CONFIDENCE of the Leading Quakers of the Foxonian Tribe audacious Attempts in such Evasive Replies to their Opponents daubed over to beguile the simple-hearted or deceived Quakers with seeming Vindications when their dreadful accusing Consciences if not absolutely seared at the same time cannot but tell them how greatly the sincerer sort of Quakers have been burthenâ—d yea grievously afflicted these many years under the sence of Guilt that rests on those called the BODY I may say even to the highest Degree of Perplexity witness J.P. W.M. J.O. W.G. T.M. M.S. T.F. J.F. M.P. A.M. with many more and although some of them may have trâ—ckled under the TYRANNICAL power of this BODY so called i. e. their Church though it be indeed Principally but of G. Foxes Building yet their Consciences cannot but bear Witness to what I have said in this Respect Here 's all that can be said in favour of such wicked Practices that it seems they must by Decree to uphold their Cause as long as they can set SOMETHING forth in Print as an Answer or that bears the Title of an Answer to all that comes out against them 6. It must be a very strong and notorious Delusion these Leading-Quakers are under if they do not see themselves manifestly Guilty of Abominable Equivocations and Quibbling in the greatest matters of Faith and Religion controverted between them and others Insomuch that notwithstanding their now loud pretences of professing Christ according to the Holy Scriptures so long as they do not nor will disclaim their Forâ—er Professions to the Contrary and their former abuses put upon the Scriptures and notwithstanding their loud Clamors against the Socinians as denying the Divinity of Christ yet themselves must know that they deny CHRIST to be either God or Man in the sence that Christians acknowledg him to be so see Contest for Christianity p. 115 116 117. and Controv. ended p. 44. to 54. And consequently they Introduce into the profession of Religion and the Scriptures such Equivocations and ambiguous Quibbling as Renders the most Religious Confessions Profound Deceits and the Words of God Recorded in Scripture no better than a Nose of Wax most dangerous and false 7. There are five or six little Books that do very ingeniously and fully set forth and give an accompt of the Deceit Impostures intolerable Pride Hypocrisy and Tyranny with the Popish Principles and vile Practices of some of your Leaders and Ministers of the Foxonian party chiefly in Matters of Fact which are visible to the Eyes and subject to the Senses of Men viz. The Spirit of the Quakers tryed Controversy ended The Spirit of the Hat Tyranny and Hypocrisy detected Questions for the Quakers to which may be added The Quakers Spiritual-Court The which or some of them at least I should advise all Persons Judiciously to peruse that would be inforâ—ed concerning them For notwithstanding that the Quakers have Printed something that bears the Name of Answers I do seriously think and hereby advertise them that those Books are IN EFFECT as much un-answered as if they had not writ twenty lines about it for indeed what these Quakers have writ in Reply is but ABOUT it not TO it They beat about the Bush and that 's all they make the greatest noise like the Lapwing when indeed they are farthest off What shall I say to your poor pittiful slight shifting evasive and equivocating Replies to these Books What shall I say to that heavy Charge of TYRANNY and HYPOCRISY exhibited against you in the Book bearing that Title What shall I say to that equal just and fair Proffer made to you therein and your not-accepting of it p. 49. and Title-Page 'T is offered over and over again to the Quakers To refer the Judgment of matters of Fact to the verdict of twelve impartial and honest men EQUALLY to be chosen and that in case the Quakers the others should not agree in the choice of the Persons it was proposed that the Vmpirage should be referred to the LORD-MAJOR of London or any Alderman on the Bench or to any one of twenty Common Council-men and if the Quakers would put it to this just honest and fair Issue that they should signifie it in writing and leave it with Francis Smith Bookseller dwelling in Cornhil and they should find their Accusers ready to comply therewith Now why dare and do you not thus adventure the Tryal of it And why will W.P. notwithstanding Cry out for Proof and exclaim that you are horribly belied and slandered and that they are all Lies Slanders and Forgeries and this is the chiefest part of your Answers If they are so indeed or ye Quakers so innocent therein as you would pretend nothing could possibly more honour and advantage the Quakers and their Cause here as clearly to Evince it and have this Judged for them by honest and impartial Men on both sides and it being only matter of Fact such men are capable to judg of it for shame then W.P. and ye Quakers do not any more cry out Gross Lies Slanders and Forgeries till you have agreed to this fair propose and have had the matters indifferently heard as so long profferred you and it be proved so what