Quaker speak his own mind it 's but Magistracy in its place which is owned by any Quakers here is nothing as it is Gods Ordinance as for the righteous that is Quakers they are from under the outward Law because they are a Law unto themselves then I pray in what sense do the Quakers own any of the Laws or Law-makers of this Kingdom Is it not hence plain what kind of subjects the lawless Quakers are Is it not hence as evident that King and Parliament Magistrates Laws Government of this Kingdom are very little either owned or honoured by any Quakers But let us confer a little more with this Quaker what thoughts he hath of Magistrates let us now observe The Magistrates he saith are very bad they are such as know not how to rule Here behold their great ignorance they are guided by their own wills behold their wills are their law they rule with partiality
own a quaking-perfection as for St. Paul this Quaker tells us untruly that he did witness this perfect freedom from all sin that this was his being more than a conquerour surely this Quaker never understood Rom. 7. in vain doth this Quaker tell us that they who dwell in the righteousness of Christ sin not for the Scripture records no such over-holy inhabitants it 's true it 's the devil who pleads for sin and let that mans mouth be stopt for ever that doth so but to affirm the in-being and dwelling of sin in the best of men in this world is no siding with the devil in the same plea but this Quaker hath laid a foul load on those Ministers of the Gospel who teach that none can be perfectly cleansed from all sin in this life he saith to this purpose like the Sadduces they do all err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God they do deny the end of Christs coming they bring another doctrine a doctrine which they have from their father the devil they are deceivers who creep into steeple-houses and lead silly people captive but this Quaker is mistaken for St. Paul never said so pag. 103. he saith they are such teachers as are accursed they are daubers with untempered mortar such seers as see vanity such as divine lyes such as heal the hurt of the people slightly such as sow pillows under their arm-holes such as sooth people up in a false peace such as make the people to take up their habitation in sin as long as they live such leaders as cause them to err the utter enemies of their souls such as perswade their hearts in sins now give me leave without offence to say oh quaking-perfection from all sin in this life oh brain-sick whimsie to what extravagant assertions to what devilish expressions to what foul aspersions hast thou transported this poor deluded Quaker let all wise unquakerized persons judg if this quaking-error can be that unbottoming doctrine which declares our faith to be feigned our Priests to be lyars deceivers antichrists such in whom the false Prophet rules surely because this Quaker was not rightly instructed to distinguish well betwixt the being and ruling power of sin therefore the holy Scriptures have been sorely tortured to speak what he would have them in favour of his false doctrine hence I hope was the true rise of this Quakers gross mistakes base assertions and foul charges but I have done with this Pamphlet not for want of more pitiful matter but because I hasten to the next Pamphlet of this James Parnel called The Watcher it 's a conceited Title in it the baseness of Quakerism is drawn to the life but I shall not dwell upon it I shall only transcribe so much as may serve to lay open the Quakers pitiful teachings you will soon perceive that this Watcher is none of the watch-men of the true Israel Q. p. 138 Q. Numb 79 to p. 145. Antichrist hath reigned ever since the Apostles days over the world under a Gospel-profession here hath been a long time of cruel darkness and ignorance the Lord hath been a long time as a stranger in the earth they that were accounted to believe on God or Christ looked at him as a God afar off in the Heavens without far off they know not where they that said they believed that that was the Christ that died at Jerusalem and that he died for their sins and rose again and was sitting at the right hand of God c. were baptized with water and called Christians when as before they were called Heathen and those had the writings of the Prophets and Apostles which are called Scripture and so were the keepers of the Letter that they look for their rule to walk by they gave their own meanings and imaginations upon it they sprinkled their children and by that were they entertained into their Church and Faith thus came up Infant-baptism for which there is no Scripture nor example they call this an ordinance of Christ they had their two Sacraments for which word they have no Scripture they had the carnal bread and wine as the Priests and people have now thus they planted their Church in England and other places then Bishops were set up and Archbishops and Deans and Priests and Deacons and Popes and the Bishops bore rule by their means and the Priests preached for hire thus Antichrist set up his Kingdom under a profession of the Gospel then Tythes came up to maintain the Priests contrary to any rule of the Gospel then Universities were set up to make Ministers or Priests thus they were set by the will and tradition of man as the false Prophets always were then they had long robes like the Pharisees then they set up Idols-Temples which the blind now call Churches or houses of God then they got up into their Pulpits the chiefest places in the Synagogues called of men Master Doctor had the uppermost rooms at Feasts and greetings in the Markets as it is now and then they stole the Apostles words as the false Prophets stole the word from their neighbour so did and do those took a verse and studied from it a divination of their own brain and so do the Priests vow they run like the false Prophets then with feigned words through covetousness they made merchandize of the people made a prey of the sheep as they do now began to seek about for great Livings and fat Benefices left a lesser ran to a bigger there was their beloved which they sought for as the false Prophets who sought for the fleece not for the flock cried peace to those that put into their mouths but they that did not put into their mouths they prepared war against them haled them before Courts and Benches as they do now thus they sought their gain from their quarters and ruled them with rigor so that the Priests reigned like Lords over the people thus your Priests old fathers planted their Church and so set every thing in form and tradition according to their own imaginations here is the ground and foundation of the Faith and Church of England here are the old Fathers and old Authors that your Priests have so much talked of even the Popes and the Bishops thus Antichrist hath long deceived the Nations under the profession of the faith of Christ one generation hath gone and another come and have not known the Lord that bought them many may see by this what lyars the Priests are how they came up and were ordained they will be found the Ministers of Antichrist such as shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men all people may now see how ignorantly you have been led as strangers from the father of light after the vain traditions customs forms ordinances and imaginations of man with a vain profession and feigned faith still strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Saviour and Redeemer thus you lye under the power of
are but so many covers which the devil hath for all his deceit that by these covers the devil is honoured both in Court and Country that they are all accursed of God that hide their sins with those covers of the devil that it is the devil that makes so many degrees betwixt rich men and poor men great Courtiers and honest men that the Lord hath made all the Nations of the earth of one mould and one blood or if you will that degrees of honour are not of the Lord for he hath made all the Nations of the earth of one mould and one blood See Numb 77. ARTICLE LVIII We Q. do believe That there is a perfect freedom from all manner of sin to be had in this life that to deny a sinless perfection in this life is to make Christ only a part of a Redeemer that to deny it is a great delusion of the devil that this Scripture He that saith he hath no sin is a lyar is brought by the devil that it is the devil who tells men that Christ died for all that if they believe in him their sins shall not be imputed to them though they sin daily that the righteous man sins seven times a day that all the holy men of God sinned that to deny a sinless perfection in this life is that Doctrine which maintains the devils kingdom that it is a doctrine which the devil delivers by the mouth of his Ministers that it is a doctrine whereby the devil carries on people in an easie delightsome way to the flesh that it is a doctrine which heals them up in their sins with a feigned faith that it is a doctrine which sets them on their lees that it is a doctrine which sets up a rest in the devils kingdom that it is a doctrine which destroys all tenderness of conscience that without being perfectly cleansed from all sin in this life no man can witness Christ to be his Redeemer or that he is come to destroy the works of the devil or that Christ is come to redeem him out of the devils kingdom that by being perfectly free from all sin in this life we Quakers do reign above the world death hell and the devil that without this perfection from all sin others are such whose eyes are outward only looking at a Redeemer afar off that they are manifestly the children of the devil who do deny a perfect freedom from all sin in this life that their faith is vain and their hope is bad that it is the feigned hypocrites faith and not faith in God that Paul did witness this perfect freedom from all sin that they who dwell in the righteousness of Christ sin not that those teachers who deny our quaking-perfection do err not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God that those teachers do deny the end of Christs coming that they bring another doctrine which they have from their father the devil that they are deceivers who creep into steeple-houses and lead silly people captive laden with sin that they daub with untempered mortar that they divine lyes that they heal the hurt of the people slightly that they sow pillows under their arm-holes that they make the people to dwell in sin as long as they live that they are their leaders who cause them to err that they are the utter enemies of their souls who perswade their hearts in sin that they have but a formed feigned faith that they are found to be lyars deceivers antichrists in whom the false Prophet rules See Numb 78. ARTICLE LIX We Q. do believe That Antichrist hath reigned over the world under a Gospel-profession ever since the Apostles days that there hath been a long time of cruel darkness and ignorance that the Lord hath a long time been as a stranger in the earth that they who were accounted to believe on God or Christ looked at him as a God afar off they knew not where that they who said that they believed that that was the Christ who dyed at Jerusalem and that he dyed for their sins and rose again and was sitting at the right hand of God were no Christians in truth but so called that they were the keepers of the Letter which they took for their rule to walk by that they gave forth their own imaginations on the Scripture that they set up Infant-baptism for which baptism there is no Scripture that they have no Scripture for the word Sacrament that they set up the two Sacraments of baptism and the Lords Supper that like Priests and people now they had carnal bread and wine that the Church in England and other places was planted by them that Bishops Arch-bishops Deans Priests and Deacons and Popes were set up by them that Antichrist did thus set up his Kingdom under a profession of the Gospel that in the reign of Antichrist tythes came up and Universities to make Priests by the will of man who had long robes like the Pharisees that in Antichrists reign Idols Temples called Churches were set up that in the same reign the Priests got into their Pulpits the chiefest places in the Synagogues being called of men Master Doctor and having the uppermost rooms at Feasts and greetings in the Markets that in the same Antichristian reign they stole the Apostles words and took a verse and studied from it a divination of their own brain and ran like the false prophets that in the same reign of Antichrist with feigned words through covetousness they made merchandize of the people and a prey of the sheep and sought about for fat benefices and like the false prophets sought for the fleece and cryed peace to those that fed them and prepared war against them that did not and sought their gain from their quarters and ruled with rigour that after this manner the Priests old fathers planted their Church and set every thing in form and tradition according to their imaginations that here is the ground and foundation of the Church of England that here are the old Fathers the Priests have talked so much of even Popes and Bishops that in this manner Antichrist hath long deceived the Nations under the profession of the faith of Christ that from one generation to another they have not known the Lord that bought them that by this it may be seen what lyars the Priests are how they came up and were ordained that they are the Ministers of Antichrist such as shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men that the people have been ignorantly led by their Priests as strangers from the Lord after the vain traditions customs forms ordinances and imaginations of man with a vain profession and feigned faith that they are still strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Saviour and Redeemer that in this manner both Priests and people do lye under the power of darkness and delusion that the Priests are the peoples leaders who cause them to err by their lyes that they are
except a Quaker none can how are the youth of this Kingdom instructed by this Catechizing-Primer to slight all Gods Ambassadors Pudet haec opprobria dici it is a shame of no mean size that such base things should be printed and not signally taken notice of Q. p. 10. Q. Numb 38 Child But are not the Scriptures given forth for a rule to walk by Fath. The Scriptures are a true testimony of what the Saints were made witnesses of but the spirit is the rule the rule unto them that gave forth the Scriptures Pr. Pr. Here the youth of this Nation are taught by this Quaking-father that the Scriptures are not the rule of faith and obedience according to this Quakers vain mind no children shall do well to take heed to the sure word of Prophesie Unto the Law and the Testimony is no rule for any children to walk by the spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish guide whom this Quaking-father would have his child to follow is it not lamentable that the youth of this Kingdom together with those who are children in understanding are thus decoyed into the Devils net Q. p. 12. Q. Numb 39 Ch. Then I perceive it is the spirit alone that I am to mind in all things Fath. Yes child for by minding the spirit alone in all things thou wilt come to a good understanding in all things and be able to put a difference betwixt that which is true and that which is false Pr. Pr. Here we have this Quaking-father Catechizing his child so as to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for he saith the spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to speak like this Quaker are to be minded by children or others in nothing observe it well it 's not the Scripture but minding the spirit alone in all things that helps to a good understanding in all things it 's not the Scripture but minding the spirit alone in all things that enables to discern and put a difference betwixt true and false it 's now obvious that the Scripture is basely bespattered by this Quaking-father for there is no coming to a good understanding by minding the Scripture in any thing the Scripture to speak this Quakers mind hath no true light to help any to discern and put a difference betwixt that which is true and that which is false the Quakers ill spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true discerner betwixt truth and falshood but pity those poor children that have no better guide to follow Q. p. 33. Q. Numb 40 Ch. Why is not their time and place and person right seeing their time is upon that day called Sunday and their place that which is called a Church and the persons such as are counted the Ministers of Christ Fath. Nay the Lord God of Power is not limited by any of them and as for their Sunday the Heathen named it and the Pope named their Church and their Schools and Colledges made their Ministers Pr. Pr. In these lines this Quaker doth Catechistically teach his child to look upon time place persons necessary circumstances belonging to publick Worship as those that are Heathenish Popish and of mans making the whole Quaking-discourse is a base charge drawn up against the Church of England as if the Lord of Power were limited by the same as for the Lords-day this Quaker calls it our Sunday which the Heathen named as for the publick place where the members of this visible Church do meet to worship God in a material Church this he saith was made by the Pope as for the persons the Ministers of Gods Word he gives us to understand that they are none of them sent of God for our Schools and Colledges made them all do not these Quaking-lines eat like a canker is not the Church of England debased after a strange manner Q. p. eâd. Ch. Q. Numb 41 But do they not preach sound Doctrine Fath. Nay their Doctrine is after the tradition of men and not after Christ and they get their Doctrine by their arts and languages that they have learned at Schools and Colledges and then they read it or speak it forth in their own wills that are corrupted and there is no soundness in it Pr. Pr. According to the instruction of this Quaking-father all the Preachers of the Gospel within the Church and Kingdom of England are a sort of pitiful fellows for their Doctrine is not from Heaven like the old Pharisees they teach for Doctrine the tradition of men none of them do teach that Doctrine which is after Christ arts and languages learnt here below at Schools and Colledges is the whole skill which they have in the doctrine of Salvation they are all a sort of pitiful readers or speakers out of their own corrupt wills as for their Doctrine it is corrupt like themselves there is no soundness in it to speak after this Quaking-rate they are like so many corrupt trees they bring forth corrupt fruit they are all bad stewards of the Mysteries of the Gospel If this be not base railing let the world judg Q. p. 34 35. Q. Numb 42 Ch. But is not their praying a service which is accepted of God Fath. Nay for they pray not with the spirit nor with the understanding and some of them cannot pray at all but as they have prayers made by others and have them set in a book to read as in the Common-prayer-book so that neither their preaching nor praying is accepted of God Pr. Pr. From this Quaking Catechizer we may truly gather that the preaching and praying of all the Ministers of the Church of England is altogether naught as their Preaching so their Praying is a service which is not accepted of God their prayers are carnal for they pray not with the spirit tremulo judice in their praying they do but offer the sacrifice of fools for they pray not with the understanding as for those ministring Priests that do warrantably use the Common-prayer-book either in the Kings-Chappel or elsewhere to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all behold a sad case except it be in the Quakers dumb meeting or amongst those that are acted by the spirit of the Hat there is no calling on the name of God in faith any where besides according to this Quaking rant is not the Kings Majesty basely reflected on hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence is not this Church whereof he is a nursing-father in a bad case for neither the Preaching nor praying of her Priests this Quaker saith is accepted of God surely the true Christian Religion is at a low ebb in this Kingdom that Quakerism must thus carry the bell according to this vain-minded Quaker we are in a great strait we must now either all turn Quakers or else in Preaching and Praying we do but perform the
