So saith G. Fox and all our Fantasticks out of weakness and madness not weighing what a person the holy Records describe Christ Jesus to be but as foolish Children and Anticks in the Lord Mayors shews they cry out Christ and the Spirit only for a shew and colour I know it that the true Lord Jesus his holy Father and Holy Spirit is as odious both to Iesuits and most Papists Quakers as the Devil yea infinitely more then the Devil himself as with Gods help I have and shall make it as clear as the Noon dayes Sun O you considering Protestants see you not how the Devil would rob you of that Sword with which Christ Jesus overcame him The Holy Scripture under the colour and cloak of the Spirit in the mouths of the Quakers how if the Holy writings must yet live why he hath Fisher and Stubs and Pennington and Bishop and others that skill Tongues and yet own the blockish Spirit of the Quakers how if you blame the Popish Devil for a Blockhead he can puff up his Bladders the Iesuites to a late wonderful swelling of Tongues and Histories and all kinds of Knowledge as in Bellarmine and his Associate and Followers and of late in those great Writers Petavius and Morinus The eternal Word and Son and Sun of God the true Lord Jesus will more and more discover who are his true friends his true Loves that love Alexander more than the King that are true Christians true Iesuites and that truly love and pity poor Souls he will discover who are the great Farmers who having a minde to the Farm themselves consult and say come this is the Heir that is Christ Jesus in his true Messengers let us kill him kill him with Tongue and Pen and Sword c. the Inheritance of Heavenly and Earthly Glory shall then be ours c. and to this end only they talk of Souls c. We now descended to the fifth and sorrowful point of suffering which they read viz. That the sufferings of the Quakers are no true evidence of the Truth of their Religion At the reading of this they told me that although their Sufferings were great in all places whither the Lord had sent them yet they made not their Suffering an Evidence of the truth of their Religion therefore I might have been better advised then to 175 put this in among the rest of my Lyes and Slanders as not considerable and now not worth the mentioning c. I Answered that I understood what they said and I undestood mine own affirmation also and desired their patience also while I offered my Proofs to two Particulars 1. That in their Books and Writings c. they do make their Sufferings a great Evidence to themselves and others of the truth of their Way and Spirit 2. This their Suffering is not valid as to the proof of their Religion Way and Spirit to be of God So then they bid me prove it if I could I told them that I could find no Iewes no Papists no Protestants that did so magnifie and so exactly insist upon their Sufferings as the Quakers did T is â—rue that Paul did more particularize his Sufferings then other Saints in Scripture but it was also true that they were so exceeding great that Paul seemed a None-Such but beside that it was upon some great Insultings of the False Apostles against not only himself but against the Truth of Christ Jesus neither of which is the Quakers case Beside the Quakers Sufferings generally were not to be compar'd with Pauls and yet they set down such exact accounts of every hour in prison every Stripe in Whipping every pound lost and this published to the world in print as if it were a Sign hung out with this Inscription Loe people these are the Evidences of Gods holy Truths and Gods holy Spirit of our Persecutors wickedness and our Christian Faith and Patience who for his Truths sake can endure all this I said it was not rational to think that men professing such high Wisdome and Conscience should declare such Lysts and Catalogues of Sufferings as G. Bishop doth to the world of the Quakers Sufferings in N. England in his first and second History only in a childish Vapour Ostentation and Vain-Glory much less in hopes of Reparation or any worldly advantage either in England old or new Scotland or Virginia c. and therfore Reason perswades that these Sufferings are held forth as the holy Spirit speaks of the Sufferings of the Thessalonians 2. Thess. 2. as a manifest Token of the righteous judgment of God rendering Tribulation to their Persecutors and Rest to themselves suffering for the Kingdome of God As I remember Iohn Stubs said they did not boast of their 176 Sufferings but bare them patiently for the Truths sake which they preached and professed I said I did not charge them to say in express terms We have lost so much outward Gain Favour Friendship Worldly Advantage for the Name of Christ within us can you say the like for the Christ without you We have endured Imprisonments Whippings c. have you done the like only this I say that as all Religios Iewes Papists Protestants c. are confirmed in their Perswations by their Sufferings and do predicate them to others as Arguments and Signs of the truth of their Doctrines and of Gods presence and Assistance with them so do the Quakers and that with more Particular and exact Accounts then most of all the rest have done I told them I had observed much to this purpose in G. Fox E. Burrowes in the Book by me They bid me alleadge what I could out of them I took up the Book and they theirs I directed them to the 12th Page of Ed. Burrowes his large Epistle to G. Fox his Book in Folio where I read this passage viz. And this we did with no small opposition and Danger yea oftentimes we were in danger of our Lives through beating abusing punishing haling casting over walls striking with staves Cudgels and knocking down to the ground Beside Reproaching Scorning Revilings Hooting at Scornings and Slanderings and all abuse that could be thought or acted by evil hands and tongues and oft carried before Magistrates with grievous Threats and sometimes put in the Stocks and whipped and often imprisoned and many hard dealings against us the worst that tongues or hands could execute sparing life Of this all the North Countreys can witness And all these things are sustained and suffered from People and Rulers because of our Faithfulness to the Lord and for declaring against the false Deceivers For nothing save only the hand of the Lord and his power could have preserved us and carried us through all this neither for any Reward outward whatsoever or advantage to our selves would we have exposed our selves to suffrings violence and dangers which befel us daily But the Lord was our exceeding great reward
Times and persons But what is this to the Natural Death of all mankind 16 Heb. 9 I know the Foxians would turn this Scripture and that golden Chain Heb. 6. the first Christian Principles and the Eternal Judgement into Mysteries and that they now Judge the Secrets of Men Rom. 2. by Pauls Gospel therefore by looking on a man they can discern the inward parts and what each person is For the Lord is now come saith Enoch and Iude in ten thousands of his Saints and now is the Day appointed in which God judgeth the World by that man Christ Iesus which man they are of which the word of God hath approved in that they are raised from the Dead in Souls and Bodies to keep the Eternal Iudgement This Mystery many of their young Scholars and many that are truely fearing God amongst them will not believe But they spare not to owne their high Court of Iustice when they were put to it by Speech and writing and were it not for some obstacles especially two this were a fine Colour for their Courts like a Company of drunken Sots that kept a Court in Hartford-Shire and feigned themselves Judges and Justices and Officers had almost brought themselves all to the Gallows c. by hanging up one man until he began to look black and some of them began to fear their own Necks and to repent of their rash madness The first Obstacle against this their pretended high Court of Justice is their own Confession viz. Christ Iesus was real a Man as any of us and so continues except they can give an account of what is become of him which at Newport they could not do The second is their own Spirit and Practises which I have proved to be so far from Iude and Enochs 10000 Saints that their Pride and Scornfulness their Rash Revilings and Railings their Rash Cursings and Judgings their Superstitious and New Inventions their Blasphemies and Hypocrisies their Inhumanities and Impudencies such as render them so far from being the high Saints and Judges of the World that they fall under the Judgement of all sober end modest persons The 10. Iustance is in pag. 38. where he brings in Tho. Collier saying All that hath been are or shall be Converted since the Gospel Ministration are Converted by the Apostles words He Answers So he hath thrown out the Spirit which doth regenerate and Christ the way to the Father the Word that Sanctifi 17 eth and Christ the power of God to Salvation who said that they would not come to him that they might be converted so if they get all the Apostles Words and come not to Christ they are not Converted and none are Converted by the Apostles Words but who comes to the Life that the Words come from I reply and ask G. Fox what colour of Truth or Modesty is in his Inference viz. That if God please to appoint the Words his first Apostles used to be still the means of Conversion to he end of the World that then he hath thrown out himself c. For 1. Is not this Gods Covenant with Christ and all Christians that his Word and Spirit should be in their Mouâ—hs to all Generations wo be then to these wild frantick Inserences which disjoyn and separate what the most powerful most wise and holy hath joyned together 2. For may there not be as before many Agents Imployed by one glorious Efficient as in Moses building the Tabernacle Solomon the Temple Kings in their Royal Navies and Armies Fights and Battels is Moses here thrown out Solomon thrown out and Kings thrown out c when Abraham sent his Servants or Kings their Embassadours to Espouse Brides to their Sons and Heirs must Abraham and all wise Princes be thrown out c. Doth not rather this mad Soul throw out Moses and Solomon and Abraham and all Kings and great Efficients or first Causes yea and his own Brains in a mad proud Frolick all overboard together 3. For doth not Paul tell the Corinthians that they were Gods Husbandry and Gods Buildings inferring that under God not throwing him out he was a prime Husbandman yea as himself saith further a Master Builder yea doth not Paul tell the same Corinthians that they were the Messengers were co workers or Labourers together with God Hence Paul Preaching the Lord opened the Heart of Lydia and Philip Preaching the Lord opened the heart of the Eunuch and Panl so speaking Joh 