will ye thus decline the Proof and Tryal and yet exclaim as wronged oh unreasonable 8. What shall I say What can be said to such Men What can be expected from them Or who that is not infatuated can believe them or approve of their Confidence whereby they make themselves ridiculous and manifest to the world that some of them have neither tender Consciences nor shame in them to stand in things with such perverseness of Spirit not to say Impudence against not only Common Sense and REASON But OCULAR DEMONSTRATION saying any thing Backwards or Forwards as they please and that without Blushing I will name but three Instances now 1. Witness those many Texts of Scripture perverted â—ltered changed and corrupted by G. Fox when he charges others with falshood corrupting and perverting the Scriptures for doing the like or less as is set forth in several particulars in the Spirit of the Quakers tryed where in some places G. Fox puts THEM for HIM Col. 3.10 Conscience for Thoughts Rom. 2.15 he puts Christ's Belly for the Believers Belly John 7.38 puts another person into the Text John 10.29 Leaves out the SPIRIT in 1 Cor. 2.10 puts IT for WE in 2 Cor. 2.16 IS for WAS in 2 Cor. 5.19 Leaves out the word WILFULLY in Heb. 10.26 puts speaking for Prophecying 1 Cor. 14.31 c. Now as that Author says well any one that can but Read and understand English and knows that A is not B or HIM is not THEM or that IT is not nor can be WE may know that G. Fox hath committed Falshoods altered changed and corrupted several Scriptures and yet Mr. Penn hath undertaken to vindicate him in these matters though against his own other Mens Eyes and yet if you will credit W. Penn
ridet Qui non videt suo se jugulavit gladio Unprejudiced Readers IT is no small thing but well worthy of your serious taking notice that G.W. being by many reputed so close so cunning and crafty a Man as no doubt but that in some things he is yet should be so far infatuated and over-shoâ—t himself here as to let fall from his Penn and publish in Print to the World two such Sentences the one by way of Interrogation and the other of Position Which if duly weighed and applied absolutely destroys his own Cause and answers himself in effect in all he writes Argumentum ad hominem The first by way of Interrogation effectually enervates and plucks up by the very Roots the whole of the Quakers Religion 1. For put the Case the Dispute be about immediate Revelation from God which the Quakers assert as one of their grand Principles and deny others to be true Christians that have it not Why G. W's words will as well serve for an Answer against himself What if God will not bestow such Gifts now as immediate Revelation must we therefore be no Christians 2. So as to Divine Inspiration now immediately by the Spirit as the Apostles had Why G. What if God will not bestow such gifts and signs now must we therefore be no Christians 3. So as to being sent and Commissioned by God and called by the Spirit to Prophesy and Preach the Gospel as the Apostles indeed were in the Primitive Church and the Quakers now pretend to Why alas George What if God will not bestow such Gifts and Signs now Must we therefore be no Christians 4. So for the Light within which the Quakers so much talk of and pretend to as their great Principle What if God will not bestow such Gifts and Light now must we therefore be no Christians 5. So for their Doctrine of Infallibility What if God will not bestow such a Gift now must we therefore be no Christians 6. So for their Doctrine and Pretence of the Gift of discerning of Spirits What if God will not bestow such a Gift now Must we therefore be no Christians And thus you see how by this Question he cuts the throat of all their own Pretensions and shakes the very foundation of his own and the Quakers Religion BVT can any be so ignorant as to think that God will inspire call send by Commission persons immediately and give no such Gifts or Signs that may distinguish them from others whereby we may certainly know they are so inspired call'd Commissioned and sent and not Pretenders only The second by way of Position puts such an Answer into the Mouths of George Whitehead's and the Quakers Opponents that if they please to make use of it in like manner as G.W. himself hath done He nor all the Quakers in England can never be able either to confâ—te or confound their Adversaries For let W.P. or George himself object what they can against them let them but have and take the like Liberty as G.W. himself â—ath here done which they cannot refuse to others they using it themselves without the greatest injustice and unreasonableness not to say impudence and it will be impossible for the Quakers to fix any thing upon them let them but say as why may they not as well as the Quakers if they have but so much confidence such titles or words are not strictly but figuratively placed in or on our Books And all 's done And therefore here I think I might on this ground of the Quakers if they will have that to be admitted undertake to do Mr. Hicks that service Gratis and G.W. also