the ground who are for the sire all unrighteous persons must be cast into the Lake which burns with fire and brimstone for ever now read your selves and your portions all you lofty ones for thither you must go there you must lye for evermore the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it with Dives and Haman you are enemies and persecutors of all those that enter in at the strait-gate as Haman and Dives and the high Priests Pharisees and Rulers were all you proud ones remember your father Dives his end for you must go into the everlasting burnings as he did whose belly was his god as yours is young and old rich and poor Lord and Lady and beggars shall all be turned into hell without respect of persons then shall it be with the Mistris so with the maid as with the servant so with the master as with the people so with the Priest then Lord and Lady Master and Mistris and all the earthly honour shall be laid into the sire Pr. Pr. This Quakers terrible blast is still blown against Lords and Ladies Masters and Mistresses old and young rich and poor Masters and servants Mistresses and maids Priests and people that none may escape the number is increased there is no way but one with them all because they are not trembling Quakers they must all to hell mind this melancholy Quaker how he hath packt them up for hell you may take him more fully thus Because they are proud like wicked Haman they must be silent like their father the Devil they must tremble before the Lord instead of their rich attire Lords and Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Masters and Mistresses must howl like dogs in sackcloth and ashes as for their profession this Quaker saith cast it away as if it were a menstruous filthy cloth as for themselves this Quaker counts them but so many fruitless trees a burden to the earth that bears them sit fuel for hell-fire as for their dwelling-place the Lake which burns with fire and brimstone for ever is the fit place to receive them all thus this Quaker hath helpt them to read themselves and their portions hither to this Lake he saith they must all go here they must lye for evermore but how doth this Quaker know all this he saith the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it behold here is a lying divination of his own brain delivered in the name of the Lord but what company shall they have this divining-Quaker saith they shall lye for evermore in the Lake with Dives and Haman is not this this Quakers plain meaning that all Lords and Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Masters Mistresses and Madams shall like Dives and Haman be surely damned for evermore like proud bloody Haman like unmerciful proud sensual Dives like the high Priests that put Christ to death like the Pharisees and Rulers that had their hands deep in his blood this Quaker saith that Lords and Ladies c. are the enemies and persecutors of God people who have proud merciless cursed Dives for their father whose end they should remember for as he saith they must go into everlasting burnings as he did Quakerism you see sits heavily upon the skirts of the Nobility and Gentry of this Land it proclaims their last end to be no better than that of Dives they must all to hell at the last with Dives they must be tormented in the same hell-flames Dives and they are both alike bad they do both serve the same God both belly-gods alike without respect of persons they shall all be turned into hell with their father Dives hear this Quakers bead-roll he saith old and young rich and poor Lord and Lady Mistris and maid Master and servant people and Priest shall all go thus paired by him to the Devil they shall all be turned into hell without respect of persons thus Lord and Lady Master and Mistris with all their earthly honour shall be laid into the sire of hell behold where was this Quakers Christianity what Old or New-Testament-rule had he for thus dooming uncharitably all Lords and Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Masters and servants Mistresses and maids old and young rich and poor Priest and people all without exception to the fire of hell if this quaking-doctrine be not a bold piece of unchristian censoriousness then what is except a Quaker whose heart was ever so hardened as to say that all Lords and Ladies all Knights all Gentlemen and Gentlewomen that all Masters and servants Priests and people old and young rich and poor are so unrighteous so proud as that they shall be turned into hell they shall go into the everlasting burnings and there they must lye for evermore amongst all the Prophets of the Old Testament amongst all the Apostles of the New Testament there is no president to be found for this cursed doctrine Q. Q. The next Pamphlet of this James Parnel is called A Shield of the Truth Pr. Pr. I may more truly say it is no shield of that faith which was delivered to the primitive Saints which faith is to be contended for Let me spake without just offence to any this Pamphlet may more truly be called Rabshakey revived for it is a gross piece of railery against all lawfully ordained Ministers of the Gospel That I may not be too tedious I shall but touch here and there Q. p. 66. Q. Numb 66 As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do they withstand the Truth all the ways they can for Jannes and Jambres were the Magicians of Egypt that imitated Moses so those University-men by their Magick-arts inventions and imaginations and studying old Authors have gotten the form of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles Words to trade with but deny the power and so are Traytors to Christ men of corrupt minds reprobates concerning the faith Pr. Pr. This Quakers Shield is no Armour of proof for any true Gospel Ministers according to these quaking-lines the Church of England is in a very bad condition her Teachers are deceivers this Quaker gives us plainly to understand thus much That they are like to Jannes and Jambres no better than those Magicians were they withstood Moses these he saith do withstand the truth all the ways they can In this Quakers account her Teachers are but bare University-men beholding to Magick-arts inventions imaginations and old Authors for their skill in Divinity by this Quaker they are lookt upon as a sort of petty-chapmen that have gotten a form of words to trade for Money with like Judas they are Traytors to Christ like those false Teachers of old they are men of corrupt minds men of no right judgment concerning the doctrine of faith Thus you see how this Quaker hath declared all Priests to be a base generation of men worthy to be regarded as men do the dirt under their feet Q. p. 70 71. Q. Numb 67 He that hath the Letter let him speak the Letter he that hath the Life let him speak the Life
thee execute his vengeance on those generations Pr. Pr. In these lines you may behold this Quaker crying up Oliver Cromwel as being not unlike the man Christ Jesus for he saith that Oliver Cromwel was the man who did bear as upon a common shoulder the sufferings of the oppressed but what tender consciences many of them had it hath been better understood since that time their tender consciences had no feeling of Rebellion Treason and other mens estates To go on with this Quakers comparing tacitely Oliver Cromwel and Christ together he saith that their sufferings went to his heart that he felt their sufferings on his shoulder that he could have laid down his life for one of them that his heart was tender that his bowels did sound that the hearts of his sufferers flowed in to him that in them and him there was but one spirit and one heart but in all the time of his Rebellion and High-treason whose servant whose instrument was whose work did Oliver Cromwel Behold what this Quaker saith of him the Lord did call and raise him up to head his Armies he made him his Sword and the Lord did execute by this Oliver Cromwell his vengeance on those generations Doth not this Quaker plainly tell us that the Rebel-Army under Cromwells command was Gods Army that called and raised this Traytor to be the head of his Army that God made Cromwell his Sword that God by Cromwell did execute vengeance onthose generations who these generations were the Reader must judg Q. p. 9 10. Q. Num. 115 Charles Stuart could have put off from himself the sufferings of the Puritans upon the Bishops and have alledged that they were a nonconformable factious generation and did contrary to the Law but that could not excuse him nor his standing still whilst he had power to remedy it but did not nor that those Laws were of long standing nor the disaffection of great men and nobles and rulers and bishops and priests and the generality of the Nation to that way from the judgment of God which hath taken hold on him and his children and his party whom he hath made a dreadful example of his vengeance and that by thy Sword as an instrument Pr. Pr. These lines of this quaking Bishop are abominable not to point at every base passage in them this is plainly the mind of this wild inspirado that the judgment of God to use his own words hath taken hold on Charles Stuart and his Children and his party that the Lord hath made the King his Children his party a dreadful example of his vengeance and that Oliver Cromwell's sword was the Lords instrument of this judgment and of the vengeance executed on the late King and his Children and his party that I may not be looked upon as a bloody Priest I shall squeeze these lines no further only let me say without offence that no man of any common sense dare justifie what this Quaker hath written to be the moving of Gods spirit without question these are such traytorous lines as were never seen in print from the eternal God before Q. p. 14. Q. Num. 116 Who wa st the Lords battel-axe and weapon of war to the cutting dovvn of him Pr. Pr. This traytorly Quaker goes on still to tell Oliver Cromwell that he was once the Lords battel-axe his weapon of war to the cutting down of the King behold how this Quaker in print doth justifie the basest of murthers as if it had been the Lords doing by Cromwell as his battel-axe as the Lords weapon of war for this bloody work Thus I have done with this Quakers Letter to Oliver Cromwell which was dated from Bristol the 16 of the fifth Month 1656. Subscribed thus George Bishop Surely this lamentable Quaker was strongly huffed up by his rebellious and traytorous spirit when he took himself to be moved of the Lord to publish them again in the year 1660 he that desires to know more of this Quakers pretended warnings of the Lord or to see how a Quakers light within him can act the part of disloyalty rebellion and high Treason against the Kings Sacred Majesty may peruse this quaking-Pamphlet more at large THE next book which might be transcribed is called A comparison between the true and false Ministers by Nicholas Knight printed 1675. Pr. By the late Impression of this Quakers scribble it 's evident against which Ministers this quaking-author writes that they are the Ministers of the Church of England that are the false Ministers here meant to ease my Readers patience and consult my own ease I shall contract his whole book thus Q. p. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Q. Num. 117 Pr. Pr. In this quaking-book the false Ministers of England are thus described They are false Teachers who go and are not sent they go forth in their own names without any commission from God only in the will of man they call themselves the Ministers of Christ but are not their doctrine is false and traditional it 's not from heaven but men below they do teach for doctrine the traditions of men they are the false Teachers they preach a divination of their own brains they come not in at the door they climb up another way they speak in the wisdom of mens words they are men-pleasers by inticing and feigned words they are deceivers seekers of their own praise they seek more the fleece than the flock they preach for hire and divine for money they expect gain from their quarters like the Scribes and Pharisees they make long prayers and under that pretence devour widows houses such as say and do not they limit the Church of Christ to a Nation they are blind leaders of the blind and both fall into the ditch they hold the truth in hypocrisie and unrighteousness they take the words of God into their mouths when they hate to be reformed they have a form of godliness and deny the power they are deceivers and being deceived cause the Name of God to be blasphemed and evil spoken of they observe months and days and consecrated places their preaching is limited to days hours and hour-glasses and to the wills of men to outward observations traditions and ceremonies by their fruits these trees may be known out of the evil treasure of their hearts they bring forth evil things they are an ill savour clouds that hold no water they are sounding-brass and tinkling cymbals they do not profit the people at all being weighed they are still found too light they do neither believe nor understand what they preach they have no experience of the word of life like those silly women they are always learning but never able to come to the knowledg of the truth they flee the cross they are not willing to forsake all for Christ they chuse rather to be subject to the corrupt laws and wills of men than to obey Christ in denying themselves they lay heavy burthens on mens
shoulders which they touch not with one of their fingers they have respect to their interest profit ease security they count gain godliness they are preachers and setters up of tythes which Christ came to put an end to with the law they sue men at law for them they are hirelings who do falsly apply Christs words to themselves The labourer is worthy of his hire tythes are only claimed by false Teachers they deny the doctrine of Christ enlightning every one with a saving-light and that truly for it is a quaking-falshood they deny the manifestation of the Spirit in all they reproach the true Ministers of the Light and justly because of their folly they are persecutors of the children of light but the Quakers have no truth nor righteousness to be persecuted for they deny that any are made perfect from all sin in this life which they ought to deny they preach up the power and dominion of the devil's leading into sin above the power of Christ over sin in this life they exalt their Master the Devils power above Christ who came to overcome the Devil they preach up outward worship bodily service outward forms ceremonies and observances of outward Ordinances and Traditions of men of worship in outward Temples and consecrated places and outward conformity out of the life and power of godliness in Common-Prayer service and singing of Davids Psalms they please themselves with an outward melody to their ears with voice and organs their labour is to bring people to and keep them in outward communion under the outward profession and name of Christians to come to an outward washing and sprinkling to make them Christians to partake in outward eating of bread to drink of the outward cup of wine their fellowship is only in the world and with the world they do not what God requireth at their hands they are preachers up of the Kingdom of the Beast and false-Prophet they are bewailers of the great city Babylon their trade and merchandize dependeth on her Q. Q. Num. 118 Now take this Authors conclusion pag. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Pr. Pr. In this quaking Author we find that they are the pretended Ministers of Christ that they are Antichrists Ministers that the Gospel preached by them is the Gospel of Antichrists setting up that they are led by the spirit of Antichrist that they make merchandize of the words of God that they are not Ministers of the Spirit hypocrites who do in words draw nigh to Christ but deny him in their works that Episcopal Presbyterian and Independent Teachers are alike corrupt they do all preach in their own wisdom of words they do differ from the true Ministers of Christ his Gospel and life that they all want a thorough-reformation that they have taken up their stations in formalities that they are rejected of God such from whom the Lord is departed such as are denied of the Lord to be his Ministers to them the Lord as this Quaker pretends saith Who hath required these things of your hands wherein you have polluted my name they seek their own more than Gods they have not the Spirit they are turned aside to fables they are quenchers of the Spirit they are despisers of Prophesie they speak evil of that they understand not they are none of Christs Ministers in the Spirit they convert not any unto God they go forth in the will of man they are not of God they are false shepherds they speak their own words they compose their Sermons in their own wills and wisdom they are no true guides in the way of life they are deceivers and Seducers who wax worse and worse they run in the way of Balaam they are the false guides who lead to destruction whose ways are the ways of death whose end is everlasting misery who are ready to blaspheme that holy name whereby the Quakers but in pretence and falsely are called I may without just offence to any say That I have truly set down from his own words this Quakers base account of all the Ministers of the Church of England for the most part this is done in this Scribblers own words if not so then in the genuine sense of his own words when I am put to the test this will be found true As for this and the other quaking Pamphlets I can truly say hisce oculis vidi hisce manibus tractavi observe but the time when their Books consulted by me were Printed and then this truth will be evident To their Books I shall instead of an Index add an Appendix which the Reader may be pleased to look upon as The Quakers unsound faith which I shall be bold to set down as the Quakers Belief because in that Book of theirs called Truths defence they do boldly say pag. 104 That they are moved by the immediate Spirit of Christ to write or to put in print That their papers or printed Books are from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God The Articles of the Quakers faith will be supernumerary above twice four and twenty I shall set them down with reference to what hath in the foregoing discourse been taken out of their own Books all this I shall do either in their own words or according to the true meaning of them By the letter Q. is meant Quakers To begin with their unsound faith ARTICLE I. THE first Article is this We Quakers do believe as W. P. doth write That Jesus Christ is not a distinct Person without us and that there is not one place of Scripture to prove him to be so nor do we believe Christ to be God-man for it is no Scripture-phrase See Numb 1 2 3. ARTICLE II. We Q. do believe That the Scripture is not a Rule directing our understandings or lives and that the Spirit alone doth give true discerning See Numb 4. ARTICLE III. We Q. do believe That the Light within ought to be the Rule of our faith and practice See Numb 5 6 7. ARTICLE IV. We Q. do believe That Baptizing with water is no Ordinance of the Gospel instituted by Jesus Christ See Numb 8 9. ARTICLE V. We Q. do believe That the Justification of a sinner is not by Christs righteousness imputed by faith That Justification by Christs imputed righteousness is a dangerous sin-pleasing notion that it is a speaking peace to the wicked that it is a doctrine of devils that it allows the devils Kingdom to continue in being See Numb 10 11 12 13 14. ARTICLE VI. We Q. do believe and are of the same mind with our friend G. Whitehead That Christ God-man did never purchase the redemption of any sinners by the price of his own blood That redemption thus purchased is non-sensical and unscriptural That it is an upstart-doctrine which is no elder than the Presbyterians and Independents See more Numb 15 16 17 18 19. ARTICLE VII We Q. do believe That there is no Salvation to be hoped for after this life is ended by any faithful
us is no less matter in this Quakers account than the Doctrine of a Counterfeit Christian a Doctrine that hath not one place of Scripture to prove it a Doctrine which is denied by this real Quaker a Doctrine which is not expressed in Scripture To make sure work this real Quaker saith in effect That he is a fool or a mad-man a man void of common sense that would prove the Quaker to be no Christian for denying that Christ is a distinct person without us According to this Quakers false measure all the Members of the Church of England not to mention the Reformed Churches abroad are all fools and mad-men they are all void of common sense for they do unanimously affirm That Christ is a distinct Person without them To touch at this Quakers Verily c. Verily that man is a Braggadochio one that doth vainly magnifie the Scripture to be his sole rule nay he is a laughing-stock to all wise men that would prove a Quaker to be no Christian for denying Christ to be a distinct person without us If this be not one of the Quakers base Doctrines asserted by W. P. alias William Pon let all wise men judg According to this real Quakers mind we have no such Saviour as Jesus Christ who is God and Man in one Person distinct without us Q. pag. 79. Q. Numb 2 'T is granted That Christ is a distinct Being though not at a distance from the Saints Next we never said that Christ was not as well without us as within us we never set any limitations to Christs presence they are the false inferences of our enemies let the Reader beware that he be not abused by them for the word Person as thou usest it in telling of Christ God-man a distinct person without thee it is no Scripture-phrase Pr. Pr. In these Quaking-lines we have the way of a Serpent upon a stone here is Christ a distinct Being from the Saints but no distinct person without them this is a point of base unscriptural doctrine the Real Quaker justified saith so in effect The Person of Christ God-man a distinct person without us this is no Scripture-truth nor phrase According to the vain-glorious title of this Quaking-Pamphlet they are Counterfeit-Christians that do affirm Christ to be God-man a distinct Person without them Is it not high time for the Kings Sacred Majesty to arise and judg for by his Quaking-subjects Christ the King of Glory is basely dishonoured this Quakers Pen hath published this high dishonour Q. pag. end i. e. 79. Q. Numb 3 Such-like expressions occasion people to retain mean and dark apprehensions of God and Christ and his place of residence Pr. Pr. W. P 's false spirit doth here put him upon writing in good earnest against Christ God-man a distinct person without us for these are some of those such-like expressions as are of dangerous consequence as this real Quaker saith they do occasion people to retain dark and mean apprehensions of God Christ and his place of residence Without doubt it may be truly said That the Quakers light within is not of God for it prompts them to write so dishonourably of God the Son who was sent by God the Father in the likeness of sinful flesh thus to be God-man a distinct person without us to save us by faith in his Name Take it for a most certain truth It was the Light from below which served this Quaking Pen to write so basely concerning Christ the Word made flesh God blessed for evermore Q. pag. 82. Q. Numb 4 I grant the Scriptures are to be fulfilled and that many Heavenly exhortations reproofs and instructions therein contained are to be regarded by us But that which is my Rule to direct my understanding what is fit for me to embrace and what to reject and how to understand that which is to be received must be the Spirit of Truth which alone gives a true discerning Pr. Pr. The Real Quaker having written so ill concerning Christ God-man a distinct person without us it cannot well be expected that he should write well concerning the Holy Scriptures Like the Devil concerning Christ himself this Quaker ushers in his pestilent discourse with some truth concerning the Scriptures which serves as a blind for fools Notwithstanding Joab's fair words at first Abner was smitten to death by him at last Though this Quaker hath spoken well of the Holy Scriptures at first yet in his last lines they are basely thrust through he saith plainly that they are not the rule to direct his understanding nor to govern his life by it 's not the Scripture but the Spirit of Truth which is this Real Quaker's Rule it 's the Counterfeit Christian who holds the Scripture to be the Rule of faith and obedience This Real Quaker takes the Scripture to be but a blind guide for it 's the Spirit of Truth that doth alone give true discerning According to this Quaking-doctrine the Holy Scriptures do give no true discerning But hearken what follows Q. pag. 83. Q. Numb 5 The Light within ought to be the rule of faith and practice Pr. Pr. This is the Real Quakers upstart rotten doctrine this Quaking-dotage is not yet thirty years old this is in truth the Real Quakers Golden Image before which all if they are so filly should fall down and worship In the Quakers blind estimate the Holy Scripture is not the Word of God that this Quaking-fondling the Light within them may be set up for the Rule of faith and practice Q. pag. 84. Q. Numb 6 I further told thee That those who gave forth the Scripture came to the enjoyment of those things through the Light and Spirit of God or they could never have writ them therefore the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the rule of their faith Pr. Pr. Here W. P's best reason assisted with his Light within is fondly at work to prove That the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the rule of their faith that gave forth the Scripture Surely it 's matter of lamentation in our Israel that the Quakers false light and their lying spirit do counterfeit the true Light and the Holy Spirit who is God to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of saith and life Who can read these lines without bleeding hearts Whose hearts are not touched to find the Holy Scriptures reproached in this scurvy manner Let wise men judg what hard measure the Holy Scripture meets with from the Real Quaker Q. p. 95. Q. Numb 7 We do receive and believe the Scriptures given forth by holy men of God as they were moved of the Holy Ghost and that they are profitable for doctrine for reproof and for instruction in righteousness yet since they are Writings relating to the things of God no man can understand them or have an assured testimony of them but by the Spirit of God It was not the Scripture but the Father that revealed Christ to Peter Pr. Pr.