14. and Barrabas that a great Multitude both of Iews and Greeks believed 4. It is true that without God and Christ Pauls Planting and Apollos Watering is nothing who denies this but therefore shall not Paul Plant and Apollo Water though much in vain as it was with the Lord Jesus his own heavenly Preaching and amazing Miracles 18 5. Do these Foxians themselves throw out God and Christ when as they say they use the Apostles words to gather Stones and build up the Church of God do they not say as much for their new fresh Foxian as ever was spoken of the Apostles or any pretending to succeed them I could give many Instances 6. There have been many Conversions to the Christian Name in these parts of the World called Christendome These the Papists brag to have effected in all the four parts of the World both in the East and West-Indies Asia and America as also in Africa and especially in Europe where theiâ— Man of sin chiefly resideth these Conversions have been wrought sometimes in parts and by degrees and sometimes of the whole Nations and this sometimes by the Sword sometimes by the Marriages of Princes all which are easily effected because as in the Shechemites and Samaritains case whose Peoples Nations Tongues and Multitudes will easily turn to the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns and that very formidable Beast also for Fear and Gain and Hope c. will easily suffer the Whore of Rome to ride him 7. From these Peoples Tongues and Nations c. it hath pleased the most Holy and only Wise to gather out a Peaple to Himself by his Heavenly Witnesses the Waldenses in France the Wickclevists in England the Hussites in Bohemia the Lutherans in Germany the Calvanists in France c. out of the bloody Romish Whores Dominions 144000. Virgin Protestants thirsting after the Blood of Christ Jesus only for Salvation 8. The Father of Spirits hath stirred up some Witnesses in all Protestant Nations to preach against a Formal National or Parochial Conversion to witness against the Formality and Prophaness of the Common Protestants all one in Life and sometimes worse then the Papists and to bring thousands and ten thousands even the one hundred forty four thousand Virgins to endeavour after purity of heart and Life purity of Doctrine purity of worship purity of Churches c. These the Jesuits call Puritans and Confess that they only among the Protestants as themselves among the Papists are
do believe from many Reasons which I have to shew they were from Satan yet I know also that Ignorance is shameful and that it pleased God miraculously to infuse the knowledge of Tongues to his first Apostles or Messengers to the Nations and what he will further do in this kind 45 before this Worlds glass is out who can tell only I am sure these Foxians talk like little Children in their grave Consultations without the least knowledge at all genrally of any thing but their mother English and yet as proudly and imperiously vapouring and triumphing c. like Theora Iohn proclaming to the World his mad Quaking Revelations Inspirations writing of Languages many which he Confest he understood not but Mysteries Mysteries 8. G. Fox is no wiser in affirming that Tongues came in place of the Spirit since the Apostacy For before the Apostacy the Lord furnished his Servants with understanding of several Languages miraculously with the Apostasie those heavenly miraculous gifts ceased In the Apostacy the Father of Spirits gave to his two witnesses power Authority Ability to prophesy preach declare witness to the Truths of Jesus against the Popish Inventions with the rising of Luther Calvin c. The Lord raised up the study of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues in many heavenly Witnesses who brought to Light the truth of the first Copies in Opposition to the Corrupt Latin Translation bruitishly settled under a Curse by the Counsel at Trent This mighty work of the Lord in his Protestant Witnâ—sses drove the Popish Foxes into their holes and hath driven for shame the Iesuits to study the Hebrew and Greek and by a new Stratagem partly made up of the pretence of their Spirit and partly of the pretence of Corruptions and Variations in the Copies to assault the Camp of the Protestant Witnesses 9. I despise not yea I praise God for and honour the helps and helpers we have in English yea I would not discourage the weakest English man or woman in Christian humility to sound forth the praises of God in writing speaking and printing in English what they have Experimented of the Son of God No though they should not write or print or speak true English as G Fox hath not done But when they lift up their Horns on high or their bruitish Ears as Foxes do in stead of Horns then I must tell G. Fox that although he prat le amongst the English and they be cheated with his dying Spirit yet if he go to other Nations as they simply pretend to do to Turks and Pope they must either be furnished with the Gift of Tongues miraculously or they must fling of their lazie Devil and study the Tongues of those Nations to whom they carry their pretended glad News or Gospel 46 The 23. Instance G. Fox in pag. 86. brings in the same Author saying Notwithstanding thy passing through the first and second Resurrection as thou saith there remains a Torment so thee at the last day and Woe He Answers They are blessed that have part in the first Resurrection The second Death have no power over them but are made free from Wrath that is to come and are passed from Death to Life and are translated into the Kingdome of the Son of God and are in union with the Son of God and the Father both and so thou utterest forth Lies I Reply G. Fox here Arrogates to himself and his Foxians 1. A Passing through the first and second Resurrection 2. He triumpheth in their Blessedness pronounced to their first Resurrection viz. of Communion with God and Freedome from Wrath to come 1. The Truth is G. Fox is in his Burrough of Words of divers â—ignifications He wrests and winds what is for his wicked ends but you shall never take him in Distinguishing and Defineing what the first and second Death is and what is the first and second Resurrection 2. The Truth is as soon as they hearken to this familiar Spirit they are so Elevated that they be in the heavenly glory the Resurrection is past and with K. Agags dream the Bitterness of Death and Wrath is past for ever with them 3. But no such grapes will be gathered of these Thorns nor Figs of these Thistles For if we talk of escaping wrath to come and of enjoying Blessedness we must prove to others as well as to our selves that the Expectation of the Iews and Mahumetans expecting a Carnal Blessedness to come is false We mâ—st prove the Papists and Common Protestants for all their Prayers and Alms c. are under that Sentence Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity 4. The Lord Jesus being questioned about the great point of Salvation he seems to Answer two things 1. That the most will hang their Souls upon the Hedge and venture like the high ways and hedges 2. Others will fear and look after Redemption Deliverance Salvation c. and of these two sorts First Some that will endeavour and seek to enter I Judge both 47 of Pagans and Mahumetans and Iews and Papists and Protestants and shall not be able The second is of such as sensible of the Narrowness of the way straightness of the dore and the Infinite necessity incumbing and the Infinite Excellency inviting fling away Preferments Profits and Pleasures and choose to enjoy the Mediator as lost and damned in our selves and follow him from his Cradle and Manger to his Cross and Gallows and labouring to draw other poor drowning Souls out of the pit of Eternal Rottenness howling with us 5. The Spirit of God tells us of three sorts of perisht Souls First Those without Law of which are Millions of Millions innumerable Secondly Such as had the Law or Word or will of God revealed to them in the Covenant of works Obedience or Iustice of which sort were Millions of Millions also A third is of such to whom Infinite pity hath vouchsafed the joyful Tidings of the Son of God his Mediation Interposition and Intercession Amongst these the Papists and the Protesters against the Papists are chief of the Papists the Iesuits of the Protestant thereso called Puritans run for it of these the Quakers pretend the highest but no otherwise then O thou Capernaum which art Exalted Exaltest thy self unto Heaven thou shalt be brought down to Hell c. For Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah c. the poor Iews and Mahumetans yea the Papists and common Protestants shall have an easier Cup to drink off then the Foxians c that are so high pure and lofty and yet abound with Luciferian filthiness The 24. Instance is in pag. 89. where G. Fox brings in the same Author saying The Saints are neither in the Fulness of the Godhead nor in part Away with this Blasphemy that saith this is He Answers The work of the Ministry was to bring people to the knowledge of the Son of God to
The word Effects The Papists and Quakers call the holy Script a dead Letter The power of Writing in all Affairs Josh. Miller The Quakers notorious Covenant-Breakers Means of Salvation A Union between the Meritorious Cause and means and the Instrumental and Efficient or worker Hosanna to the Son of David The more sure Word of Prophesie Gods speaking by his Prophets is his Word The madness of leaving the Scriptures and turning to a Spirit within The workings of Satan by Spirits and Inspirations in all Ages The Devil and the Quakers alleadging Scriptures No Light in the bold pretenders to so much the Quakers The pure Scripture filthily abused Pag 14 Henoch Howet By the Weapon of the Scripture only Christ Conquered the Devil The Scripture mosh fit and proper Weapon against the De. The Devil a Fox too Crafty for all the Foxians Francis Duke The Quakers Rieiculous for and in their Tautologies The Quakers mad Fancies as to Christ and the Scripture The Humanity of Christ. Pag 16. John Timson The holy Scriptures the Rule 〈◊〉 leading of the Spir it Gods Spirit given by means The fifth Position The danger of being deceived Depths of Hipocriâ—y 1 In the copy in possession of Brown his autograph across the outside edge of University Roger Williams has placed this page Lies in Hipocrisie Two sorts of Soul Deceivers The Quakers of late have Changed much of their Spirit or else more notoriously Equivocators The Jugling of the Quakers about Christ. About the Church and Ordinances Inward and outward Preachers As to the Scriptures G Fox his last Book Exalting the Heathen As to Magistrates Pag 170 John Stallam The Quakers Principles are for Persecution The Quakers Zealous Persecutors Yet will not own it The Quakers Perfection and