though I never promised it to one or other nor was desired by either of them to do it as to answer all G. W's second part of the Quakers Plainness or at least to enervate the chief sinews of it only using of George's own words Mutatis Mutandis As for example how silly is it for thee G.W. to take exceptions against the Title of his Book and that was one of the chiefest matters of the Charge at the first till the Anabaptists had pretty handsomly handled you and beat you off from that by producing a Book or Books of your own Friends who writ after the same manner A DIALOGUE betwixt a Christian and a Quaker why cannot T. Hicks tell thee like as thou thy self art so silly in thy own case to tell him that such a Title was not STRICTLY but FIGURATIVELY placed on his Book and then for all the rest of his words wherein W.P. and thou chargest him with Forging and Forgeries Slanders and Lies Thou hast here taught him a short way to the wood and so may Answer thee if he please all in few words Such Titles such words or sayings are not strictly but figuratively placed and put down in his Dialogues and thus George himself hath taken the pains to answer and confute himself and hath with one blast of his mouth blown away those dismal great charges of Lies and Forgeries laid on his Adversaries Oh! kind-natured Man But I dare say it was against his intention only he could not tell how to clear his Friends otherwise from other Mens charge of Blasphemy viz. for preferring their pittiful Pamphlets to the Holy Scriptures and so by shunning one Rock he hath split himself on another I am of the Opinion that when T. Hicks comes to understand this he will say that he is as much beholden to G.W. for making his way so easie by this one Sentence as by any advice twenty of his Friends could give him Now I would not have any Quaker mistake me and say I deny all figures for I own that there are some Metaphors in the Scriptures and that some Parables are therein written which must necessarily be interpreted Metaphorically and Figuratively but this I deny that therefore the whole Scripture is a Figure or all of it to be figuratively interpretted This I only hint on purpose to prevent the Quakers mistake who when they please I find will wilfully mistake others if they think they can make any advantage by it though never so base But this I say 1. That the Quakers have excluded themselves from using of Figures they having so long and so often witnessed that all Figures were ended and they were come to the end of all Figures and were come to Christ the Light which was the substance and the end of all Figures 2. That if notwithstanding the Quakers in contradiction to themselves will take the Liberty to make use of Figures in their words and writings and the Interpretation of them then they cannot without gross injustice and impudent partiality deny to others the same liberty and the use of the same thing they take themselves and so the matter will hold good all along The Apostle says Rom. 14. and 22. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth And thus Courteous Readers you see that G.W. hath
only and absurd G.VV. p. 18. acknowledges that they have plainly and often confest That the DIVINE NATURE or Word cloathed with the MOST HOLY MANHOOD and as having taken Flesh of the Seed of Abraham was and is the Christ Yet says he we must own that if he was the Son of God BEFORE he took Flesh he was Christ And in p. 19. he grants he doth not own the Humane Nature is the Christ for want of Plain Scripture that saith so and says some do conscientiously scruple it and pretend it is a deviating from Scripture-Language which they cannot do in their Creed 2. Reply What a pretty medly of Hypocrisie Quibbling and Confusion here is I will now shew you For Hypocrisie how palpable is it in that they pretend they conscientiously scruple owning in their Creed THAT THE HUMANE NATURE IS THE CHRIST because it is a Deviating from Scripture-Language and they pretend they find no plain Scripture that says so when yet at the same time they tell you they have often confessed that the DIVINE NATURE or Word as CLOATHED with the most HOLY MANHOOD is and was the Christ and this they do without scruple of Conscience And yet there 's no plain Scripture that I know of that says so yea and it is a Deviating from Scripture-Language for where can they shew me this Language in Scripture CLOATHED WITH THE HOLY MANHOOD or such a word there as MANHOOD and until they have done that I must charge them with HIPOCRISY and their pretended Scruples to be nothing but pretences and DECEIT 3. As to their Quibbling herein it plainly appears that to blind the eyes of the simple they sometimes pretend as in p. 18. to own the Holy Manhood to be Christ And yet p. 19. Deny the Humane Nature to be Christ By the first they would seem as if they owned the Humane Nature to be Christ when-as indeed they utterly deny it as you may see by the Latter But since they own the Divine Nature Cloathed with the most Holy Manhood and as having taken Flesh of the Seed of Abraham not only