Mind it well this is no piece of a Quakers faith That the Scripture is the Word of God or that it is the Rule of faith and obedience to any Real Quaker amongst them Behold this Quakers Logick Because St. Peter knew Christ to be the Son of the living God by a special revelation from Heaven therefore the Scripture is not the Rule of faith May it not be said without offence Surely this Quakers Light within burnt dim in his socket he saw not well to write by it It 's no imposing upon the weakest understanding to say That the Light within is no such infallible Teacher as the Quakers brag of like the Papists infallible Judg it 's not without its gross mistakes Q. pag. 103. Q. Numb 8 And for Christs bidding his Disciples Go teach baptizing Mat. 28 I told thee that no water was mentioned and that Luke in Acts the first says before the Commission mentioned by Matthew could be given at least executed John baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence and then comes the Commission in force Go teach baptizing how with the Holy Ghost turning people from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God Pr. Pr. The full import of this Quaking-Harangue is to tell that there is no such thing as Water-baptism You see plainly that baptism with the Holy Ghost thrust strangely by this real Quaker into Christs Commission hath outed Water-baptism from being a Divine Institution observe it well no water was mentioned a pitiful Cavil what then therefore Go teach baptizing is no part of Christs Commission according to the title of his Book this Real Quaker saith they are all Counterfeit Christians that hold baptizing with water the Real Quaker is for Go teach baptizing how with the Holy Ghost and with fire yet neither of them are by name exprest in Christs Commission If this be not in some measure to turn people from light to darkness from God to the power of Satan let the sober-minded Reader judg However this is most certain that to deny Water-baptism to be a Sacrament ordained by Christ himself is not the received Doctrine of the Church of England nor of any other serious Christians under Heaven Q. p. 105. Q. Numb 5 Now as for Water-baptism what Paul says of himself I may say of his Commission It was not behind any of the rest yet he denies Water-baptism to be any part of it and is as plainly rejected by him in point of institution as any thing in Scripture So that either Water-baptism is none of Christs Institutions or else Paul had no Commission to perform Christs Institutions which were strange Pr. Pr. I may without just offence ask Is not this stoutly argued from the Light within this Real Quaker to evince Water-baptism to be none of Christs Institutions Is it not a dishonour to an ordinary understanding to encounter such child-like reasoning May I not truly say Surely W.P. was at Oxford to lick glass-windows Is it the manner of his Light within of his bosom-teacher to dictate at this low rate However let it be duly considered that it is the avowed judgment of a real Quaker That Water-baptism is none of Christs Institutions and that this Quakers Paul was of the same mind which is a most gross mistake Q. p. 106. Q. Numb 10 C. i. e. Counterfeit Thou supposest the Doctrine of Justification by that righteousness which Christ fulfilled wholly without us to be a sin-pleasing and dangerous notion Quaker I do so Pr. Pr. Here we have consitentem reum the Real Quaker confessing himself guilty of a base Doctrine That Justification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled wholly without us is a sin-pleasing and dangerous notion Thus this great Gospel-truth Justification by faith articulus fidei stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiae a main Article of the Christian Faith in Luther's eye is but a sin-pleasing and dangerous notion in this Quakers account as the Papists call it a Putative righteousness so the Quaker accounts it no better than a sin-pleasing and dangerous notion Thus Justification by Christs righteousness imputed by faith which is a comfortable doctrine in the Church of Englands eye is basely murdered betwixt these two thieves Q. p. 107. Q. Numb 11 C. i.e. Counterfeit It is horrible wicked to conclude That what Christ hath done and suffered without us is to speak peace to the wicked whilst such Quaker Right Pr. Pr. To pick up the plainest sense out of these dark lines it seems to be this That it is horrible wicked to conclude that any are made righteous in Gods sight by what Christ hath done and suffered without us that it is no less than speaking peace to the wicked Thus the received Doctrine of Justification by faith in Christ is run down at a base rate Unless the perverting sense of a deluded Quaker be received that man commits an horrible wickedness that holds justification by Christs righteousness without him This is that daubing with untempered Mortar a sinpleasing-notion a doctrine which speaks peace to the wicked At this rate the Church of England is highly to blame for affirming that we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith That we are justified by faith only Artic. 11 is a most wholsome doctrine and very full of comfort Without doubt the Homily of Justification referred to in that Article is tainted with no Quakerism in this point Behold the Case is sad that imparted Righteousness may not be retained but imputed Righteousness like Ishmael the bond-womans son must be cast forth yea loathed as a sin-pleasing notion which is dangerous rejected as that which is horrible wicked Q. pag. eadem Q. Numb 12 But what sayest thou to my distinction about Justification Christs work was twofold First to remit forgive or justifie from the imputation of sins past such as truly repent and believe Secondly By his power and spirit working in the hearts of such to destroy and remove the very nature of sin to make an end of it to finish transgression present and to come the first removes the guilt the second the cause of it Methinks this should a little allay thy clamours Pr. Pr. It 's an old truth qui bene distinguit bene docet but this Quaker hath missed the Cushion With this distinction he doth only play the Mountebanks part he doth vainly please his fond admirers this counterfeit Balsom is ineffectual he juggles here is neither the whole truth nor nothing but the truth Like the Devil this Real Quaker hath the knack to deliver some truth according to the Scripture that he may the better manage his devilish design and put off his bad Wares The first part of this Quaking-distinction is very lame which any sober Christian will soon perceive The latter part of it is full of false doctrine the base design of this distinction is to make
Justification by Christs Righteousness without us to be a counterfeit doctrine Justification by inherent righteousness only is the chief mark at which this distinction is levelled Thus you see the Papists and Quakers are in a great measure hail fellows well met only the Quaker hath the honour to be the more perfect Dotard of the two Q. p. 108. Q. Numb 13 I grant that such as repent and believe receive remission or a justifying from former sins through the righteousness of God declared in and by Jesus Christ But is this compleat Justification It is a making inwardly just through a purging out of iniquity and mortifying of corruption and bringing in Christs everlasting Righteousness Pr. Pr. Here we have the Real Quaker a downright Papist he is professedly gone into the Tents of Rome He is become a stout Champion under the Pope's banner behold this Real Quaker dabling in gross Popery According to the tenour of his own words compleat Justification is a making inwardly just through a purging out of iniquity and mortifying of corruption and bringing in Christs everlasting righteousness Thus the nail is driven to the head by this doughty man of war Thus the doctrin of the Church of England is trampled under foot the Doctrine of Christs Righteousness imputed by faith once counted wholesome is by the Quakers Pen declared to be a Counterfeit but no Quakers have yet obtained by their Spirit to write any true Oracles But the worst is yet behind Q. p. eadem Q. Numb 14 If not then to exclude this and yet conclude men completely justified by what Christ hath done wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils for it leaves men in an impure state and allows the Devils Kingdom to continue in being Pr. Pr. These Quaking-lines make the Tenent as clear as day That complete justification by what Christ hath done wholly without is a Doctrine of Devils according to this Quakers base words in print the Church of England doth hold fast that which is a Doctrine of Devils a Doctrine which doth allow the Devils Kingdom to continue in being Without doubt this is a base aspersion cast on that Church which is beautiful in the eyes of all sober Christistians Christs Righteousness wholly without made ours by faith a Doctrine of Devils Whose eyes are not offended to see it in print Whose ears do not tingle to hear it read How base is the Light within W.P. to assert it Is this the genuine fruit of this Quakers Infallible Spirit Is this the true discerning which it gives Is it not matter of godly mourning that that which the Church of England accounts to be a most wholesom and very comfortable Doctrine this ill-principl'd Quaker should term a Doctrine of Devils May it not be said without offence Surely it is high time for the Kings Majesty the Defender of the Faith to gird on His Sword these that make so bold with this and other truths of God are but like stinging-Snakes in the bosome of Indulgence THE next Quaking-Book which I shall acquaint the Reader with is thus named in print Q. The nature of Christianity in the true Light asserted Written by a Servant of Christ G. Whitehead Printed in the year 1671. Pr. Pr. This vain-glorious Title stands like a Man of War in the Title-page thus In opposition to Antichristianism Darkness Confusion and Sin-pleasing Doctrines There this Man of War is not without a Looking-glass for sin-pleasing professors of all sorts Now let us use this Looking-glass that we may the better see the Quakers own face therein Q. pag. 3. This man hath grosly wronged divers of us by accusing of us as if we did oppose and seek to overthrow the plain testimonies and voices of all the Prophets and Apostles concerning the true Saviour or the Man Christ Jesus whom we have frequently confessed both as to his Divinity and as to his taking upon him a body prepared for him to do the will of God in according to the Scriptures of truth Pr. Q. Here is a parcel of good words to gull unwary Readers with as if the Quakers were more Orthodox in the Doctrine of Faith concerning our Saviours Manhood and Divinity than their own Pen hath already declared them to be That man knows nothing who knows not how the Devil to promote errors and false doctrines hath always used to dress himself his Agents in the garb of truth to get his bad Wares the better put off The Devil was in the right when he did profess to know Christ to be the Holy One of God but he had a devillish end in it After all the fair paint in these lines the Quaker will anon shew us his horns we shall ere long know him to be no tame beast before we have done with him his ill-inspiring spirit will appear you may certainly expect from this Quaking-Pamphlet most base pitiful stuff Q. p. 6. Q. Numb 15 Which word Purchase he thus explains in an unscriptural and nonsensical stile viz. That God-man purchased and compleated Reconciliation Justification c. with God at once without us which is as good sense as to say God purchased them of God Pr. Pr. You see how this Quaker takes his Adversary to task By the way we may observe that it is plain from the title of this Pamphlet that this Quaker makes the nature of Christianity to be downright Socinianism Here his inspiring spirit appears in print to Socinianize in a gross manner Reconciliation purchased by Christ God-man this Quaker saith is explained by his Adversary in an unscriptural and nonsensical stile As the Socinians do so this Quaker charges his Adversary to write no better sense concerning Redemption purchased than to say that God purchased of God an old Socinian cavil Thus the Light within is at unawares singing the old Cuckoes song Thus the Quakers Ignis fatuus his pretended spirit hath led him into a Socinian pit Thus the true Christian Religion by this Quaker is brought to a lamentable pass According to this Quaking-scribble the nature of Christianity is now asserted in the Light to establish a base Socinian Error as if it were the truth from heaven What a blind pitiful Elf is the Quakers Light within that it cannot discern Redemption by Christ God-man as a purchase made without us but as unscriptural and nonsensical God the Son made man purchasing our redemption of God the Father by the price of his own blood as God incarnate This is that blessed Truth explained which this Socinian-Quaker calls unscriptural and nonsensical However this point searched to the bottom toucheth the Quakers to the quick They cannot endure to hear of Christ God-man the Son of God purchasing of God the Father leans towards the Doctrine of the Trinity which the Quaker E.T. termed in mine and others hearing a blasphemous doctrine Q. p. 7. Q. Numb 16 The words Purchased and Redemption are used by R. G. in an unscriptural sense while he doth so nonsensically render it as God-man
having purchased all of God without Pr. Pr. Here we have this Quaking Proteus turned into a Socinian shape sore troubled it 's still no less than unscriptural and nonsensical to affirm That God-man hath purchased all of God without If we should fondly pin our faith on this Quakers sleeve then upon easie terms we might bid farwel to the received Doctrine of the Church of England Art 2 for there is no such thing discoverable by the Light within any Quaker as that the Godhead and Manhood were joined in one person who suffered was dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a Sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for all actual sins of men such true doctrine as this is belongs not to the nature of this Quakers Christianity this is that doctrine which in this Quakers Glass is represented unjustly to be unscriptural and nonsensical This blessed Truth That Christ God-man hath purchased all of God without is to this Quaker a rock of offence unjustly taken by him Without doubt that man is not mistaken who shall say That the Quakers do deny Christ to be God-man in one person this certainly is no point of any Quakers faith That Christ God-man hath purchased our Redemption of God the Father by his precious blood without us If this be true then where is or what is become of this Quakers true Christianity If this with his fellow-Quakers were enjoined by the Kings Majesty the Defender of the true Faith to subscribe to the 39 Articles of Religion then by their thus declaring their unfeigned assent and consent but to the two first Articles thereof their false Christian paint would soon fall off then the Kings Majesty would soon see what manner of Christians these Saints Seed People as they call themselves of the Most High God are Q. p. 8. Q. Numb 17 Because those terms in Scripture relating to Christ and his works are misunderstood and perverted by many professors and Priests I shall state them with the natural and simple sense thereof viz. Jesus A Saviour who saveth from sin Christ is anointed with power from on high Propitiation A Sacrifice well pleasing which is to purge away sin and make nigh to God and which imports forgiveness reconciliation favour mercy kindness c. Sacrifice An oblation or offering to consecrate or make holy Reconciliation An agreement a setting at one Covenant An accord agreement a contract a treaty a condition c. Atonement Peace quietness betwixt them that are reconciled or in mutual friendship Redemption A ransoming buying again rescuing such as were under bondage or sold under slavery Salvation A saving or a making safe from the hand of an enemy destroyer or oppressor c. Imputation An ascribing laying to the charge of or an accounting reckoning or thinking Justification A making righteous just upright vertuous good perfect c. and also an adjudging pronouncing and sentencing one that is made righteous to be so Pr. Pr. Thus far we have had this Quakers unlearned Dictionary or ill-digested Vocabulary Now let us first observe what doth immediately follow Q. p. 9. Q. Numb 18 Now if professors come not to feel and experience these things or works of Christ fulfilled in them they are but empty professors and talkers of them without the true life and power of Christianity and true Religion Pr. Pr. This Quakers Dictionary or Vocabulary is so trivial as that it is lost time an abuse of patience to note much concerning it They are Quakers in heart ill-principl'd in Christianity who do not see plainly how this Quakers spirit hath put him upon playing the Sophister as well as an Ignoramus in it There is not one syllable of Redemption by purchase to be found in it Jesus Christ Propitiation Sacrifice Reconciliation Covenant Atonement Redemption Salvation Imputation Justification are not only ignorantly but basely explained to use Dr. G's words whom I heard preaching upon that plain literally-meant Text Mat. 5.10 say Haec intus transiguntur omnia they must be all felt and experimentally fulfilled within professors otherwise they are but empty professors and talkers of them nay further unless professors come to this which they are never likely to do to have them fulfilled in them they are in a sad case without the true life and power of Christianity and true Religion To give one parting-blow more Let it be duly observed that this Quakers explanation is full of tautologies and of plain words darkned by those of more difficult understanding as also of several vain repetitions of all which his Teacher the Light within his pretended Lord God his Spirit that inspired him is highly guilty As for Justification it is altogether Popishly explained a plain instance that the Quakers Light within is from Rome below not from Heaven above besides that man is not imposed upon that shall hence aver this Quakers Vocabulary to be full of Socinianism for here is nothing of Redemption by Christs blood without us The life and power of this Quakers Religion hath nothing to do with redemption purchased by Christ God-man Once more consider this Quaking-Dictionary well and then it will casily appear that this Socinianizing Quaker doth truly deny the Lord that bought him as well as unchristian all those that are not of the same corrupt mind with him That all these abovesaid words in their Quaking-sense must be fulfilled in them Q. p. 18. Q. Numb 19 But thou contradictest thy Tutors the Presbyterians and Independents in saying That mans redemption is purchased by his crucified body for they say he did not satisfie as man simply but as God and man or as God-man which is all one as to say That God satisfied and paid God or that God purchased redemption of himself Pr. Pr. Observe how this Quaker takes his adversary to task as an untoward Pupil contradicting his tutors According to this Quakers ill-sighted light within him the received Doctrine of Christs satisfaction derives its pedigree no higher than the Presbyterians and Independents According to this Upstart Quaker Christs satisfaction is no Gospel-truth from God in heaven it 's only from below according to this Quaker the Presbyterians and Independents are the known Fathers of this Infant-truth the old scum is still before this Quakers eyes all his light within doth not remove it God satisfying and paying God God purchasing redemption of himself doth still so blind him as that he cannot as yet see redemption by price or satisfaction made by Christ God-man to God the Fathers Justice to be a precious Gospel-truth It 's no slander to say That this Quaker hath an ill-catechised head an ignorant spirit to be his guide otherwise he had never appeared so ignorant in print I may truly write without any just offence That an ungrounded confident pretence to divine teaching hath put this deluded Quaker upon devising a Looking-glass for all sorts of professors in which nothing of true Christianity is yet to be seen Q. p.