yet in Measure Pag. 221. Hosanna to the Son nf David The Old Romans with their Dii Minores or lesser Gods and the Papists and Quakers all one The Perfection of the Godhead The Quakers Fallacious Perfection Hosanna to the Son of David G Fox his Falla-Presence of Christ Visible and Natural or Miraculous and Supernatural Eating of Christ. Christ Head of the Church His Bodily presence The Quakers Count all Gods Children Apostates G Fox his Juglings and dreams about the person of Christ An Apostrophe or Peâ—tion to the Lord Jesus 259 James Brown Christs Kingdom in or among the Pharisees Horrible and hipocritical Chistianity A Monstrous King and Kingdome of the Quakers Abominable lyes in hipocrisie The Pharisees and Quakers hipocrisie wonderful The sixth Position The Heresie of the Quakers Heresy what The Quakers Hereticks against all the Christian Principles and more Heretical against the first Christian Religion then any Protestauts or Papists The Quakers Heresy in matter of Repeutance This 24th of Luke I earnekly Insisted on The Papists and Quakers Repentance The Quakers Converts The Protestants true Repentance The Quakets despiling And Revili others Their Covetousness A sowre Spirit is the Common Spirit of the Quakers The Quakers False Faith G Fox his horrible Confounding of Faith and all other Chistian Virtues and Graces together True Faiah what it is The Quakers Transubstatiarion worse then the Fantastick Tranâ—ubstantiation of the Pepists John Burnet his Sermon And my Answer The Quakers and the Papists general Faith and Repentance The Juglings of the Papists and Quakers The Hope peace and Joy of the Quakers Christ the Hope of Glory 1 Interline it is after world R. W. Ms. Ann. The Simplicity as well as Impiety of the Quakers Hope Humpry Norton his Hope The Quakers Hope of life to come The Quakers bait by which Satan takes them John Bunyan The new Birth of the Quakers The true and false new Birth 1 Interline is after preached R. W. Ms. Ann. The Quakers put out the Eyes of their own Experience Pag 44. George Willington The Quakers meer Jewish and Popish The doleful state of all men till mercy not justice pitty them Pag 47 Joseph Miller The Quakers Justificatson within us Fox his Babilonish tumbling of all in a Croud and Heap together Justification opened The Quakers Popish Justification by works The Papists and Quakers see no need of Christ. The Papists and Quakers know not the difference between the two Covenants Fox his playing with the word Justification The last of the seven Positions at Newport The Quaker Religion pieced up â— many old Heresies Of Natures its Impurity The Papists righter then the Quakers The power of Natuâ—e in Spirituals The way of Conversion both of the Papists and the Quakers The way of the trâ—e Protestants Acts 17. Rom. 9. 2. Falling from Grace The true Protestants Doctrine as to Falling away The Papists and Quakers agree against the holy Scripture The Papists and Quakers Enmity against the Hebrew aâ—d Greek The Papists and Quakers Judge of Scripture Interpretation of Scripture The Papists and Quakers slighting holy Scripture The Papists and Quakers would be rid of the Scripture The Papists and Quakers unite against the Blood of the Lord Jesus The Infallibility of Papists and Quakers The Quakers Popish Perfection The Popish Revelations of the Quakers Popists and Quakers one in Ceremonies and Inventions The Quakers and Papists agree that that hge Pope is not Anti-Christ The Quakers not owning freely their Names The Quakers and Popish Monks and Munns all one The Papists and Qâ—akers Cursing The Persecuting Spirit of the Papists and Quakers The Quakers Tongue and hand The Quakers Oneness with the Arminians The Quakers and Socinians Oneness Christ Jesus but a Fancy with the Quakers The Sabellians and Quakers all one The Quakers Judaisme The Quakers Traditious and Ceremonies Dumb Worship Either none or Immodest Salutations The Quakers disrespect to aâ—l Superiours The Qukers against Musick Fantastical singing Carving painting Ornaments The Conclusion of the Conference at Newport The quickest and last turn about where Christ is An Unexpected yet Seasonable and true Testimony from Elizabeth Williams The Conference at Providenceâ— Passages about Reading the former Recited Letter Thomas Olny About a strange Query put to my Autagonist by Captain Green A Moderator motioned The first of the Positions debated at Providence Alexander Ross G Fox his Non-Senâ—e Quakers blasphemous opinion about Goa and the Sovl About Gods Breath The Quakers Gross conceit of soul body Their high blasphemyes Pag. 89. Magnus Bine About the fulness of the God head Unreasonable Reasoning The great temptation of knowing and holy People The Quakers make themselvs God and Christ. Magnus Bine The Soul of man infinite The Quakers are the old Manicheans 1 Change no to in R. W. Ms. Ann. Municheus his 2 Principles The infinite patience of God The Quakers obstinate in horrible fancies Blasphemies Daniel Caudry The Quakers challenge an equality with God The Quakess make themselves Faâ—her Son Holy Spirit Christ. Wade H. Nortou more plain then G F. Fergison G F against the mystery of Father Son and Spirit The Quak blasphemyes as to the most holy Spirit Tee Quakâ—rs Chaos babel
and having begun to present to them some Considerations about the True Christ and the false the True Spirit and the False and being cut of in the midest by sudden Prayer of one and the Singing of another and then by the Prayer of another and the sudden dissolving of the Assembly I resolved to try another way and to offer a fair and full Dispute according to Ed. Burrowes and therein G Foxes Offer in his large Epistle to Foxes Book To this Purpose I drew up my thoughts into fourteen Propositions and knowing that New-Port was the chief Town on Rode-Iland and Providence on the Main and that G. Fox had spake at both places and bewitched many with his Sorceries I sent this Paper following to G. Fox at Newport viz TO G. Fox or any other of my Countrey-men at New-Port who say they are the Apostles and Messengers of Christ Jesus In humble Confidence of the help of the Most High I offer to maintain in Publick against all Comers these 14 Propositions following to wit the first seven at New-Port and the other seven at Providence For the time When I refer it to G. Fox and his Friends at New-port Only I desire 1 To have three dayes Notice before the day you fix on 2 That without Interruption or many speaking at once the Conference may continue from Nine in the morning till 3 about four in the afternoon and 3 That if either of the seven Propositions be not finished in one day the Conference may continue and goe on some few hours the next day 4 That either of us Disputing shall have free uninterrupted liberty to speak in Answers and Replyes as much and as long as wee please and then give the Opposite the same Liberty That the whole may be managed with that Ingenuity and Humanity as such an Exercise by such Persons in such Conditions at such a Time ought to be managed and performed the Propositions are these that follow First That the People called Quakers are not true Quakers according to the holy Scriptures 2 That the Christ they profess is not the True Lord Jesus Christ. 3 That the Spirit by which they are acted is not the Spirit os God 4 That they doe not own the holy Scriptures 5 Their Principles and Professions are full of Contradictions and Hypocrisies 6 That their Religion is not only an Heresy in the matters of Worship but also in the Doctrines of Repentance Faith c 7 Their Religion is but a confused mixture of Popery Armineanisme Socineanisme Judaisme c. 8 The People called Quakers in effect hold no God no Christ no Spirit no Angel no Devil no Resurrection no Judgment no Heaven no Hell but what is in man 9 All that their Religion requires externall and internall to make Converts and Proselites amounts to no more than what a Reprobate may easily attain unto and perform 10 That the Popes of Rome doe not swell with and exercise a greater Pride then the Quakers Spirit hath exprest and doth aspire unto although many truly humble Soules may be captivated amongst them as may be in other Religions 11 The Quakers Religion is more obstructive and destructive to the Conversion and Salvation of the Souls of People then most of the Religions this day extant in the world 12 The Sufferings of the Quakers are no true evidence of the Truth of their Religion 13 That their many Books and writings are extremely Poor Lame Naked and sweld up only with high Titles and words of Boasting and Vapour 4 14. That the Spirit of their Religion tends mainly 1 To reduce Persons from Civility to Barbarisme 3 To an Arbetratry Goverment and the Dictates and Decrees of that sudden Spirit that acts them 3 To a sudden cutting off of People yea of Kings and Princes opposing them 4 To as fiery Persecutions for matters of Religion and Conscience as hath been or can be practised by any Hunters or Persecutors in the world Under these forementioned Heads if the Spirit of the Quakers dare civilly to Argue will be opened many of the Popish Protestant Jewish and Quakers Positions which cannot here be mentioned in the Dispute if God please they must be alleadged and the Examination left to every persons Conscience as they will answer to God at their own Perills in the great day approaching Roger Williams THis Paper above-said I sent inclosed in a Letter to my kind friend Capt. Cranston Deputy Governour of the Colony that being such a publick person he might timely be informed of such a publick Assembly and as also might vouchsafe as afterwards he carefully did to afford his Countenance and Assistance to such Peaceable and Pious Exercises But before the Boat went down with the Letter aforesaid from Providence to Newport I sent a Copy of my Positions to a Neighbour I T. whom I heard was inclining to them He takes a Copy of them and reads them in their Meeting before Iohn Crosman Master of the Boat one of them also who presently the same hour called me Blind Sot in the open Street upbraiding me how I durst send my 14 Lyes to such a man as G. Fox one of them called him the eternall Son of God so that before my Letter went to Newport which Crosman carried by Letters Crosman his and other Relations all was known even long before my Letters were opened or delivered to the Deputy Governour For in the Iunto of the Foxians at Newport it was concluded for Infallible Reasons that His Holiness G. Fox should withdraw seeing there was such a Knot of the Apostles of Christ Jesus now at Newport together especially Iohn Stubs a man knowing the Greek and Hebrew Therefore that it might appear that such a Nehemiah as he would not fly it was 5 agreed that my Letters should not be delivered to the Deputy Governour untill G. Fox was gone so that it might be truly said that he never saw the Paper which I sent unto him I had a touch of this Leger de main trick in our Dispute at Newport and the Deputy Governour did publickly testifie that my Letters to him were dated the 13 of Iuly which he said he wondered at but were not brought to him untill the 26th of the said Moneth and untill G. Fox was some hours departed Iohn Burniat profest that that he knew nothing of the detaining of the Letters only he knew that G. Fox never saw my Paper G. F. supposed I would be forced to be as plain in my Proofs as I was in my Positions He knew that I was furnished with Artillery out of his own Writings He saw what Consequences would roll down the mountaines upon him from his proud and Insolent yet poor and bald Writings and how far some of his present practices were fallen out with his Writings and therefore this old Fox thought it best to run for it and leave the work to his Iourney-men and Chaplains to perform in his absence for him