was but is the Christ and yet say that the Light which is in every Man is the Christ I considered with my self whether this most holy Manhood was in every Man and the Manhood was the Light in every Man or a part of that Light Taking these words in their proper and common signification among us English Men but so I could not find it consistent with their Doctrine of the LIGHT WITHIN and therefore would it not appear a pretty Quibble if some of them do mean by MANHOOD not MAN really and essentially but only a GARMENT or a certain quality as Power Fortitude or Valour So when they confess Christ Cloathed with the most Holy Manhood they mean Christ was Cloathed with the most Holy Power Valour c. or Cloathed with a Garment Or else if they deny this they must confute their other Principle of the Light within every Man being the Christ or speak as absurdly if they say Christ's Manhood as he is really and essentially Man is within every Man 4. And then I further enquire of the Quakers Whether the most Holy Manhood be indeed the Christ or a real part of Christ And whether the Flesh that Christ took of the Seed of Abraham since AS SUCH G.VV. sometimes viz. p. 18. confesses he IS the Christ be or can be the Christ the Light or a part of that Light which at other times the Quakers say is in every Man Or will they say that Christ's Flesh which he took of the Seed of Abraham is in every Man or is it another Christ See their confusions and absurdities 5. And when they say before Christ took Flesh let them deal plainly with us and tell us WHEN Christ FIRST took Flesh and whether they do not Believe he took Flesh BEFORE he was Conceived and Born of the Virgin Mary and what plain Scripture they have that saith so And if Christ took Flesh BEFORE whether it was Real Flesh and what sort and whether hâ—s Flesh that was born of the Virgin Mary was the same or had Christ at the time of his Birth two different sorts of Flesh not Figuratively but Really and Properly so called and all this will shew their Confusion and the Ridiculousness of their Fancies for by I. Pennington's Question p. 20. it seems the Quakers do hold that CHRIST's OWN FLESH BLOOD AND BONES are of an ETERNAL NATURE And that the FLESH AND BLOOD which Christ took of OUR NATURE was only OUR GARMENT and so of an EARTHLY PERISHING NATURE And thus would make Christ's Flesh Blood and Bones to be GOD for nothing can be of an ETERNAL NATURE but GOD. Monstrum Horrendum hear O Heavens and hearken O Earth What can be either Confusion or Equivocation in the World not to say worse of iâ— if this be not 6thly G.W. pag. 19. and in several other places says The Quakers must have not only Plain Scripture but Express Scripture viz. Scripture that saith so or else they cannot admit it into their Creed So in G.F. and J. Stubb's Epistle before G. W's Book intituled The Divinity of Christ Their very first Words are Whether do the Scriptures speak of three Persons in the God-head in these express words Let us see where it is written Come dâ— not Shuffle for we are resolved that the Scriptures shall buffet you about and that you shall be whipped aboâ—â— with the Rule Give us Plain Scripture for it without adding or diminishing or shuffling We charge you Presbyterians to give us Printed Scriptures for these following Words and let us see in whaâ— Chapter and verse they are Printed viz. Concrete Abstract Relative c. and so in this manner they arâ— giving Names to CHRIST and God besides the Rulâ— of Scripture c. And so they run on with it over and over again But now since they Impose Command and Charge others at this Rate and not only so but also pretend that they cannot admit of any thing in their Creed but what they have plain and express Scripture that saith so How Reasonable and Just is it to Charge them and accordingly I do here Charge them to produce where it is written in Scripture in these express words The Divine Nature or Word Cloathed with the most Holy Manhood was and is thâ— Christ which they have admitted into their Creed Let us see in what Chapter and Verse it is Printed So p. 24. The distinction of Father and Son is Real in the Divine Relation known as Co-workers in the Order and Degrees Where 's Chap. and Verse for these words Come G.W. Come Quakers shew me or any other the Chapter and Verse where these words are written viz. Manhood entire Manhood the most Holy Manhood Divine Relations Co-workers in the Order and Degrees Or henceforward be ashamed of your silly doings and such ridiculous scribbling I might think W.P. may yet have so much Ingenuity left in