but Trent-Popery infused into them by subtil Popish Priests and propagated by the deluded Quakers at this day This old Popish Doctrine is that which their Praters put off in their Speakings and Writings to their followers as if it were new doctrine from heaven something belonging to Christianity which was not known till the brain-sick Quakers made it known Q. p. 32 33. Q. Numb 23 To oppose the righteousness of the elect seed and the works of the Spirit within as unto Justification this R. G. scornfully tells us that in plainer words they of Rome thus express That the Apostle excludes from Justification works which we our selves do by our strength without the help of the grace of God not those works we do by the aid of the Spirit To these lines this Quaker answers thus They of Rome have given a better definition of Justification than R.G. hath and at least shown a better esteem of works of grace and of the Spirit of God than he hath done Now if I be exclaimed against herein for Popery I must say that wherein Papists hold any truth though in unrighteousness I must not therefore deny it if the Papists and the Devil also confess there is a God and a Christ must I therefore deny it or be counted a Papist Pr. Pr. Here the Quakers Light within is stifly at work to justifie himself for holding as the Papists do the same doctrine of Justification by works of righteousness In plain terms Quakerism in the point of Justification is Popery new-born into the world it 's no false charge to say That the Quakers have a Pope in their bellies their Books have the same Papal doctrine that truth which the Papists hold though in unrighteousness as this Quaker saith as to Justification even the self-same doth this Quaker hold as fast to the shame of the received doctrine of the Church of England I might tell the Reader how Rom. 8.3 4. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Isa 45.8 James 2.20 21 23. Gal. 3.6 are discoursed from by this Quaker no otherwise than the Papists have done to assert Justification by the works of the Spirit but it is no new thing with the Devil or his Agents to quote Scripture to prove that which God never intended them for That man is a stranger to the point of Justification that knows not that many Scriptures have been wrested by the Papists for this purpose which have been soundly vindicated from Popish glosses put upon them This Quaker doth but actum agere act the Popish old part over again to amuse unwary Christians with the rehearsal of them If this Quakers spirit were of God he had ere this been silent in this matter To use this Quakers own words I shall tell him That it is an old Popish trick to assert Justification by works of the Spirit from mistaken Scriptures and there is certainly no little spice of the old Law-working spirit in it Q. p. 33. Q. Numb 24 Our asserting the righteousness of the elect seed raised in us and obedience of faith therein for justification and acceptance with God this doth neither deny nor oppose the Sacrifice of the crucified body of the Man Christ Jesus nor yet blot out of our hearts either the name or remembrance of him who is the great Propitiation for sin as unjustly the elect seed and its righteousness within is accused for the appearance of Christ within and his manifestation in spirit doth neither deny nor oppose his manifestation or suffering in the flesh but rather answereth and fulfilleth the intent and end thereof for the outward manifestation of the Son of God in the flesh as it did condemn sin in the likeness of sinful flesh so his inward manifestation in spirit doth destroy sin worketh justification and redemption in them who obey his light within for he is the author of eternal salvation to as many as obey him So here is righteousness redemption and salvation received in Christ the Light through obedience to his Light within Pr. Pr. This Quaker hath had fair play he is transcribed usque ad nauseam by this tedious discourse this Quaker gives us to understand that there is no such truth as Justification by faith alone the subject matter of his lines is hammered out upon his Popish anvil there is nothing for the main said which any Papist will disown Justification and Sanctification are by him ignorantly confounded but rightly enough according to the Popish mode he that shall affirm this Quaker to be one of Abbot Joachim's Disciples or one belonging to Seculum Spiritus Sancti or a Franciscan Papist in a new dress is not altogether mistaken his whole discourse is a medley of some truth of more falshood to glance at the title of his Pamphlet you see it plain unless we are of the same mind with the Papists in the doctrine of Justification we are all far from the nature of true Christianity in this matter in this Quakers account the Church of England together with other Reformed Churches is altogether Antichristian Q. p. 40 41. Q. Numb 25 As to R.G. his saying His Apostles and all his Ministers in all ages all in one joint voice pointing to Jesus the Son of Mary this son of man with an Hosanna to the Son of David Ans That the holy Prophets Apostles and Ministers testified unto Jesus Christ both as man born of the Virgin and unto his Divinity this is owned But it appears further that R. G.'s Hosanna and pretended adoration and claim of Salvation is only to him as the Son of Mary as now existing outwardly bodily without us * whereupon I ask him if he hath so considered him to be God the Saviour or the Son from the substance of the Father as some of his Brethren have confessed the Son is and that he existeth outwardly bodily without us at Gods right hand what Scripture-proof hath he for these words and then what and where is Gods right hand is it visible or invisible within us or without us only and is Christ the Saviour as an outward bodily existent or person without us distinct from God and on that consideration to be worshipped as God yea or nay And where doth the Scripture say he is outwardly and bodily glorified at Gods right hand according to the foregoing Asterisk * you may take this Authors Marginal note Why did he not call Mary the Mother of God as the Papists do which to be sure is not Scripture-language Pr. Pr. In this Quaking ramble we find too much false abominable doctrine delivered to serious Christians it 's certainly sad to read so much base doctrine vented under the pretended nature of true Christianity I shall endeavour to sum it up in these following particulars First here is no Hosanna due to Christ as the Son of Mary as now existing bodily without us 2ly Jesus the Son of Mary is not God our Saviour 3ly That Jesus Christ is not the Son of the substance of the
Quaking-Primer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the Word of God the sure word of Prophesie may not be regarded by them as their guide or rule of their lives Q. p. 11. Q. Numb 29 Therefore cease from that which is evil and obey the Light within and then shalt thou be delivered from condemnation Pr. Pr. Here these Quaking Primmer-men are subtilly at work to corrupt the injudicious minds of children with gross Popery here is deliverance from condemnation not by faith in Christs Merits but by obeying the Light within them their worst guide It 's a sad case that little children are in danger to be thus basely taught to pronounce the Roman Sibboleth that man is dim-sighted who doth not see that Quakerism serves as a stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 13 14. Hearken not to the deceivers Q. Numb 30 who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. Pr. Here you may observe how this Quaking-Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad liquor put into them other Teachers whether Archbishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons rightly ordained are but deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them By this base suggestion it is here endeavoured to prejudice young children against the Ministry of Gods word by the lawful Ministers of it to make them be slighted as so many deceivers that would keep little children from the light of Christ Jesus to be slenderly regarded by them as being no Ministers of Christ as those that would turn them from the light I may truly say Here is the poyson of Asps with which these Quakers would infect the youth of this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 15. And such also are all deceivers who tell you Q. Numb 31 The only way to come to the knowledg of all truth is by the Scriptures for the knowledg of truth is by the Spirit of truth which doth bring to the knowledg of Jesus Christ and his Spirit leadeth into all truth Pr. Pr. The dangerous design of this Quaking-Primmer is to leaven the minds of young children with this abominably false doctrine That the Holy Scriptures are not the way to know the truth That Gods Ministers are deceivers who teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the truth Behold a sad case here is the Spirit of truth highly exalted to decry the Word of God the holy Scripture from being the way to the knowledg of the truth according to this Quaking-fancy any prophane despiser of the Scriptures may very boldly say That Timothy was ill-instructed in the knowledg of the Scriptures from his youth That St. Paul was grosly mistaken in saying That the Scriptures were able to make him wise unto salvation But you see these Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the light of Gods own word as if nothing but deceitful knowledg were to be gotten by the Scripture which is Gods Book This Quaking-dotage doth plainly say In vain did Timothy know the Scriptures of a child in vain do any Parents train up their children in the knowledg of them if this be not what is the ready way to lay poor children open to the Spirit of Error to make them a ready prey to the Quakers deluding spirit of truth By pursuing this Quaking-fancy is not the Devil likely to have a rich ingathering in this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 16. Q. Numb 32 And such are deceivers who preach for money and tythes such cannot lead you out of transgression for they are in transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely you have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy lucre deceive people Pr. Pr. In this Quaking-Primmer here is a base charge drawn against all the Ministring-Priests of the Church of England here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the youth of this Church and Kingdom may have timely notice to beware of their best soul-friends here the silly sheep are slily counselled against their keepers that the Quaking-Wolves in sheeps-cloathing may the better prey upon them Is it not very sad that the youth of this Church and Kingdom must be thus dangerously prejudiced against Gods Priests who are his Ambassadors by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-subjects that they may be reconciled to God Behold here little children are taught to look upon all teaching-Priests as so many deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for money and tythes which is a lying slander as those blind guides that are in the pit of transgression such as are not like Christs true Ministers as burdeners of that Gospel which plain Paul made not chargeable as those Priests that preach for filthy lucre as Cheats who deceive the people According to the baseness of these Quaking-lines it 's a shame for the King 's Sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him be suffered to preach before him Is it not likewise another standing-shame that the Priests of the Most High God should be thus basely reproacht in print to the corrupting of youth and as yet no exemplary notice taken of it By the way observe it well that the Most Reverend Fathers of this Church are some of those Priests that are thus stigmatized in these Quaking-lines as well as the other dignified and inferior Clergy of this Church and Kingdom The good Lord rebuke this Quaking ill spirit Q. p. 17 18. And such are no Ministers of Gods word Q. Numb 33 who tell you the Scripture is the word of God and these are the Ministers of the Letter who are Ministers of the Scripture and not Ministers of Christ Pr. Pr. You see these Quaking Primmer-men are still busie to sow their bad seed in the young Seminary whilst they do pretend to learn little children to spell they do likewise learn them these Devilish Lessons First That the Scripture is not the Word of God 2. That they are no Ministers of Gods Word who tell little children that the Scripture is the word of God 3. That they are the Ministers of the Letter and not the Ministers of Christ who are Ministers of the Scripture May I not say without offence to any If the Devil were incarnate it would well become him to teach such base Doctrine as this is By this Doctrine once imbib'd little children are well fitted to become bad Scholars in the Devils School Q. p. 25. Q. Numb 34 And these the Father Son and Spirit the world and their Teachers calls Three Persons but they speak they know not what even as they have imagined contrary to the Scripture therefore Children believe them not Pr. Pr. Here George Fox the younger comes on the stage of the Quaking-Primmer to
act his part to make little children believe this Doctrine to wit Three Persons and one God is a false doctrine That the Father the Son and the Spirit are no otherwise three Persons but as the world and their Teachers calls them so To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are three Persons but one God this is to speak we know not what a meer fancy as we have imagined a false doctrine contrary to the Scripture Article 1 To say with the Church of England In the Unity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost is in this Quakers account the Doctrine of the world and their Teachers a speaking we know not what a vain imagination a corrupt doctrine contrary to the Scripture If this be not pestilent doctrine for little children to learn let all sober Christians judg Q p. 21. Q Numb 35 Now Children the Scriptures of truth do declare of God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth which are one but the Scriptures cannot bring you to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth Pr. Pr. In this Quaking-Primmer here is a train laid to blow up the knowledg of the Scriptures to prepare little Children to sleight them as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking-lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine for wherein are the holy Scriptures profitable for Doctrine if they are unable to bring those that read them to know God Christ and the Spirit of Truth certainly it is either a true or a false knowledg that is to be gotten of God Christ and the Spirit by the Scriptures to exalt the Quakrs Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to sleight the holy Scriptures as a dull Book in the reading whereof there is nothing of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth to be known There are many more soul-endangering Doctrines in this Primer but I shall dismiss them at this present that I may come to the Quakers Catechism a Book of no less dangerous consequence as Popery of late hath spread in this Kingdom by Popish Catechisms so the Papal Quakers have set their Catechisms forth to gain Proselytes by this means Pharisee-like they make their followers twofold more the children of Hell Q. THe Book now under consideration is thus Titled Q. Two Treatises the one Entituled A New Primer the other A New Catechism both written by William Smith Printed 1668. Pr. Pr. The New Primer is that Book in which is demonstrated the new and living way a specious title this Book hath to catch unwary Readers to draw them cunningly into the Devils snare it 's written by way of Question and Answer the Child inquiring the Father informing which is a subtle way to dispense Quakerism the other is a new Catechism both are bound up together both Primer and Catechism are the sittest for Smithfield to receive the Hangmans Imprimatur there the Catechising new Primer is betwixt the Father and Child thus Q. p. 2. Q. Numb 36 Child But is there something of God in my own conscience that will give me the knowledg of him Father Yes and there is not any thing else that can do it Pr. Pr. In the first page of this new Primer this Quaking father endeavours to shew his child how he may come to know God his way and truth which he saith is thus done by something of God in his own conscience but so as that there is not any thing else that can do it as for the Scripture this stands for a cypher for a dead letter like a dumb Idol the Scripture can do nothing to make known God his way and truth the Light within this Quakers fondling is the childs only tutour to help him to know God his way and truth as for the Scripture which is given by inspiration of God which as St. Paul saith Is able to make wise to salvation which is profitable for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work this very Scripture in comparison of the Light within is not able to help children in the least to know God his way and truth it doth still further appear that the Quakers spirit is not of God which doth thus debase the Scripture which is Gods word Q. p. 5. Q. Numb 37 Fath. Such as are not Christs Ministers have their power and authority from man and have each man a place of settlement which is called a Parish in that Parish they have Tythes allowed for their maintenance and they have a law made by man to compel it and if any for conscience sake cannot give it them then by their Law they sue them and imprison them and spoil their goods and these are wolves Child that are let loose among the lambs to rend and tear them and they have places builded in their several Parishes which they call Churches and they observe one day in a week for their worship and few hours in that day to perform it and they have an hour-glass and that is their time of Preaching and their eye will be oft towards the glass to see when it is run because it is a long hour to them when the glass is run they tell their people the time is now spent and what hath been spoken must suffice for that time and this is not the practice of Christs Ministers Pr. Pr. By this Quaking father the children of this Church and Kingdom are basely taught in a ridiculous manner to despise all Gods Ministers of what degree soever throughout this whole Kingdom from the Kings Chappel to the meanest Congregation we are all alike none of Christs Ministers like Jeroboams Priests or Baals Prophets this Quaker saith we derive our authority from man the Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops the Ordination of Priests and Deacons is no more but an humane invention for they have their power and authority from man in this Quakers account there is no true Ministry belonging to the Church of England the Priests are but so many Tythmongers setled in every Parish bloody wolves let loose among the lamb-like Quakers to rend and tear them like the Jews they have a law made by man to compel that which is unjust they are time-servers who do observe one day in a week for their worship and a few hours in that day to perform it an hour-glass measures the time of their Preaching which their eyes are oft upon their glass run and their time are both spent together thus in this Quakers eye they are no better than so many hour-glass-Preachers behold what a silly scandalous charge is here drawn up against all the Ministers of Gods Word in this Church and Kingdom who can believe that the foregoing discourse was indited by the infallible spirit who is God