Christ Iesus in all Humility self-denial Love Charity Tenderness in bowels of compassion in Gospel Peace and Unity only unto your Masters praise and Glory that the Auditors may receive the plain naked Truth of the Lord Iesus unto their Souls Edification even the real Truth as it in Iesus and not as words of man which is only Vanity and vexation of Spirit under the Sun of eternal and universal Righteousness whose infinite glory is witnessed by Robert Willams Newport August 6. 1672. THis was that poor Letter condemned unheard by these high Saints who now keep Judgement day to the fire and everlasting silence this was the two edged Sword which smote in the honest upright intentions of the Author every way reproving me reproving them and yet having so much Sugar with his Vinegar and Honey with his bitter Powder that had it been unsealâ—d and read at Newport or read at Providence whose taste could it have offended but theirs only who like the men of China judge all the World to have no eyes but themselves excepting the Men of Europe to whom they will grant one eye and that is more then our proud Pharisees will do to any that bow not down to their most grosse Phylacteries But from this finger of God this providential Letter appearing upon the Wall before us I return to the work of the day which was the Discussion and Probation on my part of the other five Proposals remaining I therefore after the Letter was put up unread into my pocket requested their Patience while I produced my Proof of the third Position which was viz. That the Spirit by which they were acted was not the true Spirit of God T is true I had many things in my mind and memory some of them I here express but I was forced to pick and chufe and lay by for I told them that according to my promise and their expectation I would present them with the Substance of my proof of this Position in the compass of about a quarter of an hour 76 I reminded them first of the nature of the Word Spirit in Latine Spiritus in Greek Pneuma in the Hebrew Ruch and Ruach signifying sometimes Breath sometimes Wind and from thence applied unto God himself unto Angels unto Men as denoting a spiritual powerful invisible fine Substance distinct from flesh and earthly Bodies Hence God was said to be a Spirit not properly but that his Being was pure powerful invisible c. 1 Whether God was properly a Spirit as the Quaker affirmed we had some controversie at Providence of which hereafter 2. Concerning Spirits I observed two great Sects 1 Those of the Pharisees who were accounted the most Orthodox Sound and right holding such a Spiritual Substance in Angels and Spirits and a Resurrection 2. The Sadduces which held neither Angel nor Spirit nor Resurrection as at this day c. 3. It is clear there is a two-fold Spirit 1. Holy and pure such a Spirit is God himself and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father by the Son such are the Spirits of the Angels the Spirits of Gods Children in part and the Spirits of just men made perfect the Quakers say here we say in the life coming The other Spirit is a wicked Spirit a lying and a murtherous Spirit in Sathan and his Children yet often counterfeiting the Holy and pure Spirit like the Oile and Ointment which God prescribed and forbad the like of it to be made on pain of death Therefore we are commanded not to believe every Spirit but to try even the very Spirits not only of men but of Doctrines Churches Religions pretending the Name of God as do the Turks Iews and Christians and of the Son of God as do all the Antichrists and Antichristians extant 4. The Holy Spirit of God being the seven Lambs of Fire the seven Eyes and seven Horns Rev. 5. he is pleased to work variously First in an ordinary way of Regeneration and Sanctification c. common to all the lowest and youngest of Gods Children Iohn 3. that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Hence we read of the Spirit of Prayer and of Holiness wrought in the Soul by the finger or power of God so that the knowledge of God the fear the love the trusting to and in God the calling upon God is natural to all Gods Children Gal. 5. Abba Father c. 77 The second is extraordinary and immediate such as was pour'd upon the Lord Jesus Isai. 11. such as Christ breathed upon the Apostles and by the Apostles hands upon others when they spake with Tongues fortelling things to come and penning the Holy Scriptures or Records as did the Prophets of old and the first Messengers the Apostles of Christ Jesus I told them I had many things to say as to the false Spirits of the false Christs and false Prophets the Spirits of Devils as well as the Spirits of God in the Revelation and the three wayes of deceit mentioned 1 Thess. 2. by Spirit by Word or by Letter but I would contract my self I say that their Spirit by which they were acted was not Gods Spirit 1. Because the Holy Spirit of God was given by means but the Quakers pretended all along in G. Fox and other Books that their Spirit was immediate or without means I said in the 8th of the Romans was a Golden Chain of Gods Order or Method of Working from Predestination to Glorification In the 10th to the Romans was a Golden Chain of the Means appointed c. How shall a Man be saved by calling upon God How shall he call on him except he believe in him how shall a Man believe in him except he hear of him how shall a Man hear of him except some Preach how shall a Man Preach except he be sent c Hence Peter Preaching Christ Jesus to the first Converts they were some thousands brought to Christ when they were pierced to the heart and cried out what shall we do Peter sends them nor to a light within them but bids them Repent and be Baptized Act. 14. Paul so spake that many believed Act. 16. while Paul spake the Lord opened Lydias heart and I appealed to the Consciences of those called Quakers at Newport there present whether in a contradiction this Spirit they now professed descended immediately upon them from God as they spake or was not conveyed unto them by the Ministry of the former Preaching Quakers that came unto them so that these now are but the waterers and confirmers of this Doctrine of the Spirit in them 2. As Believing and Conversion comes by hearing c. so these extraordinary gifts and powrings forth of Gods Spirits was generally by means also Christ used Breathing upon the Apostles the Spirit of God descended Act. 8. 19. in the laying on of hands in Peters Preaching Acts. 10. the miraculous Spirit of 78 Tongues and Prophecy descended upon Cornelius and his
say look for a glorious Temporal King that should make his Ingress with Pomp and Meta pur oteresio as the Scripture speaks with Observation but he came in as some Kings in disguize and as they speak Incognito and yet his Kingdome was among them in the midst of them by his perâ—onal presence his power sulp eaching and his glorious Miracles 2 Since in Opposition to Christs Visible Kingdome his Church you predicate a Kingdome within Consisting of Righteousness peace and joy in the holy Spirit do you think indeed that the Hipocritical Cursed Pharisees were snch Righteous peaceable and joyful Souls as your selves As sure as God is Light They and their Successors your selves will find your selves when you wake in horrid Quaking and except you repent Hell Flames about your Ears as the Lord Jesus told those whited Walls and painted Sepulchres 3. Must you take Measure of the Pharisees and tell us that the Pharisees in a Measure as a grain of Mustard Seed and Leaven are the same with your selves Do not you Cry out that you are perfect not in Measures and Degrees but that you are all one in Quality and Equality of Power and Glory with God and must 113 this must be the same with Christ Jesus and his Saints and you and the Pharisees all together Can two walk together live and love together board and bosome together and not be agreed together no other wayes then Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Righteousness and unrighteousness What stinking work do these provd Pharisees make of Christianity How justly doth the Son of God give them their proper Titles Ye Fools and Blind 4. If it be the same Kingdome in Christ Jesus and in Saints and in the Pharisees and every wicked man in the world though but as a grain of Mustard Seed and Leaven what is the Reason this Mustard Seed grows not up this Leaven spread not in them Can a Nation be subject to the King of England of Spain or any osher Ptince or Monarch and yet not know how nor have no knowledge nor feeling of it at all Can there be such a God such a Spirit such a Fire yea but such a Mustard Seed or Levven such a Teacher and yet not grow not prevail not prosper nor be perceived ye Fools and Blind are all your Mustard Trees stunted all the world over no Shelter for the Heavenly Birds your pure flowre of Holiness and sincerity mixt and-blended with the black Weeds Cockle and darnel of open Idolatries and prophaneness and Pharisaisme and Hipocrisie What abominable Contradictions and Lyes in Hipocrisie are here The Pharisees have Christ and his Kingdome of Righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit within them and yet live in pride and Covetousness and Extortion and Excess and Cruelty and Hipocrisie and Blasphemy and all this Rottenness and Dead mens bones stinking and ruling all within notwithstanding all the white and paint and garnishing without your selves their Hipocritical Off spring have and live in you say this Kingdome of Christ Jesus this Kingdome of Righteousness and Ioy in the holy Spirit as perfect and pure as God himself all one with us Infinite in Majesty Holiness Power and Glory not only in Quality but Equality c. as this wretched G. Fox affirmeth And yet