WHICH IS DEATH and KILLETH Oh horrid abominable and wicked besides the falshood of it how near to Blasphemy is it Not to say much to his words in p. 5. where he maketh himself a Judge for others to be Judged by viz. Let all that read these Scriptures Judge thee BY ME to be a Lyar. Nor to their words in the Title Page where they say these their Words or Writings were GIVEN FORTH from the SPIRIT of the Lord IN VS You may enough ghess at it and the Impudence of it your selves Will not the Impartial Reader now think this Book ISHMAEL a Rare Piece for the bigness of it for 't is but about three sheets I must needs think that many Sober Readers that shall see and duly Consider these Words will almost conclude it incredible it being so abominably gross but that they may see it with their own Eyes in the Quakers own Book if they dare give Credit to their Eye-sight more than to the Quakers false Tongues and therefore I refer all such to the Book it self for better Satisfaction Sect. 2. Sam. Fisher in his Addit Appendix p. 21. Speaking of the Holy Scriptures says Which Transcriptions and Translations were they never so certain and entire by Answering to the first Original Copies yet are NOT CAPABLE to be to all Men ANY OTHER than a Lesbian Rule or NOSE OF WAX Forasmuch as even where Men have them as half the World has not they are lyable to be wrested and Actually twisted Twenty ways by Interpreters whose Expositions Sences and meanings which are as many and various as the Thoughts Conceits and Inventions of men are who Comment upon them must be the Rule to such as can Read them neither in Hebrew and Greek nor in their own Mother-Tongues neither And further the said Sam. Fisher in the same page tells us that He and the Quakers have put it to the Question How it may be known assuredly uncontroulably infallibly that the Scripture is at ALL of God and not a cunningly DEVISED FABLE and INVENTION of Men Do ye not think now Impartial Readers that the Quakers are High Honourers of Holy Scripture to use such Terms and Language in Querying about it as a cunningly devised FABLE and INVENTION of Men And in his very next words he gives us and the World to understand that the Church and Clergy of England do but go-round or Dance in a Circle when they tell the Quakers and us That the Scripture may be known to be of God by the Testimony of the Spirit and that we may try and find assuredly that Spirit to be of God by the Scripture Sect. 3. Ed. Burroughâ— p. 834. The ONELY perfect Rule of â—onscience in the Exercise to God is the SPIRIT of Christ and not any other thing G.W. Again the Question being put Do you esteem of your speakings to be of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible makes this Answer in his Serious Apol. p. 49. viz. That which was spoken from the Spirit of Truth in ANY â—s of AS GREAT Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and GREATER c. Sect. 4. W. Pen also that he for his Worthiness and sincerity may not Complain as left out shall give in his Verdict in his Spirit of Truth Vindicated p. 38. Thus the Scripture is much like the shadow of the True Rule c. Now all men know a shadow is an empty and vain thing and the most uncertain thing in the World sometimes shorter and sometimes much longer than the Substance it self Sect. 5. But now to wheel about and run round again though one would think no man possibly that pretends to Honesty or common Reputation could either have the Face or Confidence to do it having so rivetted and fixed the Contrary in Print as above nay some cannot believe that any Ordinary Romancer would Publish it in Print with such a Stupendious confidence as the Quakers have lately done viz. G.W. Quakers Plainness p. 70 71. Nor did we EVER prefer our Books before the Bible as unjustly we are charged but do prefer the Bible BEFORE ALL other Books extant in the World Our Intention and Principle NEVER was to bring our Books in Comparison to the Scriptures No G Is this True Does not thy own Conscience smite thee and fly in thy Face Nay is this possible to be true When G.W. himself calls the Scriâ—ture which the Minister asserted was the Foundation of Faith as I have already told you NATURAL and CARNAL the LETTER which is DEATH and KILLETH What can be worse than Natural Carnal that which is Death and Killeth Are your Writings worse than that Then further do but consider the Titles and Epithets this very G.VV. gives to some of his own Books viz. The Glory of Christs Light within Expelling Darkness Another The Light and LIFE of Christ within well go thy ways GEORGE not onely for a QUIBBLER but an AUDACIOUS CONFIDENT surely Geo. thou hadst not forgot that your Book ISHMAEL was given forth from the SPIRIT of the Lord in you Or did you deal therein falsely with the World And with God too Was any of the Holy Scriptures any more than given forth from the spirit of the Lord And if that you say be true I am sure your Books must be EQUAL at least with the Scriptures but what need I talk of that when Geo. himself assures me that some of their Writings or speeches were GREATER if ever the spirit of Truth spoke in any of them it is of AS GREAT Authority says he as the SCRIPTURES and CHAPTERS are and GREATER Sect. 6 And to face quite about again G. Keith told us positively That W.P. hath the Scripture as the Secondary Rule of his Faith and Practice Narrative of the Second Dispute published by the Quakers themselves p. 57. Who doth not see now that these men will say any thing Or care not what they say Mr. Pen himself at best does but say The Scripture is much