which of the Kings sworn subjects have minded the Spirit of truth when they took those oaths By their so swearing have they not done that which comes of evil or of the Devil the evil one Is not this rare quaking-stuff according to this Quakers false doctrine it is altogether unlawful for any of the Kings subjects to swear subjection to him any more lest they fall into condemnation as for any oaths which are truly lawful they are so condemned by this Quaker as that there is no Scripture-warrant for them in this day to plead Scripture for those oaths that are in truth righteousness and judgment it 's like using an old Almanack out of date it may well be said To what end did St. Paul tell the Christian Hebrews of God swearing by himself and that an oath is to put an end to all strife for had this Quaker been in St. Pauls time he would have catechized him otherwise that he did not understand the Scriptures that St. Paul had taught other doctrine than the Lord Jesus had done for he faith Swear not at all but let your yea be yea That solemn oaths are as bad now as vain oaths That swearing was lawful under the old dispensation but unlawful now Then St. Paul might have known this new-light-doctrine That Christ ended the dispensation of oaths where strife was If all this be not ungrounded abominable doctrine delivered by this Quaker then let wise unbiassed Readers judg Q. p. 50 51. Q. Numb 52 Ch. Father inform me concerning the observation of days as holy-days and Sunday which some call Sabbath-day and some the Lords-day and whether the Lord requires that I should observe them Fa. If thou observest a day observe it to the Lord but he requires not the observing of particular days for the Seventh day was holy in which he rested from all his works and that was the Jews Sabbath and they observed it to the Lord as he commanded but Christ Jesus hath fulfilled it and ended it and those called Holy-days are set up in the Apostacy in which the Saints have been killed and martyred upon which days the Apostles rejoyced and feasted and they are called Festival days and thou art to abominate the observing of them because they were set up in the blood-thirsty spirit and for that called the Lords-day or Sabbath-day people do not understand what they say for the Sabbath is the Seventh day and the observing of that is ended in Christ and that called the Lords-day is the first day of the week and the name Sunday is from the heathens who celebrated that day to the Sun and so called it Sunday but Child every day is the Lords day and thou art to observe them all unto him and who come to Christ and believe in Christ come over the observation of days into the one day of the Lord which is as a thousand years Pr. Pr. In this Quakers long discourse the set-time for Gods publick Worship is run down at an ignorant rate from observing a day to the Lord it 's ignorantly asserted That God requires not the observing of particular days when the King and Parliament made the last Act for the better observation of the Lords-day then according to this Quaker they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-worship for as this Quaker saith the Lord requireth not the observing of any particular days it 's here confest notwithstanding what was said by this Quaker to the contrary that the Seventh day was the Jews Sabbath-day as the Lord commanded behold here was a particular day required by God to be observed by the Jews behold again how this Quakers spirit hath inspired him to write a contradiction but as for us Christians under the Gospel there is no particular day to be observed to the Lord there are no Holy-days owned by this Quaker these days are like so many brats of Babylon rejected by him these days he saith were set up in the Apostacy at that time when the Saints were killed and martyred doth not this Quakers ignorance in effect count all Holy-days to be Apostatical days Are not these the Festival days which his Child is instructed to abominate the observing of What is more plain from these Quakers words than this That Holy-days observed by the Reformed Churches abroad and the Church of England at home are abominable days not fit to be observed But why are Holy-days to be abominated This Quaker gives this reason Because they were set in the blood-thirsty spirit it 's hard to understand the meaning of these words however we have no Holy-days which this Church observes but such as were at first set up by a blood-thirsty spirit surely if this Quaker had lived in those days of old he would have faln as strangely foul upon the Jews Feast of Purim as being from another blood-thirsty spirit but this Quakers aking-tooth is at the Lords-day or Sabbath-day in this matter the Prophane and the Quakers are well agreed they do neither of them make conscience to observe this day to the Lord for that called the Lords-day or Sabbath-day this Quaker saith that the people do not well understand what they say to speak according to this Quakers own words both King and Parliament were faln low in their understandings when they made an act for the better observation of the Lords-day in their debates they said they knew not what who named it either Sunday Lords-day or Sabbath-day had this Quaker been consulted they might have known thus much that the seventh-day-Sabbath is ended in Christ that the Lords-day is the first day of the week that Sunday is from the Heathens but in truth every day is the Lords-day so that to declare this Quakers mind truly there is indeed no such day as the Lords-day to be observed by any Christians for every day of the week is to be observed as the Lords-day and this is not this Quakers single opinion for he saith that they who come to Christ and believe in Christ do which is strange come over the observation of days is not this Quakers meaning this That all real Quakers do neither observe Holy-days nor the Lords-day not Holy-days as this Church appoints nor the first day of the week as being the Lords-day which is their degenerating from the practice of the Primitive Christians to say no worse of them but whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the observation of days for my part I cannot tell this Quaker is of age let him speak for himself who saith that they come into the one day of the Lord which is as a thousand years and here I leave him I Shall transcribe no more out of him but proceed to some of James Parnel's Pamphlets the Book which is made use of is called Q. A Collection of the several writings given forth from the spirit of the Lord through the servant of God James Parnel who bore a faithful testimony for God and died a Prisoner
under the hands of a persecuting generation in Colchester-Castle in the year 1656. Published 1675. Pr. Pr. This Quakers scribbles are in no small request with his quaking-friends here you see they are said to be given forth from the Spirit of the Lord which is a profane equalling of them with the holy Scriptures this quaking holy man of God was in the Quakers account no less inspired by the Holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture were it 's no slander to say that the Quakers are not a little fly-blown with spiritual pride not a little of it is here published in print behold this James Parnel was the Quakers martyr that bore a faithful testimony for God even unto death in Colchester-Jayl with respect to this Quakers great worth they were a persecuting generation who did persecute this Quaker according to his true demerit This Collection was published in the year 1675 to tell this generation that this Quaker was like Abel who being dead yet speaketh but I shall truly say not like righteous Abel Let us look into some of his Pamphlets for with them all I shall not trouble your patience The first of the Pamphlets is called A trial of Faith which is thus put to the test Q. p. 4. Q. Numb 53 You believe you shall never overcome your sins so long as you are here or be made free from sins here you shew your faith is not built upon Christ who came to destroy the works of the Devil and to cleanse from all sin Pr. Pr. This is the corrupt testimony of this quaking-martyr that they are no sound believers whose faith doth not cleanse them from all their sins that the faith of Christians is not built upon Christ if it doth not make them free from their sins peccatum ne sit a sinless estate reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven is no true Divinity in the Quakers School according to this high-flown Quaker we must either be wholly free from sin like the angels or we can be no true believers in Christ St. Paul burthened with his body of death was a wretched man in the worse sense one that was not built by faith on Christ no truly faithful Christian suppose this Quaker to be in the right what then then St. John was grosly mistaken in saying thus If we say that we have no sin which the Quakers usually do we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us this Quaker is certainly for a more holy faith than God himself did ever require it 's not the ruling power but the being of sin which this Quakers faith makes free from without doubt this is to be righteous overmuch in this world I leave it to others to judg if the ill spirit of the old Catheri was not gotten into this young Quaker however it 's most clear that unless the Quakers idolized perfection be owned as the true only touchstone of faith the best grounded the most stedfast and saving faith of any Christian is not worth a rush it is an unholy faith to speak this Quakers mind that doth not cleanse from all sin in being thus this Quaker being dead hath unrighteously spoken a lye in the name of the Lord by his false Doctrine he hath concluded the Church of England at home all reformed Churches abroad under unbelief for being of this right sound mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins as long as they are here Q. Q. The next Pamphlet of Parnel's is called Christ exalted into his Throne Pr. Pr. Here is seemingly great honour done to our Saviour Christ but it is only in shew not in truth as of old he was arrayed like a King to his own greater disgrace so he is now cried up by this Quaker to the high dishonour of the holy Scriptures which is no honour to our Lord Jesus Christ Q. p. 15. Q. Numb 54 The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light nor the word nor the life nor the judg nor the rule nor the guide nor the trier of spirits for all this belongs to Christ Pr. Pr. I may truly say without offence this is none of Abel the righteous his language nor a faithful testimony born for God except another Quaker Atheist or Antiscripturist none would have laid such base things to the charge of the holy Scripture except a Quaker no man did ever call Christ the rule this Quaker is guilty of weak reasoning because Christ is the word the light the life therefore Scripture is not the word of God a light the word of life a judg a guide a trier of spirits behold is not this rare quaking Logick is it not a great shame that such dull reasoning as this is should be fathered on the holy Spirit who is God without question it 's for want of good Catechizing that the Quakers vent such irrational things in print these quaking-lines are fitter for pity than a more serious answer however let it be duly considered that at this door hath been brought in all the filth that hath been cast upon the holy Scripture the Scripture is not the light what is it then darkness saith one Quaker not to be minded in any thing saith another not the word what then the letter a dead letter say several Quakers not the life what then putrefaction and corruption not the judg what then it's the spirit alone which gives true discerning saith another Quaker not the rule what then the Scripture is not the rule of my faith and practise saith another Quaker not the guide what then the Light within is the true guide say all Quakers not the trier of spirits what then the Scripture cannot help to discern betwixt true and false saith another Quaker Thus you see clearly how the Scripture the word of God is become like a dung-cart to receive what filth the Quakers and the Papists have to throw into it is it not very sad that the Quakers way of exalting Christ is by debasing the good word of God what manner of spirit it is that leads the Quakers let all wise men hence judg Q. p. 16. Q. Numb 55 Of this Light you people and teachers of the world are ignorant and so are doting upon the Scripture without with your dark minds there with the blind Pharisees seeking life where it is not to be found Pr. Pr. The voice of righteous Abel is not yet in these quaking lines with this Quaker both people and Priest are alike they are both alike ignorant of Christ the Light because neither people nor their teachers are fond of this Quakers false Christ the Light within therefore this Quaker saith they do fondly dote upon the Scripture without and this is done with dark minds behold as this Quaker thought this is our great fault because we make the Scripture not the Quakers Light within the rule of our faith and life therefore as this Quaker saith we are ignorant of Christ the Light doting on
takes for his Text now follows his gloss That is to say take away our idol then take away our maintenance then down with our Ministry Is not this rarely quaked What will not a real Quaker say to asperse the Ministring-Priests of the Lord This Quaker hath clearly for his own purpose hit this nail on the head well may none but Quakers cry Euge Jacobe Observe it once more here is the Scripture standing again for an idol and all Ministers of the Gospel because not quakerized for the Priests of this Idol the Scripture is there not here a sound like that of old Great is Diana of the Ephesians Do not the Priests like those Craftsmen make a great stir about their Idol the Scripture Do they not say in this Quakers hearing Take away our Idol then take away our Maintenance then down with our Ministry Surely it is new very clear that the Quakers have very mean thoughts either of the Scripture or of Gods true Ministers the latter are in scorn called Priests the former is more basely termed their Idol by this Quaker we are come to a strange pass seeing that no Ministers may stick close to the divine authority of the Scripture but their gain is their only end in so doing and the Scripture the word of God is their Idol which they worship for advantage sake that their maintenance may not be taken away and that their Ministry which some Quakers prophanely enough call their trade may not go down I need add no more but this Nigro carbone notetur without question this quaking-doctrine deserves a black mark Q. p. 22. Q. Numb 60 They have nothing but the Scripture without and are still without in darkness and confusion as all those appear to be who call the Scripture their rule and guide and yet know not the truth Pr. Pr. Here th's Quaker is still baiting the Priests of the most high God as if they were a sort of Letter-mongers that have only the Scripture without out-side teachers who are still without such as are in darkness without Christ the light of life such as are in confusion without divine guidance and all this dirt is cast on them by this Quaker because they call rather make the Scripture their rule and guide but in the mean time know not the truth by the way observe how fond the Quakers are of their Light within to exalt this Idol they count the holy Scripture to be what it is not an Idol it 's no less than darkness and confusion as this Quaker saith to call the Scripture the rule of faith and life surely the holy Spirit of God is in vain pretended to by the Quakers who do so basely abuse in print those who call the Scripture the Word of God who do so much decry the Scripture from being the Word of God a rule or guide Oh that the Quakers could lay this great sin to their hearts Q. p. 25. Q. Numb 61 You bring another Gospel calling the four Books Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel Pr. Pr. Here this Quaker is offended with us unjustly for calling the Books written by St. Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel this is as he saith no less matter than to bring another Gospel into the world suppose this to be what it is not a true charge then according to St. Paul's Doctrine this Quaker would make us accursed and all that have gone before us for this new Gospel surely this Quaker did not well consider what he wrote for no Quaker doubtless dare say that the matter of those Books is not true Gospel how then came this Quaker to talk of our bringing another Gospel by affirming these Books to be the Gospel of St. Matthew Mark Luke and John as the Church of England doth as the Reformed Churches do abroad this Quaker would make us to be faulty in an high degree for by bringing in another Gospel we have another Christ to be our Saviour than he that is God and Man in one person the word made flesh it is certainly very sad that we may not call the matter of those four Books the Gospel which was written for our instruction by those four Evangelists St. Matthew Mark Luke and John but we must be basely charged to bring another Gospel which St. Paul terms accursed Q p. 26. Q. Numb 62 That is a false light in you which leads you to profess the Scripture to be your rule but in life and practice deny it Pr. Pr. Without borrowing any of this Quakers Light within him to tell us it is a confessed truth amongst us That all those do hold the truth in unrighteousness that do not live according to it but it is no false light in any of us to profess the Scripture to be our rule and though men are never so wicked the Scripture is still the rule of a better life to them which they ought to follow certainly this Quakers spirit was very much in the dark to asperse the Scripture so as he hath done by Gods own appointment the Scripture is the rule of faith and life it 's folly to think that the sinfulness of any mans life can make the Scripture to cease to be the rule of life as God hath declared it to be without doubt it is a false light in any Quaker which guides him to say that the Scripture is not the rule of his life without the Light within to guide him The next Pamphlet of James Parnel is called Q. The Trumpet of the Lord blown or a blast against pride and oppression Pr. Pr. To be sure this Trumpet sounds nothing like those silver Trumpets of old there is no small danger in this Quakers blast I shall endeavour to cast some Church-mould upon it the first sound is a terrible long blast Q. p. 28 29 30. Q. Numb 63 Wo unto you that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen in respect to your persons who are exalted in the earth who are proud high and lofty who are called of men Master Mistris and Madam you are exalted above your fellow-creatures and grind the faces of the poor you live at ease spending your time in chambering and wantonness in hawking bowling carding dicing in eating drinking and sleeping you feed the lust eating drinking and rising up to play which is Idolatry your high and lofty horses are like your selves according to your lofty minds you sit at ease Dives-like devouring the Creation spending it upon your lusts your hearts being adultred from God your fellow-creatures labour like slaves under you you sit at ease and poor Lazarus lyes starving without you think scorn that a poor man should stand with his hat on before you you will be called Masters upholding that which Christs Doctrine forbids who saith Be not ye called Master you think scorn to be Thoued of your fellow-creatures but you will Thou God and Christ but though you be exalted as high as the Heavens and set your nests