within and withont Idolatrous and Superstitious Inhumane and uncivil passionate and sierce Censorious and Cursing and most Impudent and worse then Barbarous in some of your Impudently monstrous and avowed practices Having dispatched our Agitations about the fifth Assertion 114 and the Quotations out of G. Fox which I could not then Insist on in publick I descended to the sixth Position which was viz. The Religion of the Quakers is not only an Heresie in the matters of Gods holy worship but also in the Doctrines of Repentance Faith c. This Assertion hath two main Branches First that the Quakers Religion is an Heresie and themselves Hereticks in the matters of Gods worship 2. Not only so about the Circumstances of which Gods own dear Servants themselves greatly differ but also which is more Lamentable and dangerous in the Doctrines of Repentance and Faith and the rest of the graces of Christ Jesus I told them first that the word Hairesis Heresie in Greek from whence the word Hairetikos an Heretick signified an Opinion or Opinions chosen and stood in by one or more against the Christian Religion I said the matter mighâ— be aggravated and a ugmented from the Greatness and Vitallity of the matter of the Opinions but the Formality and Nature of it lay in the will and obstinacy thereof Iohn Stubs stood up and said that Heresie was defined by some to be an Opinion obstinately stood in against the first Christian Purity I Answered yea and the Opinion of some was that Heresie was an Error in the Foundation obstinately stood in But I said we had not time to enter upon a Dispute about the word or thing at this time the Substance of my Affirmation was that their Religion Sect or way was false and gone from the Institution and way of the Lord Jesus delivered by himself and his Apostles or Messengers 1. As to worship they denyed the Converting and gathering of the Saints into visible Assemblies or Congregations affirming the Chnrch to be Invisible the Ministers Invisible the Baptisme and Supper Invisible c. The second which was aur Position was in those two great Fundamentals the Beginning or A. B. C. of the Christian Religion viz Repentance from dead works and Faith towards God As for those two Doctrines of laying on of hands and of Baptismes they concerned the Church and worship concerning the Circumstances of which God is pleased to permit his 115 Children to be lovingly differing and discussing the other four Repentance Faith Resurrection and Iudgement in which generally Gods Children agree in these also as well as in the matter of worship these wandring Souls are Hereticks that is obstinately maintaining Notoriously false and Anti-Christian Abominations In so much that the many Sects amongst the Protestants yea and the Papists themselves do not so differ from a true Protestant and true Christian as do these wilful ignorant and wandring Souls 1. Then as to Repentance I said it was the first heavenly and saving work of God upon the Soul wherein he turned back home again the whole Soul unto himself being revolted and run from him into the Arms of Rebellion in the Fall of our first Parents This was the great point preached by Moses and the Prophets and more expressly by Iohn the Baptist and by the Lord Jesus himself and when he sent abroad his Apostles or Messengers into all Nations they were to preach the Gospel or glad News of the Forgiveness of sins according to Luke 24. viz. that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name unto all Nations beginning at Ierusalem Here about I remember they
They could not sin were perfect c. 2. They did nothing said nothing but God and the Spirit did all 7. The Papists and Quakers are great Friends in their Notions practice of Revelations Visions Dreams Impulsions and Inspirations He that hath known so much as I have known of both their Spirits this way and hath read their Legends as I have done and can Instance in particulars as I can will say it is a foul Popish Devilish Spirit that haunts them both under this fine pretence to turn both off from the words of Iesus Luke 10. How readest thou 8. What Cart Loads of Traditions and Ceremonies have the Papists and I believe if the Quakers have opportunities and means as the Papists have had they will not be behind them what a noise is made about uncovering or bowing the Head Knee for Courses of wearing of Lace yea Bands and Hatbands by some of them Of saying you or Thou of using Musick Carving painting of sitting silent some hundreths together of sighing and shaking of the Body all which as relating to Religion and Christians c they are but simple Insignificant and Idle popish Trash and Trumpery 9. The Papists and Quakers are Bâ—ethren in Iniquity in their Affirmations that the Pope is not Anti-Christ and that 135 the Church of Rome is not the great Whore The Papists Affirme that Anti-Christ is not yet come and that he shall come just in the end of the world and shall finish all those wonders in the Revelations in three years and a half The Quakers though they hold Papists and Protestants all except the Quakers to be Anti-Christians as Fox doth cast back all the Prophesies of false Christs false Prophets and Anti-Christ to the time of the Apostles themselves yet the great Whore and the Devil and sin upon the point they simply Confound and make all one as may be seen in Fox his Title to this great Book and other of his and their writings 10. It may be wondred why the Popes when made or created by an hâ—mane Devilish Fiat they change their Name and why the Quakers guided by the same Hellish Spirit and Fancy are so dainty and tender about owning their Old names The Histories say the Original with the Popes was with him who was Os porce or Swines snout by Name and was not thought fit being raised so high to bear so low and fordid a Title If it were so then yet it is nothing now but their horrible pride being in their Conceits so high so Infallible so perfect to scorn to be like other men that are but Hogs Snouts c. 11. The Papists and Quakers are led by one Spirit of feigned holiness Devotion monkish Solitariness c Their Monks and Friers and Nunns must be sequestred from the world medle with no faecular and worldly business which is no more but the Beggars Life and therefore justly called Fratre Mendicantes Begging Friars and the Indians Life formerly the men laying all Labour upon the women and all this is no more than hunger and Ease the Dogs Life also It is true the Apostles by a true Light ought to have worldly maintenance but Paul wrought day and night with his hands which I never read of any of these lying Apostles Quakers in all their Travails to have done 12. The Papists and Quakers tongues are both spitting and belching out Fire from one Fire of Hell All that have 136 not the Church their Mother our Church say the Papists have no God to their Father the Protestants hope and speak Charitably of the Salvation of many among the Papists but the Papists have no Charity for any that bow not to the Image and the Quakers as G. Fox for the rest Judge all that differ from Christ that is themselves to be in the Delusion in differing from them and if they dare to oppose them Dogs Serpents Reprobates Vipers Cains Pharisees Devils c. 13. The Papists and Quakers are Firebrands both in the matter of Persecution or hunting such as differ from them It is known that the Papists cry out that they persecute none but the Tares the Lottards the Hugenots the Wolves the Hereticks c. That the Quakers as do all Papists and Protestants cry out against all Persecution when it is their own Cases I say the Quakers most vehemently cry out against violence against Creatures but against their Corruptious and Corrupt Principles And yet as for the Papists let it be considered whether there be any one Religious state known in the world that Answers that woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Witnesses of Iesus Comparably so near as doth the Estate of the Romish Church and Profession And for the Quakers two things I say 1 Their Tongues are the most Cutting and bitter of any that I can hear of professing the Protestant Reformation and it is certain where the Tongue is so that the Heart is so first and where the Heart is so the Tongue and Hand do never part Company and therefore they will be as bitter and Cutting in Hand also where God pleaseth to permit a Sword to fall into it 2. I have proved and shall prove in this discourse that G. Fox Ed. Burroughs and Iohn Stubs c. maintain in their writings not only a Magistratical Power in the Quakers and in none else rashly not only to punish by the Material Sword Transgressions against men but also sins against 136 God his Church his Christ his worship and Religion 2 As for the Agreement between the Arminians and the Quakers I told them that the Papists and the Arminians the Pelagians and Semipelagians and the Quakers were so Confederate and one that in naming one I named the other 1. As to the Power of Nature and Free Will in heavenly and Spiritual matters 2. As to the loosing of true Saving Grace 3. As to Election and predestination in time upon Obedience Rejection and Reprobation upon Rebellion and Disobedience Contrary to the true Protestant Doctrine of a Certain Number of Gods Elect or Chosen drawn by mercy out of the Lumpe of Lost Mankind according to Gods Appointment from Eternity by his Call in Time by his holy Word and Spirit and all from this Grace and Spirit of Regeneration or New-Birth it was not it is not possible that David or Peter or any Child of God be un-Childed can Finally or Totally depart and Fall 3. The Quakers are Brethren with Socinas and the Socinians following him in making Christ a Type and Figure a pattern and Example how Christians ought to walk Not that the Blood which he shed upon the Cross at Ierusalem was a sufficient price and Satisfaction unto God for the sins of the whole world Thus all the Quakers more Explicitly or Implicitely speak and Humphry Norton in print viz. Can one mans Obedence and Suffering pay a price to God for another mans sins It is