like the SHADOW of the true Rule so far is it from being any either Primary or Secundary true and Substantial Rule to him but onely much like the shadow of it and a shadow is sometimes three or four times longer or shorter than the Truth and Substance and in that Respect says VV.P. it may be a KIND of a Secondary Rule Observe Reader how mincingly and Quibblingly VV.P. words it 1. In that Respect as it is much like the shadow 2. a kind of Secondary Rule a shadowy Kind but neither the true substantial or certain Rule and it all comes in with it may be suppositively now which of these two Quakers is the Quibbler Both May be one Must be But that is not all neither for worse absurdities will still follow for if that be true which G.VV. said then that which is DEATH and KILLETH is A RULE of VV. Pen's Faith and Practice and that which is Natural and carnal is A RULE of the Quakers Faith and Practice then an
obscure something without them is A RVLE of the Quakers Faith and that 's not all neither But if what Sam. Fisher said be true then VV.P. hath a NOSE OF VVAX for a Rule of his Faith and Practice or one of the Quakers Rules for their Faith and Practice is no better than a Nose of VVax Nay if you will believe Sam. Fisher himself is not CAPABLE of being ANY OTHER to them that have the Scriptures which the Quakers have and as to them that have them not they can be surely nothing at all not so much as a Nose of VVax And is not this an Excellent Rule according to the Quakers own Confession that they now say they have for a Rule of their Faith and Practice Sect. 7. I am sorry that before I conclude I should have Occasion given me to Tax Mr. Pen of INSINCERITY and deceitful dealing about this matter of the Quakers Doctrine touching the Holy Scriptures by Reading the late little Book he set out Entituled A just Rebuke but more properly a huffing Rebuke p. 10. Those very words he tells his Opponents reflect most justly as a just Rebuke on himself I must tell him he hath Acted with them herein far from a Man of Common Ingenuity For whereas W.P. asserts The Quakers deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God in that sence wherein they deny them viz. The Word that was God the Essential Word Does not W.P. in his Conscience know that none of these Presbyterians Independents nor any others ever asserted against the Quakers that the Scriptures were in that sence the Word of God and consequently is no part of the matter in Dispute And not onely so but doth not W. P's Conscience witness that the Quakers have and do deny the Scriptures to be the written Word of God In which sence those men do not deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and the Quakers do and therefore W.P. must Act against his Conscience in taxing them of being herein far from Men of Common Ingenuity when it is onely his own dis-ingenuity thus to Quibble and deceive People And Secondly The like Fallacy double dealing and Insincerity W.P. manifests in his words about the Scripture being a Rule as if the Quakers owned the Scripture to be a Rule in some things or some parts of the Scripture to be a Rule to them whereas it is manifest that the Quakers have over and over again denyed the Scriptures in general and not some part of it onely to be their Rule yea in these express words The Books of the Old and New Testament called the BIBLE See the beginning of this Section Oh Quakers REPENT REPENT of such wickedness and for shame leave off such double hearted dealing and most unparallel'd Confidence Do not think all your Countrey-men Fools besides your selves as if they could not discern such petty slights and Quibbles and take Notice of them and you also as not single-hearted in them Sect. 8. For my Part I never thought any man blame-worthy nor would be he that should blame any man for changing his Opinion or Judgment if so be he did it upon better ground and did not pretend to INFALLIBILITY nor scorn nor blame others for Confessing their Fallibility but did Honestly and Ingenuously acknowledge that he was before mistaken and in an Error But for Men to change their Opinions either really and yet endeavour confidently to vindicate and justifie their former Absurdities and Errors or pretendedly onely to fawn and flatter or curry favour with their Adversaries or any others of the World and yet still to pretend to Infallibility is so low abominably base and Hypocritical or so Impudent that it is not to be admitted by or among any Sober and Honest Men. Now whether this change alteration and difference in the Quakers words and Writings Epithets and Phrases about the Holy Scriptures be real or onely Hypocritical and Temporizing out of design to blind others and to ingratiate themselves a little more into Peoples Affections and good-will of the World God and their own Consciences best know yet the last is much to be feared for this Reason because they are so far from dis-owning their former mistakes and mis-expressing themselves that they stand to vindicate and justifie it But be it either way they thereby shew their uncertainty