What is the husk to the kernel what should Swine do with Pearls whose life is the husk and there they feed he who saith the Letter is the Word is a deceiver and errs not knowing the Scripture who putteth the Letter for the Word is blind and putteth the shadow for the substance he also that saith the Letter is the rule and guide of the people of God is without feeding upon the husk and is ignorant of the true Light Pr. Pr. Here the Holy Scripture is ill-guarded by this Quakers Shield of Truth Behold here are many black marks set upon the Holy-Scripture in the first place The Scripture by this Quaker is unjustly termed the Letter which is a dead lifeless thing 2dly The Scripture is termed the husk which is far short of the kernel Doth not this Husk say that the Scripture is unprofitable like an husk which is good for nothing 3dly They who make the Scripture their rule their guide are Swine feeding on husks 4thly That man is said by this Quaker to be a deceiver one that erreth one that knows not the Scripture who saith that the Letter is the Word or to speak more plainly this Quakers meaning That Christian is very much to blame and grosly mistaken who saith that the Scripture is the Word of God 5thly That man is blind that puts the Letter for the Word this is putting as the Quaker saith the shadow for the substance Doth not this Quaker in effect term all Christians blind Bayards that take the Scripture to be the Word of God Is it not hence clear that this Quaker counts the Scripture to be that shadow which other Christians mistaken take for the substance which is a base quaking assertion 6thly That man is without a Swine feeding on the husk one that is ignorant of the true Light who saith that the Letter is the rule and guide of the people of God The plain meaning of this Quakers words is this that the Scripture termed by him the Letter is neither the rule nor guide of the people of God and that man that saith it is their rule and guide is one that knows not Christ the true light Q. p. 73. Q. Numb 70 The Baptism we own which is the Baptism of Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire but we deny all other now I see the other to be formal imitation and the invention of man and so a meer delusion all are heathens and no Christians who cannot witness this Baptism Pr. Pr. Here this Quaker tells us plainly that he and his fellow Quakers do deny baptizing with water that baptism with water is so far from being an Ordinance of Jesus Christ as that it is in this Quakers eye but a sorry formal imitation the invention of man a meer delusion and that all those that are only baptized with water are heathens and no Christians according to these quaking-lines the Church of England is grosly mistaken to affirm that Baptism is a sign of profession a mark of difference to discern Christians from those that are no Christians if this Quaker shall be heard in our Baptism there is no such thing as a sign of Regeneration whereby as by an instrument the baptized are grafted into the Church Art 27 it 's a meer delusion to say that the promises of the forgiveness of sins of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost are signified and sealed to speak this Quakers mind once more it is but a formal imitation and invention of man a meer delusion to say that the Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ Thus you see how this Quakers doctrine hath quaked the Doctrine of the Church of England into a meer delusion it 's likewise clear that let Quakerism go uncontrouled it will soon unchristian any Nation it 's basely done both to bid defiance to Christs institution and unchristen a Nation Q. p. 75. Q. Numb 71 The bread which the world breaks is carnal and natural goes into the belly passes out into the dunghill so likewise the cup which they drink and so the communion of the world passeth away and here is no communion but natural outward and carnal which is the table of devils here they are without feeding upon the husk and shadow without Pr. Pr. This Quaker hath very mean thoughts of the Lords Supper he counts it but the worlds communion instead of an holy Ordinance instituted by Christ himself this Quaker saith it is the worlds communion which is natural outward carnal instead of the Lords Table this Quaker calls it impudently the table of devils as for the bread broken which is the body of Christ this Quaker calls it the bread which the world breaks and he speaks abominably of this bread blessed and broken calling it carnal and natural that it passeth out of the belly into the dunghill are not these base words fit only for a Quakers mouth as for the Cup in the Lords Supper that is no better esteemed by this Quaker than the bread is that which is indeed the cup of blessing with St. Paul is with this Quaker but the worlds cup in receiving Sacramental bread and wine all Communicants are told by this Quaker that they do but feed upon the husk and shadow without except a Quaker who did ever count receiving the Lords Supper to be feeding upon the husk and shadow without in a Quakers account the Lords Supper is a very empty Ordinance of the Gospel bread and wine are but the husk and shadow without Q. p. 78 79. Q. Numb 72 Those we deny and their Ministry who have gotten the letter and form to trade with who to get humane learning are certain years serving as it were an apprentiship pretending to study Divinity and when their time is expired go among blind people get a certain wage sell that which they get into the brain live upon dust which is the Serpents meat death feeding death feeding the carnal mind with the carnal letter but this Ministry works no reformation only hath the form leads into the form and denies the power such come by the will of man and are upheld by the will of man and not by the will of God their call and ministry we deny which is mediate and formal imitation and invention of man and so a meer delusion their Ministry is dark dead and cold Pr. Pr. Here the Ministry of the Gospel by those that are lawfully ordained by Bishops in this Church is denied by this Quaker as for such Ministers of the Gospel they are basely reproached by this Ammonite-like Quaker they are said by this Quaker to trade with the letter and form they do as it were serve a seven years apprentiship to get humane learning like hirelings they serve for a certain wage what they get by study into their brain they sell for money the letter or the Scripture is
darkness and delusion of Antichrist both Priests and people your leaders cause you to err by their lyes you are lost for want of true knowledg only differing from the heathen in name and profession Pr. Pr. These quaking-lines serve to tell us that this quaking-watcher hath seen a base vision concerning the true Christian Religion and the Church of England in particular according to this brain-sick Quaker there hath been in the whole world no true profession of the Gospel since the Apostles days behold a black mark is set by this Quaker upon all Christians since that time to speak this Quakers mind more fully in all ages of the Christian Church since the Apostles days instead of Christ Antichrist hath reigned over the world under a Gospel-profession instead of true Gospel-light he saith there hath been only a long time of cruel darkness and ignorance as for the Lord this Quaker saith he hath been a long time ever since the Apostles days as a stranger in the earth behold according to this Quaker there hath been no true Christianity nothing but Antichristianism cruel darkness and ignorance and estrangedness from the Lord in all ages of the Christian Church ever since the Apostles days now let us proceed this Quaker is still bold to tell us that ever since the Apostles days all the believing on God or Christ hath been nothing else but an unprofitable looking at him as a God afar off in the Heavens without they knew not where according to this Quaker you may perceive that there have been no truly faithful Christians in the world since the Apostles days to speak this Quakers mind ever since the Apostles days they were only vain believers who said they believed that that was the Christ that died at Jerusalem rose again sits at the right hand of God c. who thus believing were baptized with water and called Christians behold how by this Quaker believing in Christ that died c. is slighted and likewise the baptizing of those Christians who did so believe in Jesus Christ in effect all this is lookt upon by this Quaker to be a pitiful piece of Christianity as for the Scripture this Quaker saith that was the Letter whereof these called Christians were the keepers which they took for their rule according to this Quakers mind the Scripture hath been the mistaken rule of all Christians to walk by ever since the Apostles days as for any Commentaries written upon the Scriptures since the Apostles days this Quaker saith they were but their own meanings and imaginations behold how all Expositors of the holy Scriptures both ancient and modern are basely asperst by this Quaker their Expositions have been no more but their own meanings and imaginations obtruded on the Scripture As for Infant-baptism used in all ages of the Christian Church this Quaker like an Anabaptist saith there is no Scripture nor example for it that it is in vain called an Ordinance of Christ then saith this Quaker that is in the reign of Antichrist they had their two Sacraments but without any Scripture-warrant for the word Sacraments as for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper this Quaker calls it only carnal bread and wine thus in the reign of Antichrist this Quaker saith the Church was planted in England and other places behold according to this Quaker both the Church of England and other particular Churches planted since the Apostles days in any part of the world are all under the dominion of Antichrist their baptism with water is no Ordinance of Christ the Lords Supper is only carnal bread and wine both Sacraments without Scripture-warrant but mark what follows Then that is in the reign of Antichrist in the long time of cruel darkness in the time of the Lords absence from the earth were as this Quaker saith Bishops set up and Archbishops Deans Priests Deacons Popes the Bishops bearing rule by their Means Priests preaching for hire Behold how this Quaker gives us a distinct sound of the Antichristian Hierarchy which hath continued since the Apostles dayes Thus according to this Quaker in all Centuries of the Christian Church since the Apostles days not Christ but Antichrist hath set up his Kingdom under the profession of the Gospel thus the Christian Church hath since those days had no Ecclesiastical Governours but such as were Antichristian thus all Bishops Archbishops Deans Priests Deacons as well as Popes have been in this Quakers account Antichristian for above sixteen hundred years by-past being masked under a vain profession of the Gospel Then that is when Antichrist reigned Tythes saith this Quaker came up contrary to any rule of the Gospel behold how Tythes are made by this Quaker to be Antichristian too a maintenance contrary to the Gospel Then that is in the Reign of Antichrist Universities saith this Quaker were set up to make Ministers or Priests behold Universities by this Quaker are all made to be so many Antichristian Schools thus according to this Quaker after an Antichristian manner were Priests set up by the will and tradition of men as the false Prophets always were of old then in the foresaid reign of Antichrist University-Priests had their long robes like the Pharisees according to this Quaker Ministers habits are both Antichristian and Pharisaical then that is when Antichrist reigned Idols Temples called Churches or houses of God were set up according to this Quaker all publick places consecrated and set apart for Gods publick Worship are neither the material Churches or Houses of God but Idols Temples and Antichristian too then that is in the reign of Antichrist the Priests got into their Pulpits the chiefest places in the Synagogues being proudly called of men Master Doctor according to this Quakers mind Pulpits for Priests are become Antichristian too and the Antichristian Priests are got into them like so many Scribes being proud Masters and Doctors having the uppermost rooms at feasts and greetings in the market like the old Pharisees Scribes and hypocrites then that is in the reign of Antichrist began to speak this Quakers mind the Ecclesiasticall thieves who stole the Apostles words as the false Prophets did who took a verse and studied from it a divination of their own brain just as the Priests do now they run like the false Prophets according to this Quaker ever since the Apostles days all Gods Priests have been thieves like the false Prophets preaching a divination of their own brain like false Prophets running without God sending them then that is in the reign of Antichrist thorough covetousness they made merchandize of the people with feigned words like wolves upon sheep they preyed upon the people they sought about for great livings for fat benefices they ran from a lesser to a bigger living the beloved which they sought for like the false Prophets they sought for the fleece not regarding the flock they cried peace to them that put into their mouths they prepared war sued lawed those that did not feed them
thus they sought their gain from their quarter and ruled like tyrants with rigor according to this Quakers mind you see that since the Apostles days all Priests in the Christian Church have been basely covetous vile cheats bloody wolves sordidly self-seeking minding the fleece more than the sheep like the false Prophets greedily seeking their gain from their quarter ruling like tyrants with rigor thus according to this Quaker our Priests old fathers planted their Church and so set every thing in form and tradition according to their own imaginations behold since the Apostles days to speak this Quakers mind fully there hath been no Christian Church but such as was planted by the old fathers of our Priests and this Church was planted by them after the worst fashion according to their own imaginations that we may not mistake this Quaker he tells us plainly his particular thoughts of our own Church saying here is the ground and foundation of the Faith and Church of England here are the old Fathers and old Authors that their Priests have so much talked of even the Popes and Bishops behold according to this Quaker both the Faith and Church of England are Antichristian Popes and Bishops in this Quakers account Antichrists creatures are those old Fathers who planted this Church and Faith according to their imaginations who are so much talked of by our Priests but he saith Thus Antichrist hath long deceived the Nations under the profession of the faith of Christ behold according to this Quaker not only the Church of England but all other Christian Nations since the Apostles days have thus long been deceived by Antichrist under the profession of the faith of Christ according to this Quaker there hath not been one jot of true Christianity in this Church or in any part of the world for many hundreds of years by-past he saith one generation hath gone and another come but they have not known the Lord that bought them behold ever since the Apostles dayes all Christians in the world have not known the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer according to this Quaker they have all been Antichristian I may truly say That this Quaker is so taken with this Antichristian glass as that he saith many may now see strange sights what lyars the people are how they came up and were ordained that they are the Ministers of Antichrist that they do shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men the people may also see saith this Quaker how ignorantly they have been led estranged from the Father of Light carried after vain traditions customs forms ordinances imaginations of man deceived with a vain profession and feigned faith kept strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Saviour and Redeemer behold according to this Quaker what base persons all the Priests of the Church of England are for in his account they are all lyars Ministers of Antichrist as bad as the Scribes and Pharisees were in Christs time for they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men blind Teachers of the people estrangers of the people from God the Father of Light such as have carried them after vain traditions and imaginations of man deceivers with a vain profession and feigned faith such as have kept the people strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Redeemer but this is not all for this Quaker saith That both Priests and people do lye under the power of darkness and delusion of Antichrist behold in the Church of England according to this Quaker it is like Priests like people the power of darkness belongs to both they are both so far from true Christianity as that they are both under the delusion of Antichrist but according to this Quaker the Priests are the greater offenders of them two for they are he saith the peoples Leaders who cause them to err by their lyes they destroy the people for want of true knowledg they lead them captive in their sins they do only differ from the Heathen in name and profession Behold once more that according to this Quaker the Priests of the Church of England are teachers of lyes by which they cause the people to err soul-murtherers destroying the people for want of true knowledg like the Devil they lead the people captive in their sins they are nothing else but Heathens in truth Thus you see that this quaking-Watcher hath seen nothing belonging to true Christianity for a long time even ever since the Apostles days in the world or in the Church of England as for this Church and Kingdom according to this Quaker there is nothing but Antichrist and what is Antichristian to be found in them Q. p. 145 to 149 Q. Numb 80 You are fighting killing and devouring one another as they do whom you account Heathen you are drunkards swearers lyars scoffers revilers back-biters whoremongers adulterers proud covetous idolaters high-minded oppressors as they are both Priest and People you are envious and malicious both Priest and people you are dissembling cozening and cheating and defrauding one another of the earth What sin is there among those you account Heathen that is not amongst you and doth abound Be ashamed you Priests of England to see the fruits of your Ministry so laid open before you you are those who come near the Lord with your mouths but your hearts are far from him you are hypocrites and your hearts are full of deceit envy wrath bitterness covetousness pride earthly-mindedness self-love self-wisdom you are out of the life and practice of the Apostles and the children of light your Teachers are such as bring another doctrine and climb up another way who are shut out for Thieves and Robbers Pr. Pr. In these quaking-lines we have railing without reason and Scripture abused to this end behold all the people and Priests of the Church of England are by this censorious Quaker declared to be guilty of most notorious crimes they are all according to this Quaker either as bad or far worse than any Heathens are behold how bad this Quaker hath made all Priests and people of this Church and Kingdom to be without exception quarrellers murderers drunkards swearers lyars scoffers revilers backbiters whoremongers adulterers proud covetous idolaters high-minded oppressors by these black names doth this Quaker point them out behold is this the Christian Charity that thinks no evil Is this the Christianity that speaks evil of no man But in p. 146 this Quaker doth a little seem to eat his own words but they are soon disgorged As for those people and Priests that are not drunkards swearers c. this Quaker makes them as bad as the rest as if he were in Gods stead he ransacks their hearts to make them no better than those heart-wicked Pharisees were of old according to this Quaker in the Church and Kingdom of England the peoples Priests are no Christians but idolaters their conversations are worse than heathens for they abound in gross wickedness more than they as