of Doctrine and Worship both as the Papists and the Quakers doe to be farther from the truth of the Profession of Christ Iesus and more obstructive and destructive to the Souls of men then the other partyes yea and the Papists not so much as the Quakers who wildly profess all Ordinances and Ministers to be invisible and yet are hypocritically and ridiculously found to be as visible and open as any If the true Foundations of Repentance and Faith be cast down it is in vain to talk of saving of Soules it is in vain to talk of Worshipping of God The Quakers for all their craking of Quaking and Tremhling their way is more easie of Worshipping God and of bringing persons to their worship of God then the way of Iewes or Turks or Papists who to my knowledge take more paines in Religion then do the common Protestants I confess they all do but paint and guild over natures old and rotten Posts only the real Protestants have and profess the greatest care of any in the world for true Faith and Repentance The Quakers came not neer that care of N-England I am sure at first for the personal true Repentance and Holiness of their Churchâ—s and Congregations For it is notoriously known that if persons notoriously Deboist come but to acknowledge a God and Christ within them that is in English that themselves are God and Christ and can practice Thou and Thee and Cheek by Ioll with all their Betters and can rail at and curse all that oppose them and can come and bow down to a dumb Image and Worship without any great business of Contrition and Brokenness and Godly Sorrow they are enrold and canonized for Saints and Gods c. they are free from Sin born of God and cannot sin they now sit upon the twelve thrones and judge the unbelieving Iews and Gentiles in their heavenly places The wound lyes here as it is with Papists Arminians and indeed with all mankind in the soothing up and flattering of rotten Nature from whence from within the Lord Iesus tells us proceed all the rotten and hellish Speeches and Actions 172 I told them it was in this case as it was with Kings and Princes there were two great Enemyes that haunted the Pallaces of Kings and Princes 1. Traiterous Spyes c. 2. Traiterous Flatterers Just here it was as I remember that W. Edmundson stopt me saying thou hast here been telling us Storyes of Turks and Iewes but what is that to thy Charge against us we are none of those that flatter Kings and Princes we deal plainly with all men I said they mistook me for I did not say they slattered Kings I used a similitude only viz. that as Flatterers c. of Kings and great men were their deadliest Foes so such Religions and Doctrines as most slatter and sooth up our rotten hearts and natures they are most dangerous and destructive to us I intended to add that the Quakers pretended to be as fine Flower sifted out from the common Protestants yea from the Independants Baptists that Sathan was too subtle for the subtlest Foxes of them all for he knowes that by pretence he more easily dangerously conveys the Poyson of exalting corrupt and cursed nature in the room of true Soul-saving Humiliation I did say as the Whore of Rome deceived whole Towns Cities Nations and Kingdomes with her glorious Trimmings and her Golden Cup so that the Painted Quaker as a Drunken Whore should follow the Drunken Whore of Rome drunk with the blood of Jesus c. for the obtaining of the smoak of a Tobacco-pipe the Riches and Honour of this World There are two sorts of godly Soules catcht up a while by the Devils Craftiness 1. Weak and unstable for there are Children strong Men old Men in Christianity 2 The unwatchful and secure The holy wisdome of God discovers in Holy Scripture what the Devil that Sathan an old Serpent is viz. not only a Roaring but a vigilant Lyon David Gods beloved as his Name is he fails in his managing of Government therefore the Devil stirs up Ioab and Achitophel to help the grand Rebel his Son Absolom and afterwards Sheba and all in wonderful Figures in all Ages an in this our age and day A famous Iesuit prints it that all the Religion in the World lies in competition between the Iesuits and Puritants c. About 173 this time Iohn Stubs told me that they and I say so do the Iesuites pretend to do had left the Glory and Pleasure of this world their Wives and Children Friends and Relations to Preach the Everlasting Gospel For the Woman had been 1260 years 42 months in the wilderness and she was now come and coming forth and they were now preaching the everlasting Gospel and therefore they advised me to make haste and dispatch and not to hinder the Lords work I spake what then I thought fit and now adde that the Pharisees the Apostles the Quakers and Iesuites do compass Sea and Land but the Pharisees Iesuites and Quakers will be found at last to be the Apostles Messengers Heralds Envoys Embassadors and Emissaries of Sathan sent out from Hell to predicate the goodness of rotten nature hell and damnation and that false and hellish Gospel or good news of poor rotten Natures Righteousness Satisfaction Penances and to the damning of Souls c. The Devil knows that after the witnesses have done their work against Antichrist and after their slaughters the Lord Jesus will send abroad his Messengers to other Nations Iews Gentiles and New Ierusalem or a new vision of peace shall then come down from Heaven among the Sons of men but for the present he stirs up these Jesuites and Quakers with brave titles and pretences like so many Mahomets under pretence of Diogenes treading on Platoes Carpets to fish for the smoak of this World 's Sodome and no doubt but the Quakers will use the Sword as much as Mahomet or the Iesuites under the cloak and colours of love to Jesus and saving of Souls I confess that Charity hopes and believes all things and yet I say cursed is that charity that puts out the eye of Reason the eye of Experience the eye of true affection to Christ Jesus his Father and his Wife to the Souls of his followers and the Souls of poor sinners Iews Gentiles As to the saving of Souls it was a Thunder from the heavenly mouth of Christ Jesus They that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword as if he should say the Sword is not a saving but a destroying Tool in Soul-humbling and Soul-saving making worlds of Hypocrites but not true Protestants true Christians Followers of the true Lord Jesus and of his Father and of his Holy Spirit 174 The Spirit say the Quakers why that 's our Weapon the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God why that 's the word of God Christ Jesus our Weapon
ever the Servants of God when they inveighed against the Customariness the Carelessness the pictures and the meer 13 Formality of the Worshippers Jews or Christians inveigh against the worship it self and the Appointments of God and of his Son Christ Jesus 3. Did the Servants of God ever labour to bring and hale off Gods people from the worship it self but only from the dead and meerly formal using of them until the time appointed by God himself for their withdrawings disappearing and abrogation What a shameless falshood is it that any of Gods Messengers brought Gods people off from those heavenly Fabricks which God erected by their Ministry or Service all the World over 4. May not Gods Messengers now Cry out against the apish Imitations Formalities of the Papists so horribly and bloodily abusing Prayer preaching Baptisme the Lords Supper Excommunication c. but like the Assyrians or Babilonians Psal. 74. All these Christian Appointments must be broken and tumbled down with Axes and Hammers c. 5. This is Treason and Rebellion in any Atheists or whomsoever but more abominable Hipocritical in these Pharisaical Foxians who Cry out against the apish Imitators and yet themselves practice preaching praying Congregations or Churches singings Conventings and implicite though real Addings to Castings out c Full well as the Lord Iesus speaks abrogating the word and Appointments of God that they may set up and establish their own Traditions c. 6. T is true the Protestants have made separation from the Church of Rome as whorish and Bloody in order to the Return to the first Primitive purity from which the whore of Rome hath departed 7. G. Fox Cries out against all Scripture and Common Sense against all Forms that is wayes and manners of Gods Worship Cries up a Christ within Scripture within Church within Ministers within Baptisme and Supper within yet practice they most of these so many as their Idol requires and will serve his turn as outwardly and visibly as any in the world 8. I know it is the observation of one of G. Fox his Opposites a man of excellent knowledge piety industry M Baxter viz. that the Churches of the Independents Baptists have been the source and Spring whence have flown the Generation of the Quakers For my self I have observed the contrary in these parts 14 and that although some rotten Professors or weak Souls though true have been bewitched by those Soul-witches yet generally where they have any Liberty the National Church fills up their nuâ—bers My Reason I gave them in publick when W. Edm. Boasted of their Numbers viz. their Religion is so easie never coming near the Roots of rotten Nature but so wonderfully agreeing with it and changing one Devil for another as I have before instanced so that I told them I adored the Infinite Power wisdome and goodness of God that they were not ten thousand fold more and I say Millions more then they are For I can demonstrate that if G Fox for all their hypocritical prating against Carnal Weapons get a Sword as Mahomet did most of the Popish and Protestant and pagan World will easily be brought to dance after him 9. As to the point of Separation I pray Mr. Baxter and others of G. Foxes learned and godly opposites who are yet in their Judgement and Conscience perswaded to the National Worships to hear me patiently four words 1. I pray them to remember what the word Nazarite is in English The word Nazareth and the word Iesus of Nazareth and in plain English 2. Was there ever Child of God in this world but he was a Nazarate separate from worldly persons worldly practice and worldly worships as he comes to see them c. and endureth not that the evil one should touch him 3. Is not Gods name Iealous in this end of the World not the west-world as well as since he first proclaimed it in the East 4. Hath not his Jealousie raged against the Iewish whoremongers who defiled his first Bed and will he wink at the Christian Adulterers and Adulteresses either in Worship or Conversation 5. With what good Conscience can I a national Protestant separate from my Father the Pope and my mother the Church of Rome and my Brethren and Sisters the Papists and yet it must not be Christian for other Souls to see further degrees of that Separation necessary and I must bring up the foot of every mans Light and Sight and Conscience to my Laste 6. This is the main ground of my Controversy with the proud Quakers they stir up in their Illuminations in themselves and 15 Condemnations against others but they magnify with the Papists and Arminians Cursed rotten Nature their Converts and Proselites have but a painted formal Repentance Faith c. Only if they can come to their Church c. and Thou and thee and disrespâ—ct all Superiours then are they high Saints cannot Sin c. 7. This as before I hinted was the heavenly Principle of those many precious and gallant Worthies the Leaders and Corner Stones