inconstancy and self-contradictions Confusions and the effects of their Fallibility Sect. 9. And therefore I would onely desire G.W. to tell me honestly if there be any such thing left in him or that he may return to without Quibbling or Equivocation or if not me that he would acquaint his Countrey-men 1. Whether he doth NOW Believe That the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament commonly called the Bible be the Letter which is Death and Killeth or whether they be the Letter mentioned or meant by the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 3.6 And 2. If he doâ—h NOW believe That were the Scriptures never so certain and entire yet that they are not capable to be to all men any other than a Nose of Wax 3. And whether he or W. Pen and the Quakers do NOW Witness and Believe that the Letter of the Scripture is CARNAL A proper direct Answer is desired and required to this without any Quibbling or mental Reservations if the Quakers are indeed what they now would pretend to the World they are and will manifest themselves to be no Dissemblers The Conclusion To Sum up all in short and to Conclude this Mess and Medly of their most irreconcileable Contradictions and irrecoverable Gulph of Confusions in which they have plunged themselves o're Head and Ears take it thus Sometimes they can call yea and positively assert the Letter of the Scripture is CARNAL and the Letter is DEATH and KILLETH But their own pityful Scriblings or Books they can call The LIGHT and LIFE of Christ within and yet to go round again at other times they tell us that they prefer the Bible BEFORE all other Books extant in the World but then to go round again they tell us without excepting one that THEIR WRITINGS and BOOKS are given forth from the immediate ETERNAL SPIRIT of God Yet to face about again That their Intention and Principle NEVER WAS to bring their Books in COMPARISON with the Scriptures but yet to go round again though to their own Confusion the same man hath given us to understand that what the Quakers speak from the Spirit of Truth is not onely of AS GREAT Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are but GREATER And the Quakers can sometimes tell us that one might AS WELL condemn the SCRIPTURES to be BURNED as Their WRITINGS But come once more to turn about Robin Hood W. Pen now hath the Scripture positively says Mr. Keith as a Secondary Rule of Faith and Practice and yet to step half-way back again and Janus-like look two ways at once it is but much like the SHADOW of the true Rule and in that Respect
furnished such weapons for his Adversary That if he will but make use of them as he may he must mortally wound the Cause of G.W. and all the Quakers And thus G. W's Discourse in so many Pages may be effectually enervated in these few lines Now this being so I cannot but foresee though I pretend not to be any such Prophet as the Quakers do that the Quaker will wind and twine kick and winch flatter and flutter to extricate himself out of this Net and Fetters which he hath so ingeniously caught and lockt himself in But I think now he hath put himself there I shall be able to hold the Leviathan and the more Rope I give him the less danger But still I intend to keep him fast I cannot but expect there will be great pulling and drawing here by the Quakers to Wiredraw Draw-in or draw-back these words again Surely some curious mincing and mangling we must expect about this good time Now some new-invented QUAKERS QUIRK or QUIBBLE might serve at a dead lift to extenuate divide distinguish or extinguish it into Atomes What can they find better now than a Jesuitical equivocation But if they served seven years at Rome for it yet 't is a Question whether it will quit their cost for G.W. knows it seems it is a scornful fellow he hath to deal withal that will believe no more of the Quakers pretences than other mens without BETTER PROOF 'T is ten to one if the more they flutter they do not more be-fetter themselves they cannot thus dance in in a Net but some Body will see them and they are as easily seen through as they boast they can see through others G. Fox in the Epistle before G. W's Divin of Christ hath these words We Charge thee shew us a verse in Scripture that speaks such Language and where one word may be put for another by Metalepsis and so leave People in doubts and Questions Thou mayst see Courteous Reader the intent of this Epistle is not to praise or commend the following Discourse to thee let it speak for it self and as thou findest so Judg but not without throughly considering of it laying aside all Partiality and private Interest to particular Sects otherwise if thou art byassed either to the Quakers or Baptists or any other more than to Reason and Truth it self it will prove the more difficult for thee to Judg aright For the first thing a Man must do according to wise Charon's advice that would find Wisdom and embrace the Truth is to disingage himself and discharge his understanding of all his former and prejudicate Opinions yea though in themselves some of them may