for those people and priests that are not so bad as others in this Quakers account they are but cursed hypocrites as for any true Christianity this Quaker saith there is none to be found among them for the people are out of the life and practice of the Apostles and the Priests are cursed Teachers who bring another doctrine thieves that climb up another way if this Quaker hath not born false witness against his neighbour then let any sober impartial Christians judg surely this poor man was in a great quaking-heat swadled up in much consident ignorance which made him cry out Be ashamed and blush you Priests of England why so to see the fruits of your Ministry so laid open before you had this Quaker lived in those days then he would have looked upon the sins of Israel to have been the fruits of their Prophets Ministry or if he had been alive in Christs time he would have said that the sins of the Jews were the fruits of Christs Ministry and of his Disciples I may truly say the Quakers may truly be ashamed and blush to see so much inspired folly in print I need add no more in so plain case Q. p. 150 151. Q. Numb 81 Here you may see what England's Church which England's Priests have planted now differs from the heathen set drunkards aside set swearers aside set lyars aside set proud ones aside set covetous ones aside set railers aside set murderers aside set whoremongers aside set wild ones prophane ones wanton ones aside set quarrellers and fighters aside hypocrites dissemblers persecutors aside backbiters extortioners lustful ones aside then see where England's Church is Pr. Pr. In these rude quaking-lines we may easily see what thoughts this Quaker hath of the Church of England that in this Quakers account this Church is none of Gods Vineyard nor of his own planting with him it is only England's Priests Church which differs not at all from the heathen to speak this Quakers mind more fully England's Priests Church is nothing but a corrupt body consisting of bad members they are either as bad or worse than heathens that are members of the Church of England what can this Quaker mean by all this setting aside here mentioned is not this his quaking-mind that the Church of England is no sacred fold for Christs sheep for if the wicked like goats were set aside then it would appear what kind a Church it is he that considers those quaking-lines well may well conclude that the Quakers do believe that the Church of England is not the Church of God nor any member of the holy Catholick Church that Mystical body whereof Christ is the head behold once more that according to this Quakers mind drunkards swearers lyars proud ones covetous ones railers murderers whoremongers wild ones profane ones wanton ones quarrellers sighters hypocrites dissemblers persecutors back-biters extortioners lustful ones that is the worst of men are the chief members of the Church of England for saith he set these aside then see where England's Church is I need not tell the Judicious Reader that this Quaker hath shewed himself grosly ignorant of the nature of a particular visible Church if this man had lived in the Wilderness or in the Prophets days or in the days of the Apostles then at this rate of ignorance he would have unchurched the Church of God as he hath unchurched at this day the Church of God in England however all the right-bred children of the Church of England may now see what filth what disgrace hath by this Quaker been cast upon their Mother I may truly say that this deluded Quaker hath said enough to make the Church of England to become a den of thieves Antichrists dominion and the devils Kingdom which is no doubt a most base aspersion Q. p. 177. Q. Numb 82 And are made partakers of the Divine nature of Christ by which they are made Christians Pr. Pr. In these few words this Quaker hath given a most blasphemous account of all Quakers for he saith that they are made partakers of Christs Divine nature that they are Christians thus made behold here is our Saviours Godhead shared amongst the Quakers behold here are the Quakers made more than coheirs with Jesus Christ no less God than himself is like George Fox the old Quaker they are all equal with God himself with reference to this high base doctrine it may truly be said that every real Quaker is truly godded with God and christed with Christ for according to this abominable quaking assertion they are all partakers of that same Divine nature which Christ hath Mr. Higginson in his relation of the Irreligion of the Northern Quakers hath this passage pag. 3. One Williamsons Wife a disciple of Milners when she came to see him at Appleby said in the hearing of divers whose names might here be inserted if it were needful that she was the eternal son of God when the men that heard her told her that she was a woman and therefore could not be the son of God she said no you are women but I am a man This relation I shewed to two Quakers yet living hereby to let the blasphemous folly of Quakerism appear in its own colours to them but they were so far from blushing that they did both of them justifie this abominable blasphemy saying that all this might be made good at this horrid boldness I became silent but now behold here is Parnel a Quaker boldly but basely affirming that all Quakers are partakers of Christs Divine nature hence according to this quaking-blasphemy it appears evidently that women as well as men-quakers are no less the eternal sons of God than Christ himself is for they do alike partake of Christs Divine nature to back this intolerable blasphemy this Quaker in the next lines was not ashamed to misapply St. John's words as he is so are we in this world this horrid blasphemy is so apparent I shall dwell no longer upon it nor make any inferences from it I may truly say that James Naylors notorious blasphemy was the genuine issue of this abominable doctrine according to that infallible spirit who is said to guide all Quakers this is an infallible quaking-principle That all Quakers are partakers of Christs Divine nature besides it 's no wonder that this Quaker said p. 174 Thus is God with us manifested in the flesh thus all real Quakers are in their own vain imaginations godded with God and christed with Christ no less God incarnate than our Saviour that man is a stranger to Theologia Germanica who sees not how the leaven of that little Book hath sowered the Quakers whole lump this quaking-blasphemy is so gross that for its sake the Quakers may well be ashamed of their Light within Q. p. eâd. Q. Numb 83 Here is the true Church where there is but one Teacher one Lord one Faith one Baptism one Light one Life one Way one Shepherd and one Sheepfold one Priest over the
Houshold of God one Hope one Language one Family one God and Father of all they that cannot witness this are strangers to Christ strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel Pr. Pr. In these quaking-lines we have such an account given of the true Church of God as was never heard nor read of till within these thirty years by-past such an account as no age of the primitive Church can render the like except in a Quakers Conventicle this true Church is not to be found on earth in this particular Quakerism is the old Donatism revived the true Church is now only to be found amongst the poor deluded Quakers most of these Unities heaped together by this Quaker must necessarily be understood according to the notorious false principles of all Quakers what then then without a quakerized unity there is no true Church of God either in England or any-where else any man of common sense may easily see that these quaking-unities do only serve to unchurch the holy Catholick Church with all its members throughout the world It 's needless to touch at every point in this Quakers Compass for here are no true directions to be got for finding out the true Church this quaking-unity belonging to the true Church hath no Scripture-bottom to stand on no Christian Writers of any Century did ever describe the true Church of God after this canting rate but this Quaker is so confident of this mean new discovery as that he doth first unchristian then unchurch all others that cannot bear witness to the abovesaid Crotchet of his own brain behold they are all such as are strangers to Christ and strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel As for this Quakers Works I have now done with them for the rest of his Pamphlets are very trivial in reading them over I found cramben his coctan and nothing more material than what hath been laid before the Readers eyes already I shall only add That I met with vainglorious Titles affixt to his Scribbles but without substance THE next Book proposed to your consideration is thus entituled The Heathens Divinity set upon the heads of all called Christians G. F. Printed in the year 1671. Pr. Pr. By those two Letters the Author of the Heathenish Pamphlet seems to be George Fox the cunning design of the Title is to represent all that are not Quakers to be Christians only in name but heathens in truth and that the knowledg which they have of God or Christ only from the Scripture is the Divinity of Heathens for it follows thus in the Title-page Christians that say they had not known that there had been a God or a Christ unless the Scripture had declared it to them You must not expect that I shall much expatiate I shall only touch at some points and so dismiss this Pamphlet Q. p. 9. Q. Numb 84 Balaams Ass may reprove you all who are going mad in preaching for Rewards and Gifts cursing and excommunicating and imprisoning such as will not give and put into your mouths Pr. Pr. This Quaker doth slander all the Priests of the Lord who take Tythes as being those that go mad in preaching for rewards and gifts he doth also foully charge them to go mad because they do use lawful means in Courts of Judicature to recover those Tythes which are unjustly detained from them by any Quakers according to the true meaning of these lines all Priests are like Baalam who loved the wages of unrighteousness whose ass may reprove them all for their madness behold what manner of persons all Priests are in this Quakers account but such mad fools as Balaam's ass may reprove Q. p. 12. Q. Numb 85 They that do now use the Scriptures for the building an old Mass-house and bring the Kings law and Gods law for it deny Christs coming in the flesh Pr. Pr. In this Quakers account the rebuilding of a material Church for divine service is but the building up of an old Mass-house an unscriptural work to build any such Church either by warrant of the Kings law or Gods law is no less fault than the great sin in this Quakers eye of denying Christ come in the flesh behold by rebuilding their Churches in London or elsewhere according to the law of God and the King they have as this Quaker saith but builded so many old Mass-houses and denied Christ come in the flesh behold in this Quakers estimate our material Churches are no other than Mass-houses then what is the divine service that is performed in them then what are they that minister in them then what are the people that worship in them is not this Quakers meaning hence this That the divine service is Mass-worship the Priests Mass-Priests and the people Mass-worshippers Q. pag. 28. Q. Numb 86 You say you had not known there had been a God unless you had Scripture to declare it to you neither indeed do you know him now though you have Scriptures nor yet have the spirit as they had that gave forth the Scripture through them nor heard his voice and yet pretend to be Preachers of God and of Christ but know neither but are Preachers for your bellies and serve them and not the Lord Jesus Pr. Pr. This Quakers Light within hath guided him wrong for no Priests of the Church of England or elsewhere did ever deny that That God might not be known by the light of nature within them or the works of God without them but only that a clearer knowledg of God is got by the Scripture but it seems to know God according to the Scripture is not the right knowledg of God in a Quakers account behold how blind this Quaker takes all Priests to be for he saith though they have the Scriptures they do not know God nor Christ behold in this Quakers esteem all Priests are both ungodly and unchristian they are preachers for their bellies these are the gods which they serve but not the Lord Jesus Christ Q. p. 32 33. Q. Numb 87 Religion and worship which you made your selves and set up in your Steeple-houses the places of your worship which God nor the Lord Jesus never set up Pr. Pr. In these lines this Quaker tells us that our Religion and worship is of our own making of our own setting up in our places of worship that this worship is that which was never set either by God or Christ behold what is the Church of England in this Quakers eye is she not a will-shorshipper is not her religion her worship of her members own making and setting up is not her worship that which was never set up by God nor the Lord Jesus Christ well may the Church of England be despised whilst the Quakers are suffered thus to spit in her face to asperse her religion and worship in this scandalous manner THe next Book with which I shall trouble your patience is called Truths defence Given forth by George Fox and Richard Hubberthorn Printed 1653 in York I
by themselves to be given forth from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God I may truly say That quaking-Pamphlets are in high honour to the Scriptures great disgrace But thus I have done with this idle Scribble THE next quaking-Pamphlet to be briefly toucht upon is termed The Power and Glory of the Lord shining out of the North or the Day of the Lord dawning By one whom Ishmaels brood calls a Quaker whose name in the flesh is James Naylor London printed 1653. Pr. Pr. This blasphemous stigmatized Quaker looks upon all unquakerized persons as being Ishmaels brood the Title is vain-glorious enough Bristol and Bridewell have known the abomination of this mans quaking-folly but amongst deluded Quakers he is still in too much request Let us look into his Pamphlet Q. p. 5. Q. Num. 106 Because the Lord sends his Messengers into your Idol-Temples to cry against your Idol-worships and Heathenish Customs Pr. Pr. In these quaking-lines all quaking-ramblers are in the first place called the Lords Messengers but as for Material Churches they 're only Idol-Temples and the Worship performed in them is only an Idol-worship but as for Heathenish Customs I do not well understand them save that the Christianity of England is Heathenism in this Quakers account to take a full view of this Quakers mind Idolatry and Heathenism did at this time bear the chief sway in England That our Material Churches are still Idol-Temples That our Worship of God in them is idolatrous That our Customs still are Heathenish Q. p. 8. Q. Num. 107 The Spirit is the Original which first reveals the mystery to the spirit within man Pr. Pr. In this Quakers opinion both Hebrew and Greek Tongues are only carnal Learning and natural Tongues gotten at Cambridg and Oxford in this mans account the former is not the Original of the Old Testament nor the latter of the New Testament for he saith the Spirit is the Original To add no more it 's very clear that this Quaker was grosly ignorant THE next quaking-Pamphlet to be considered is called A Warning from the Lord by one named of the world Edward Burrough Pr. Pr. This Pamphlet was printed 1654 it 's a virulent piece which hath made the Author to be well known to the world for his virulency when you have heard him speak his mind then it will appear to be so But let us come to the Book it self Q. p. 2. Q. Num. 108 All your carnal traditional Ordinances and Observances is abomination to the Lord all your praying and praising is odious in his sight all your worship is an imagination of the dark mind of man Pr. Pr. In this Quakers account preaching hearing reading the Scripture praying praising the Lord receiving the Lords Supper baptizing with water the acknowledged Ordinances of the Gospel among all unquakerized persons are basely esteemed as being carnal traditional Ordinances such as are an abomination to the Lord such as are odious in his sight such a worship as is but an imagination of mans dark mind Q. p. 5 6 9 10. Q. Num. 109 All your carnal Worship and Ordinances and Observances is but mocking of God and dissembling with him baptizing with water I deny it is not of God but an imitation and is an abomination in the sight of God your Communion I deny for it is heathenish having proceeded out of the imagination of the proud your breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is abomination God never commanded it your singing is carnal traditional and heathenish and is not with the Spirit of Jesus but with the spirit of the world with the spirit of Cain with the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees and chief priests you worship an unknown God be ashamed of all your profession and of all carnal Ordinances Pr. Pr. You may still see that this Quaker hath very mean thoughts of Gods Worship and Ordinances which all serious Christians do own as for Worship that 's carnal and so are Ordinances too in this Quakers account both the Worship of God and his Ordinances are nothing else but a mocking of God and dissembling with him as for baptizing with water this Quaker denies it as that which is not of God which is but an apish imitation and is an abomination in the sight of God as for the holy Communion this Quaker denies it also as that which is heathenish as that which hath procceded out of the imagination of the proud he saith moreover That breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is abomination that God did never command it as for singing of Psalms he saith that is carnal traditional heathenish that it is done only with the spirit of the world and with the spirit of Cain and with the spirit of the Scribes Pharisees and chief Priests he also saith that the Worship is of an unknown God like those idolaters at Athens In the last place this Quaker calls upon unquakerized Christians to be ashamed of their profession of the Christian Religion and of all Ordinances which he calls carnal Q. p. 21 22 23 24 25. Q. Num. 110 In which light I see all thy Teachers O England to be drunk with the wine of her who hath deceived the Nations who sits upon the scarlet-coloured beast and hath the golden cup in her hand full of abominations whose name is written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and abomination of the earth and in this light do I declare against all them which are in the generation of the false prophets of Israel which seeks for their gain from their quarter which steals the word from their neighbour and selleth the divination of their own brain upon the Scriptures to the poor blind people and teacheth for the fleece against all these I do declare to be no Ministers of Christ but are seducers and blind guides and are Antichrists and leads the poor blind people into the ways of death and destruction these have run but hath not been sent of God and therefore their souls are in the dark heathenish nature leaning in the imaginations and not in the counsel of the Lord and in lying swearing drunkenness covetousness and oppression and according to the course of this world these iniquities are ruling among people priests and rulers in the Nation from the least of them even to the greatest every one is given to covetousness from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsly all your hirelings and greedy dumb dogs I do deny all thy Teachers O England is denied of them who are taught of God and by thy Teachers who are in the way of the Pharisees art thou blindly led in the ways of darkness and ignorance and all thy carnal worship which is to read sing and preach I deny and declare to be no worship of God the living God is but mocked by you in your imagined worship your reading and singing and preaching is carnal and heathenish no worship of the true God