of these New-England Colonies viz. they desired to worship God in purity according to those perswasions in their Consciences which they believed God had lighted up 8. They desired such for their Fellow Worshippers as they upon a Christian account could have evidence that to be true and real Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth also But I forget this is but an Appendix and therefore I return to another Instance of G. Fox his poor and lame and naked Answers c. A 9th Instance is pag. 32. where G. Fox brings in Ellis Bradshaw saying The Spirit of God doth not teach to judge before the time and he adds that others of them say The Saints shall not Iudge while they be upon the Earth To which he Answers But the Spirit did teach the Apostle to judge and his Time was come And he tells some that they were of old ordained for Condemnation and their Damnation slumbred not and they went on to Eternal Judgement and it is high Time not to judge I Reply Some of this his Answer is some of his wonted Nonsence or the Printers oversight c. But to the point the great Jugler hath taught G. Fox and his Foxians a trick to outface Death and Indgement They now keep the great Sessions and call all the world to their Bar and Judgement Thus did the poor cheated Souls in London lately Reeves and Mugleton thunder out their eternal Sentence of Damnation upon the Souls and bodies of their Oppoâ—ites that with such Seriousness Confidence Majesty that I have known sollid Christians put into a fright by them It is true there is a lawful judging not according to rashness or pride as the Quakers is but according to righteous Judgement It is true the spiritual man judgeth and discerneth all things that is looks into the Causes and Natures of things
Prophecies of Scriptures or the written foretellings and utterings concerning Jesus Christ. Thus the God of Heaven most holy and only wise stoops to our weakness and calls his mind his word his works his word his Providences of mercy or Judgement his Word the Lord Jesus his only begotten his word his writings his Word and this in a way of Condescention to our Capacity seeing that all the World over Kings and Rulers Fathers Masters of Families of Ships c. give the word that is the manifestation of their mind and will and this as the Spring in Clocks and watches turn about all other wheels and motions Hence it is that if ancient Records and Deeds with Hands and Seals be produced at the Bar of Trial all mouths are stopt at such Evidences Thus the Word of God in the mouths of the Prophets written for after Generations is Comparatively beyond the Report of Peter 25 and Iohn themselves is in all Religions The Iews have their Talmud the Turks their Alcheron the Pope his Decretans and the Protestants the Written Word or Scriptures When therefore a Pardon is written and Sealed with the Board Seal of a King or State what a fancy is it for a condemned Wretch to hearken first to a Pardon revealed within to a voice within to a King within to a Writing within a Seal within and so slighting the true pardon in the Kings way to be conveyed from without to the Mind and Spirit within to lose his Pardon and Deliverance as thousands of such poor cheated Souls must do A 14 Instance G Fox brings in Pag. 49. his Opposite Ralph Hall saying It is against the Light of Nature for Women to Preach c. G. Fox Answers Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and the mind of God and the Prophets who said God would pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and Daughters should Prophesie So that he is a limiter of the Holy one a quencher of the Spirit and in the Darkness and this is above the Light of Nature I Reply First What is the Light of Nature but the Light in which every man comes into the World with as the Foxians speak a Light differing from that Light which Beasts wilde and tame and Birds and Fishes have And a Second Light differing from what is Supernatural as that Light revealed from Heaven in the Holy Scriptures and infused into the Souls of Men by the Holy Spirit or Power of God 2. What is the Light of Nature in Man but that Order which the most Glorious Former of all things hath set like Wheeles in Clocks or Watches a going in all his Creatures Some have observed that in the Insensible Creatures to which the most High hath only giving Beings that there may be observed a Male and Female amongst them This is more observable in Vegetables or growing Creatures as in Plants Trees Herbs Flowers c. More yet in Sensitives as Birds Beasts Fishes Most of all in Rationals Men and Women whom the most High hath so wonderfully distinguished It is true that in Religious and Christian Matters there is no 26 respect of persons with God as of Man before the Woman otherwise than to order Natural and Civil The Woman is Predestinated is Called is Justified is Glorified and wears that Golden Chain as well as the Wisest and Strongest of Mankinde And it is true the Wisdome of God perfers some Women before thousands of Men in their being born of Nobles in excellent parts as is observable in the Lady Iane and Queen Elizabeth c. in some special favour as Christ Jesus first appearing to Mary Magdalen and other Women and sending them to carry the first Tydings or Gospel of his Resurrection to his Apostles yea in effusions or powrings forth of an extraordinary measure of his Spirit before Christs coming as on Miriam Deborah Anna Huldah c. and at his coming according to Ioels Prophesie on his Daughters as well as his Sons so that as my opposites alledged to me in publick Philip the Evangelist had four Daughters thus extraordinarily endâ—wed yet this favour of God toward Women destroys not the order which the God of Order or Nature hath set in those Bounds and Limits and Distinctions between the Male and Female the Man and Woman though the Holy Scripture were silent yet Reason and Experience tell us that the Woman is the weaker Vessel that she is more fitted to keep and order the House and Children c. that the Lord hath given a covering of longer Hair to Women as a sign or teacher of covering Modesty and Bashfulness Silence and Retiredness and therefore not so fitted for Manly Actions and Employments Therefore because of Ioels Prophesie or because we must not limit or quench the Spirit as G. Fox saith there is no ground in Gods ordinary course of Nature to permit Women to pretend to be Apostles or Messengers to the Nation or Preachers and Teachers in the Publick Assemblies 1. Because we finde no such Commission given by Christ Jesus or any such Practice amongst the first Believers 2. The Lord hath set as Seamen speak a preventer to such an unnatural boldness by express Prohibitions with the Reasons and Grounds to the Corinthians and to Timothy and to answer those Scriptures with a flam viz. that Eve the Transgressor and Women that be Tatlers are forbidden and the Woman Iezebel 27 c. is all one to tell us that Paul was not a Man nor Timothy a Man nor the Teachers Men nor Corinth a City but all signifie Metaphorical and Mystical Business 3. Why may not Women much more be Lord Majors and Bailiffs and Sherriffs and Iustices and Constables Captains Colonels Generals and Commanders by Sea and Land 4. That Reason the Spirit gives to the Corinthians for the vailing of Women in publick Assemblies makes much more for their vailing and silence in matters of Prophesying Preaching and Praying viz. Because of the Angels I know not any fair and sober Exposition of this Scripture except as the blind Quakers who swallow down a fly Camel too but that of the Heavenly Angels and Spirits attending on and guarding the Assemblies of true Christians and rejoycing in the comliness order and beauty of their publick Administrations Some few years since there came to my House two Maries it is said they came from London they bid me Repent and Hearken to the Light within me I prayd them â—o sit down that we might quietly reason together they would not then standing I askt them the ground of their such Travel and Employment they alledged Ioels Prophesie I answered that was fulfilled that was not every dayes work besides their business was not Prophetical but Apostolical c. they regarded not my Answers nor Admonitions but powred the Curses and Judgements of God against me and hurried away to Barbadoes they went and being War
The Quak. dig up the root of al Christianity in the 4 great Doctrines thereof 1 Interline man R. W. Ms. Ann. Tho Collier The Quak. hold no Heaven nor Hell to come John Clapham The Pollard The epicurian Philosophers the Quakers one Sect. 1 Change to err R. W. Ms. Ann. The 9th Position proved Mâ— Perkins saying of the Papists and mine of the Quakers Neither Papists nor Quak skil â—ow to pay Gods justice The Character of a Quaker 1 Interline or R. W. Ms. Ann. What true turning to God is Iacobs Ladder of true Christianity The Quakers â—nd most mens Shipwrack The Quakers Minâ—sters and â—heir Plea A close fight as to Religion The easiness of the Quakers Religion One Devil changed for another yea sometimes one for seven The Quakers simple boast of numbers The carnal weapons The Quakers Spirit far from purity and Holiness The Spight og the Quakers Spirit The ignorance of the Quakers The abominable Spirit of the Quakers nakedness Quakers driven on by the old Spirit of the Adamites The rising of the Quakers Diverse Sorts suffered by God to fall into the Quak Ditch But especially for Male and Female Protestants The great distinguishing Character of true and false Pretenders The 3d Position debated at Providence Two great Competitors the Popes and Foxians Spiritual pride the devils pride The Popes Quakers pride compared The Quakers hoast of their number The audncious impious faecs of the Foxians Pope Edmond commanding silencing the Governour A second Paralel between the Pope Quakers 1 these R. W. Ms. Ann. The Pope and Quakers usurp over the Souls of all men Humph Norton G Fox compared G F. a subtler Fox then Hum. Norton A third parallel between the Pope Quak. Both Papists Qukers their Pride above the Scriptures The Pope aad Quakers horrible revilers Slanderours cursers of the Righteous The 5. parallel The infallibility of the Popes and Quakers Oracles The Holy Spirit in a Cloakbag at the Councel at Trent The Pope and Quak the two great pretenders and corrivals for the pretended Holy Ghost The Quak pretending to be Apostles F F his Counterfeit mirrcles 1 Interline and. R. W. Ms. Ann. A 6 Parallel between the Pope the Quak. A 7 parallel between the Pope and Quakers 8 Parallel as to the sinless condition of the Quakers G F his proud Blasphemy as to God himself H B the first Perfâ—ctist in these parts and most notorious for Imperfections The difference amongst the Quakers as to these things The 4th of the seven last Positions The Indians Religion A Deity or higher Power acknowledged by Indians The four chief Religions of the World The religious Diffâ—rences among the Protestants Fundamental Differences The Quakers easie Conversion and Churches not comparable to the way of N-England Flatterers of Kings The whorish Quakers and whore of Rome The Devil a roaring Lion The Quak pretences to outgo all pretending Preachers True Preachers or messengers The Earthly Heavenly Sword A great mystery amongst Papists and Protestants A word to the Protestants The mystical Farmers The 5th of the last 7 positions The suffrings of the Quakers Pauls and the Quak suffrings The Quak. sufferings in Hystory of G. Bishop recorded E. Burrowes his Epistle quoted The Quotation weighed What true Suffering is 1 Interline and R. W. Ms. Ann. True Scripture Language The wonderfull Sufferings of Hereticks Great failings of Gods Children in this life True and False Sufferers for the Name of Christ. The Quakers described 1 Interline a. R. W. Ms. Ann. I Fox G Fox their Martyrs the contrary causes of their Sufferings Heavenly love carried on G Foxes even felf God and Christ Spirit Virgin love to God c. The humility of Christs sufferers Devilish pride The predictions of the Quakers A blessed saying of blessed Mr. Dod. The 13 position discusd The Quakers and other Authors compared G. F. his Writingâ— poor and lamâ— G F his book in folio considered G F his ignorance of common English Horrible contradiction 1 Holy Spirit R. W. Ms. Ann. The excellent men Whom G F in his book in folio trampleth â—n as Dishclouts Dogs Devils A difference of Sinners G. Fox no true Goldsmith Fox his subtilty and yet simplicity in granting the Script to be the words of God The word Humane abominable above all words to the Quakers The simple tautologyes of the Quakers The injuâ—â—ing wild imperiousness of G. Fox Hen. Haggar Bloudy and devillish Pride of the Foxians Fox his horrihle railing Fox his bruitish and ridiculous Song What Railing is Instances out of G. F. his Book Sam. Eaton 1 1. Tim. 6. R. W. Ms. Ann. Gods being out of our reach The nature of Spirits How God and Christ of is in us Sam. Eaton The Scripture the Rule The Holy Scripture a Lanthorn Try all things Sam Eaton Gods mediate teachings his word voice manifold and specified Pauls wonderful mediate and immediate conversion Immediate teachings Revelations considered in 7 particulars The great business of Revelations Sam Eaton What is the Gospel The horrible Cheat of the Foxians Why the Gospel is called the Power of God How it is called Pauls Gospel 1 by R. W. Ms. Ann. Three Foxes The Scripture the word or glad news from Heaven written Counterfeits destroy not true â—eirs and owners for ever A word to all Foxians Gods wonderful preservation of his word or wil to poor mankind John Bunian The great Position of Iustification Iustification what it is The proud Quakers affirm no distinction between God themselves 1 Drops R. W. Ms. Ann. Ioseph Kellet Our natural Alienation from God Few excellent men saved 1 Ye R. W. Ms. Ann. Our alienation from God Richard Baxter The matters of perfection Phil. 3. about perfection 1 Erase Brethren and. R. W. Ms. Ann. The estate of Gods Children upon Earth Richard Baxter The great consequence of a word Ellis Bradshaw The honor which the Quakers give to others Civil respect Thou Thee Incivilities ought to be moderately punisht The 14. Position debated W E. c standing upon coals Civility and Courtesie N. Eng. one work to civilize a Barbarous People The Quakers monstrous Incivility The Indians and Quakers of one Spirit The Quakers again maintain their womens Nakedness Signs and Figures discussed The Quakers spirit enraged The Quakers spirit tending to Arbetrary Government The Quakers have no need of Scripture much less of the written Laws of men The Quakers none else in the World fit for Gonrnment as they judge T A his Testimony The 3d. Branch Immediate impulses The Kings Grandfather H. 4. of France murthered upon pretence of a vision of Angels W. Edm. W. Harris their mallice towards me W Harris his character and practise W H the Q the higher powers as they simply affirm W Edm. his ignorant and impudent zeal and upbraidings The point of persecution So many Quak. so many Popes The pretended meekness of the Quakers
fit to be thought on as to pretence of the Christian Name and Religion 9. At the coming of the Lord Jesus there were two great Com 19 petitours for preaching First the Pharisees who by Laud and Sea sent abroad their Emissaries to make Converts to the God of the Jews and their own Traditions Secondly The Apostles or Messengers of Christ Jesus sent abroad with the glad news of a new Bargain or Covenant of God with the Sons of men viz. this second sort It pleased the God of Heaven not to be thrown out as this Fox frantickly barks but to go out wonderfully miraculously yea also with the private labours and preachings of private Christians scattered by Persecution as the holy Scripture recordeth 10. For the slighting of this inestimable Pearl of this glad News or Gospel published by God to the World by writing preaching professing Suffering c. It hath pleased his Infinite Justice to plough the World with Popery a Religion a bastard Christianity suited as the Quakers is to rotten nature and fit to carry the world after them as Mahomet and the Pope have done 11. In this day the two greatest wonders in the world pretending to be Christs Messengers or Apostles to the Nations are the Jesuits and the Quakers Their Faces look divers but they both carry Firebrands in their Tails to burn up the holy Scripture all truly holy Christians yet all the world before them Gods Infinite wisdome hath suffered them to be like Absolom beautiful and plausible and fit to play Soul Thieves and steal away the hearts of thousands and ten thousands from the true David the Lord Jesus Christ. Beside they are so fortified with the Faces of Men and hair of Women like the Locusts Rev. 9. such pretences such Illuminations and Appearances such Assurances and Confidences such feelings of Experiences that it is Gods Infinite Power and wisdome and goodness to preserve the holy Scripture a standing Record of what the first Messengers and first Churches and first Doctrine and Christians were or else the world would fall down and adore the Images which the Lord hath suffered the Devil in them to set up 12. I know the Counsels of the Father of Lights are very deep yea the Revelation needs a Revelation the Prophecies and Canticles and Daniel need Heavenly Messengers and the most holy Spirit or finger of God to untie such knots Sure it is that Millions 20 of Jews and Gentiles must yet enquire with tears of blood after the Blood of a Saviour Sure they shall not awake out of their pits of Rottenness without some means Messengers sent from Heaven to rouze and wakâ—n them Sure their shall be no other words in their Mouths then what were in the mouths of the first Messengers according to the Prayer of the Lord Jesus on his Death bed to his Father through whose Word all that have believed the report ever since have believed Ioh. 17 and with which blessed word the Spirit of God will be in the mouths of all true Christians Isai. 59. 20. c. Surely the true Messengers of Jesus will say no other word then what Moses and the Prophets foretold and wrought Act. 26. therefore Fox and his Foxians that tells us they have all by the Spirit and need no Record are Thieves and Robbers whom Moses and the Prophets and Paul and the Apostles abhor'd to think of A 11. Instance is in Pag. 40. where G. Fox brings in I. Deacon saying The enjoyment of Immortulity is not till they have put off the Body He Answers Contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith Immortality was brought to light through the Gospel this was when they were upon the Earth and the Word of God was in them which was Immortal 1. I Reply First G. Fox affirms an Immortality that is a not dying of the Soul and Body As for the Soul all true Protestants affirm that the Soul once raised up to Spiritual Life never dyes no more than Christ Jesus Rom. 6. as for the Body Papists and Protestants and the Quakers and all the World grants that all Flesh is as grass c. and the Sentence of Death by sickness Age or Casualty is impartially executed upon the Foxians as well as other Câ—ttel As to the Soul who of sober Papists or Protestants questions the Immortality of it and of the Body also in joy or Sorrow to Eternity As for the Body the Quakers say when the Soul is gone into God yea the Soul of Iudas as well as the Soul of Peter as some of them say and all of them by Argument will be forced to say the Body returns to Earth and Rottenness never more to be raised and no more then Bodies of the Beasts Birds and Fishes though we know who holds the Bodies of Beasts Birds and Fishes shall live again as the Soul mortalists do what is it then 21 that G. Fox sputters out for Immortality or a not dying in this Life If he speak of the Soul who denies it If of the Body he speaks a Beastly Contradiction to the doleful Sense of all mankind and their own also who die and rot as well as them 2. It is true 1 Tim. 6. God only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto what ever these Foxians bruitishly fancy of no distinction between God and themselves their Light and his It is true yet also that Iesus Christ 2 Timâ— 1. hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel But what is this but the joyful Condition of the Souls Bodies of the godly their Souls and Bodies raised up with Jesus to a Spiritual holy Life in this World their Souls going to Jesus and their Bodies sleeping in Iesus and the rising of their Bodies and uniting to their Spirits in a Life Eternal 3. As to this Immortality of G. Fox all that can be known of his mind is old H. Nichols and the Nicolaitans mad fictions and fancies of their becoming God and Christ. I hope charitably of many of them that run in their Simplicity Ignorance and weakness with a true Love to the true Lord Jesus as some did with Absalom who truly loved David but as for Absolom himself the Polititians the subtle Plotters and Ahitophels who love not the true Lord Jesus in sincerity I fear instead of their fancied Immortality before the Grave they will meet with a dreadful Mortality or death of Soul and Body to Eternity A 12. Instance is Pag. 47. where he brings in Ioseph Miller saying The wise heathen Philosophers had a greater Measure of Light in them which is the first Adam then I can think any man hath now G. Fox Answ. which shews that he knows nothing of Christ the second Adam the quickning Spirit He knows no New Creature for who are in Christ are new Creatures nor none of Christ the Covenant of God of Light