Christians and that there is no resurrection of the body from the grave unto life everlasting See Numb 20. ARTICLE VIII We Q. do believe That after this bodily life is ended there is no life everlasting for faithful Christians that there is no resurrection of the body from the grave that there is no coming of Christ as a Judg at the last day that they may look till their eyes drop out who look for the Son of Mary to be their Saviour at his last coming to Judgment See Numb 21. ARTICLE IX We Q. do believe as the Papists do and do approve their faith herein That true Justification is only by inherent righteousness that the righteousness by faith is when the law is performed in us by the works of the Spirit See Numb 22 23 24. ARTICLE X. We Q. do believe That Jesus our Saviour is not the Son of Mary nor the Son of the substance of his Father that he doth not exist bodily without us at Gods right hand that he doth not sit at Gods right hand in heaven that he is not a distinct person from God the Father that Christ the Son of Mary is not to be worshipped as being God that Christ is not God and Man in one Person that the Son of Mary is not glorified at Gods right hand that Mary is not the Mother of God it is Popery to call Mary the Mother of God and Christ the Son of Mary See Num. 25 26. ARTICLE XI We Q. do believe with our friends S. C. and George Fox the younger That the fear of God is learnt not from the Scripture Num. 27 28. ARTICLE XII We Q. do believe That deliverance from condemnation is not by believing in Christ who died to save sinners by his blood but by obeying the Light within See Num. 29. ARTICLE XIII We Q. do believe That all the Priests of Englands Church are deceivers and no Ministers of Christ See Numb 30. ARTICLE XIV We Q. do delieve That there is no knowledg of any truth to be gotten by the Scripture and that they are deceivers that do teach otherwise See Numb 31. ARTICLE XV. We Q. believe That the Priests do preach for filthy lucre and are deceivers and in transgression and that they are contrary to Christ and Paul See Numb 32. ARTICLE XVI We Q. do believe That they are no Ministers of Gods Word nor Ministers of Christ who teach that the Scripture is the Word of God See Numb 33. ARTICLE XVII We Q. do believe That there are not three distinct Persons in the Godhead that the doctrine of the Trinity is an imagination contrary to the Scripture a doctrine only taught by those who know not what they say Numb 34. ARTICLE XVIII We Q. do believe That the Scripture cannot bring any to know God and Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Truth See Numb 35. ARTICLE XIX We Q. do believe That there is no knowledg of God to be gotten by the Scripture as our friend W. Smith doth in his new Primer write See Num. 36. ARTICLE XX. We Q. do believe That all the Priests of England have their power and authority from man that they are no Ministers of Christ that they are wolves and time-servers See Numb 37. ARTICLE XXI We Q. do believe That the Scripture is no Rule to walk by and that we Quakers are to mind the Spirit alone in all things which Spirit is the Rule See Numb 38 39. ARTICLE XXII We Q. do believe That the time called Sunday or the Lords-day that the place called a Church that the persons belonging to the publick worship used in England are Heathenish Popish and of mans making See Numb 40. ARTICLE XXIII We Q. do believe That the Priests of England do preach no sound doctrine that their doctrine is after the tradition of men and not after Christ See Numb 41. ARTICLE XXIV We Q. do believe That their praying in England is not an acceptable service to God that they do neither pray with the Spirit nor with understanding that neither their Preaching nor their prayers are accepted of God See Numb 42. ARTICLE XXV We Q. do believe That singing of Davids Psalms in Court City Country is but a prophane thing it is a singing lyes in hypocrisie See Numb 43. ARTICLE XXVI We Q. do believe that Baptism and the Lords-supper rose from the Popes invention that the whole practice of them as they are used had their institution by the Pope and not by Christ that the wine is another of the Popes inventions that they are devices of the Popes setting up false things not to be regarded by any true Christians See Numb 44. ARTICLE XXVII We Q. do believe That a material Church is of the Popes invention who is the head thereof See Numb 45. ARTICLE XXVIII We Q. do believe That the People and Priests of England are no true Christians that they are not in the Christians life and way that they do practise that which God requires not at their hands nor doth accept See Num. 46. ARTICLE XXIX We Q. do believe That there is no outward civil honour due to the King or any others that they are not in the power of God that do give civil honour to the King or any man else that they are Apostates who do give civil honour to any others be they King or subjects See Numb 47. ARTICLE XXX We Q. do believe That there is no civil honour belonging to Magistrates and men in Authority that this is that respecting of persons which is sinful that there is the Lords curse which attends hat-honour that this civil honouring of Magistrates and men in authority is not required by God that the beggar-Quaker is as honourable as he that rules that there is no honour due to the Kings Person for the honour is due to the power which in is us Quakers See Numb 48. ARTICLE XXXI We Q. do believe That Thou to the King or any other man is the true language that they are not guided by the Spirit of God who do not use this language Thou that this is the language of truth that the Spirit of God teacheth to speak this language that they do not mind the teachings of the Spirit of God who do use any other language than Thou to the King or any others that You to any one man is an apostate-language See Numb 49. ARTICLE XXXII We Q. do believe though it be not true Gramar That good manners is to speak true words which is mannerly and is spoken in the manner of truth that those people do not know what good manners is who do in their words give civil honour to the King or his Subjects that they do not speak in the manner of truth but in the false spirit which corrupts good manners See Numb 50. ARTICLE XXXIII We Q. do believe That all manner of swearing is altogether unlawful that Christ Jesus hath forbidden all oaths that it is not lawful to swear upon any
lost for want of true knowledg that they do only differ from the heathen in name and profession See Numb 79. ARTICLE LX. We Q. do believe That both the Priests and people of England are very wicked like the Heathen that both Priests and people are envious and malicious that they are dissemblers cheaters defrauders of one another that there is no sin amongst Heathen which sin doth not abound amongst them that the Priests of England are very wicked that they do draw near the Lord with their mouths but their hearts are far from him that they are hyporrites whose hearts are full of deceit envy wrath bitterness covetousness pride earthly-mindedness self-love self-wisdom that they are out of the life and practice of the Apostles that they are such teachers as do bring another doctrine that they do climb up another way that they are shut out for thieves and robbers See Numb 80. ARTICLE LXI We Q. do believe That Englands Church was planted by Englands Priests that it differs not from the heathen that Englands Church consists chiefly of drunkards swearers lyars proud ones covetous ones railers murderers whoremongers wild ones prophane ones wanton ones quarrelers and sighters hypocrites dissemblers persecutors backbiters extortioners lustful ones that if these were set aside then Englands Church would be no where to be found See Numb 81. ARTICLE LXII We Q. do believe as our friend James Parnel hath written That we are partakers of the Divine nature of Christ by which we are made Christians and that God is with us manifested in the flesh See Numb 82. ARTICLE LXIII We Q. do believe That the true Church is no where but amongst our selves where there is but one teacher and one Lord one light and one life that is the light of life within us one faith which overcomes all manner of sin and makes us free in this life from all sin one way which is the despised way of Quakerism one shepherd who is the light within us and one sheepfold which is made up of us Quakers wheresoever dispersed one Priest over the houshold of God who is the light within belonging to this houshold which we Quakers are one hope which none but we Quakers have one baptism which is not with water one language which is Thou one family which by H. N. was called the Family of Love one God and Father of all who is the Light within all Quakers that they that cannot witness all this to be true are strangers to Christ and strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel See Numb 83. ARTICLE LXIV We Q. do believe as George Fox writes That the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for rewards and gifts in cursing excommunicating and imprisoning so that Balaams Ass may reprove them all See Numb 84. ARTICLE LXV We Q. do believe That to build a Material Church is to build an old Mass-house that to warrant the building of such a Material Church by any Scriptures or the Kings law is to deny Christs coming in the flesh See Numb 85. ARTICLE LXVI We Q. do believe That to know God according to the Scripture is no true knowledg of him that the Priests of England though they have the Scriptures and declare him according to those Scriptures do neither know God nor Christ See Numb 86. ARTICLE LXVII We Q. do believe That the Religion and Worship used in England are of the Priests own setting up in their steeple-houses that neither God nor the Lord Jesus did set them up See Numb 87. ARTICLE LXVIII We Q. do believe as George Fox and Richard Hubberthorn our friends have written that the Scriptures may as well be condemned to the fire as our friends papers of Queries may See Numb 88. ARTICLE LXIX We Q. do believe That the Scripture is the earthly Letter See Numb 89. ARTICLE LXX We Q. do believe That the Letters written by Quakers are given forth by the same Spirit that the Prophets and holy Apostles had See Numb 90. ARTICLE LXXI We Q. do believe what is not true That the Apostle said Take heed to the Light of God within you See Num. 91. ARTICLE LXXII We Q. do believe That all true Quakers have the same gift of the Holy Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had See Numb 92. ARTICLE LXXIII We Q. do believe That we are one in the Eternal Unity and that George Fox the Elder is one with us in this Eternal Unity See Numb 93. ARTICLE LXXIV We Q. do believe That the dark time and power of Babylon hath long reigned and the works of the Beast that by these they are descended that profess Scripture to be their rule See Numb 94. ARTICLE LXXV We Q. do believe That there is a way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange way then he may see that the Light is but one See Numb 95. ARTICLE LXXVI We Q. do believe That the Priests of England are Ministers of the Letter that they are persecutors of the Spirit See Numb 96. ARTICLE LXXVII We Q. do believe That Jesus Christ remains in the Heavens that the same that did descend did ascond that it is disputing as the devil did about the body of Moses with Michael the Archangel to enquire what manner of body Christ hath that such enquirers are to be rebuked as the devil was by the Archangel that the body of Christ is but one which is the Church See Numb 97. ARTICLE LXXVIII We Q. do believe That to redeem and make free from sin is done with the body of Christ which we have told you is the Church See Numb 98. ARTICLE LXXIX We Q. do believe That Christ lives in that body which is the Church that in this body which is the Church the Saints shall arise See Numb 99. ARTICLE LXXX We Q. do believe That both Philosophy and Logick are of the devil See Numb 100. ARTICLE LXXXI We Q. do believe That except the Church which is his body Christ hath no true humane body no more than God the Father hath that that man looks upon Christ with a carnal eye that looks upon him to have a true body as he hath that that man knows the fathers body that knows Christ to have a true humane body which is without sin that that man is full of subtilty that doth query how the Son may be distinguished from God the Father that they make both many Gods and three Gods who do distinguish the Son from the Father See Numb 101. ARTICLE LXXXII We Q. do believe That there is no Baptism with water that they are filthy dreamers and lyars of Christ who tell people that this Baptism is an Ordinance of Christ that it is but sprinkling a little dirty water on Childrens faces that Christ did never send his Disciples on this dirty errand See Num. 102. ARTICLE LXXXIII We Q. do believe That there is no Sacramental Cup to be
received and drunk of that this Cup is the Cup of devils that that Table called the Lords-Table by Priests is the Table of Devils that it is an Idol and imitation that the Priests receiving in remembrance of Christ sacrificed is sacrificing to devils not to God that that fellowship which Priests and people have at the Lords-Table is very wicked that such Priests and people do present themselves at the Table of Devils and do drink the cup of devils See Numb 103. ARTICLE LXXXIV We Q. do believe That Priests and suppers and bread and wine is an image which is the likeness of a thing that Priests and suppers and bread and wine is that image or likeness of a thing which is forbidden by God in the second Commandment in these words Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likeness of any thing See Numb 104. ARTICLE LXXXV We Q. do believe That we are moved by the immediate Spirit of Christ to write to teach or to exhort or to put in print that our giving forth Papers or printed Books is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God See Numb 105. ARTICLE LXXXVI We Q. do believe as our old friend James Naylor hath written That all Material Churches are Idol-Temples that the worship is an Idol-worship that in England their customs are heathenish See Numb 106. ARTICLE LXXXVII We Q. do believe That the Spirit is the original that by this original the mystery is revealed to the Spirit within man See Numb 107. ARTICLE LXXXVIII We Q. do believe as our friend Edward Burrough hath written That Ordinances used in England are carnal traditional and an abomination to the Lord that they are odious in his sight that the worship used is an imagination of mans dark mind See Numb 108. ARTICLE LXXXIX We Q. do believe That the worship used is carnal that it is but a mocking of God and dissembling with him that the Ordinances are such like that baptizing with water is denied by us that it is not of God that it is an abomination in the sight of God that the communion celebrated is heathenish that it hath proceeded out of the imagination of the proud that breaking of bread and drinking of the cup is an abomination that God did never command it that singing of Davids Psalms is carnal traditional and heathenish that it is done with the spirit of the world with the spirit of Cain with the spirit of Scribes Pharisees and chief Priests that unquakerized Christians do worship an unknown God that such Christians ought to be ashamed of their profession and carnal Ordinances See Numb 109. ARTICLE XC We Q. do believe That the Teachers of England are all drunk with the wine of the Whore which sits upon the scarlet-coloured Beast whose name is Mystery Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and abomination of the earth That they are in the generation of the false Prophets of Israel that they do seek their gain from their quarter that they do steal the word from their neighbour that they do sell the divination of their own brain upon the Scripture to blind people that they do teach for the fleece that the Teachers of England are no Ministers of Jesus Christ that they are seducers and blind guides and antichrists that they do lead poor blind people in the ways of death and destruction that they run but are not sent of God that by means of these teachers the peoples souls are in the dark heathenish nature leaning in the imaginations and in lying swearing drunkenness covetousness and oppression and according to the course of this world that the foresaid iniquities are ruling among people Priests and Rulers of England that from the least of them to the greatest every one is given to covetousness that from the Prophet even to the Priest every one deals falsly that the Teachers of England are hirelings and greedy dumb dogs who are denied by us that they are in the way of Pharisees that England is blindly led by them in the ways of ignorance and darkness that reading singing and preaching is Englands worship which is carnal and no worship of God that it is an imagined worship whereby the living God is mocked that it is carnal and heathenish no worship of the true God that it is deceitful and an abomination to the Lord which is but Cains sacrifice that our friend Edward Burrough did declare against the Teachers of England and the worship thereof as from the mouth of the Lord that the Teachers of England have beguiled the people that they have hungred the peoples souls that they have loved the wages of unrighteousness that they have followed the errour of Balaam for reward that they have devoured souls for dishonest gain that they are Idols shepherds that they are Idol dumb shepherds who have scattered the sheep and fed themselves with them that they have worn garments to deceive that they have deceived the people by their lyes that they have had the mystery of witchcraft that they are treacherous persons that the Judges of England are Judges for reward that her Priests preach for hire that Englands Rulers are evening-wolves that her Judges Officers Rulers are corrupt whom the Lord will cut off that the Priests are oppressors of the people in their Tythes that the Lawyers do oppress them in their fees that the Officers do oppress them in their unrighteous dealings that the Lords sword is drawn in England and is put into our hands who are scornfully called Quakers that England should depart from all her teachers lest she be partaker of their plagues See Numb 110. ARTICLE XCI We Q do believe as our friend George Bishop of Bristol hath written to Oliver Cromwell That the said Oliver Cromwell was one of our friends whom we wished well to See Numb 111. ARTICLE XCII We Q. do believe That Oliver Cromwell was no Rebel nor Usurper nor Traytor that he was one whose sword took the spoil of the mighty that there was a spirit risen up against the Lord in these three Nations which could not stand before Oliver Cromwell that there was never any thing which was too hard for him that his counsels were made to prosper that wisdom and counsel were with him as the Oracles of God That at his feet the proudest enemy did fall down and bow that this O. Cromwell became as the army of God that he came upon Princes as upon mortar and as the Potter treadeth the clay that the hearts of honest men were knit to him as one man that they did not at any time sigh at the remembrance of him that the remembrance of this Oliver Cromwell was sweet and pleasant to them as life from the dead that God was with Oliver Cromwell that it was never so with any man in these latter generations as it was with this Oliver Cromwell whilst God was with him and his rock had not forsaken him See Numb 112. ARTICLE XCIII We Q. do