be true and take no more of them up again than what he shall find sure evidence good Authority or sound Reason for and as to the rest I have for many years thought it better either to suspend ones judgment or to acknowledg ones fallibility or Ignorance till better and certainer evidence presents than vainly to dogmatize and proudly to pretend a certain knowledg of things or principles where we have not so clear and undoubted evidence as if we should so weakly think that our own fancies and meer pretences must indeed be or serve for reason and evidence to all others especially if it be well considered how strong strange impressionâ— that one humour in Men's Bodies viz. melancholly alone will sometimes make in peoples fancies imaginations which humor many think was very predominant among the Quakers at their first coming up and may be yet among some of them though others of them are grown pretty Jolly and will take a Cup of the Creature as other Men may do in a Civil way to refresh their hearts Therefore to conclude if any will Judg with sound Judgment they ought to lay aside all Prejudicate Opinions they have received either by Education or otherwise and so if you shall think good you may please to read on and I shall subscribe Your true Friend Thomas Thompson ERRATA READER THE Authors Distance not admitting him to attend the Press there hath happened some small faults and omissions of Interlined words the most material of which he intreats thee in the first place to correct with a Pen. p. 3. l. 4. dele no l. 5. r. shalt p. 13. l. 33. r. give p. 17. l. 6. r. however p. 28. l. 7. r. Quakers p. 35. l. 1. f. may r. should p. 36. l. 18. r. as hath Essentially p. 37. l. 26. r. some of themselves p. 49. l. 31. ad 20th p. 52. l. 29. f. Sign r. Signs see p. 51. l. 6. f. Prophecy r Miracles p. 54. l. 10. r. pay andrad p. 55. l. 30. r. Call p. 60. l. 21. add 8th p. 61. l. 18. r this opposers p. 64. l. 29. dele can and add p. 66. l. 10. add p. 67. l. 10. r. this so called p. 81. l. 21. r. Quakers in their conceits p. 86. l. 24. f. may be r. not be p. 87. l. 6. f. Plumbs r. Plums p. 93. l. 5. f. this r. this in it self The Second Part OF THE Quakers-Quibbles The Introduction containing some remarks on G. W's Preface and his Treatise in General WHereas the Author of the Pamphlet Geo. Whitehead pretends to Answer an Epistle directed to Will. Penn stiled THE QUAKERS-QUIBBLES and therein to demonstrate the QUAKERS-PLAINNESS I find he doth noâ—hing â—ess but instead thereof hath set forth many more QUIBBLES of his own and the Quakers as I â—hall presently evince to you So that if any Person should have doubted when only they saw them set forth in my Epistle Surely they cannot now that so eminent a Quaker himself hath published a New Edition of Quibbles and Quirks too And whereas G.W. would appear a very plain meek and moderate Man stiling himself and the Quakers US HIS God 's PEOPLE and though he be a Quaker yet would make you believe if you would be no wiser he is a more impartial-Man to his own Sect than that indifferent Person which is neither Baptist nor Quaker who writ the QUIBBLES But now to use his own words which serve better against him than for him let the serious Reader consider and judg of this man's Moderation and Ingenuity whâ—â— in his pretended Answer instead of impartially relating matters of Fact for others to judge of all along bears upon the Baptists and me with hard Language Taunts and Quibbles comparing 〈◊〉 and them to Papists and Jesuites as if we had served seven years at Rome calling us a Stingy Generation of Hypocrites and Apostates styling my Epistle Abusive a very partial and scornful Pamphlet accusing me with Injustice Wickedness a dark Spirit Canting Quibbles deceitful Dealing and Hypocritical Pretences absurd unjust partial scornfully aggravated scandalous and wicked savouring of meer Ignorance and Envie Idle Quibbling and envious Canting Irreverent Quibbling Socinian-like Faithless Demands being in the Unbelief A partial and self-contradictory Pen smiting in the dark envious and unjust with falshoods traducing
him as that he would be ashamed of it when I consider his Learning but that his undertaking to vindicate G.F. for notorious falshoods and nonsence evident to mens Eyes and Senses and against his own senses and ocular demonstration makes me much to doubt it see Contr. ended p. 39. being sorry to see that so ingenuous a Man as W.P. once was should Sacrifice his own Senses Reason Honour and Reputation to keep up the Credit of such a Man as G. F. who hath written in many things so ridiculously that it's impossible for any Man to vindicate him without making himself more ridiculous and by his Tautologies and incoherency a sober Man would take him to be Craz'd witness his Professors Catechism Testimony of the True Light and his Primmer for the Scholars and Doctors of Europe And which is yet more G. I have this to add That I do not think Thoâ— nor all the Quakers in England can bring Express Scripture for that which is your First and Grand Principle of all whâ—ch you talk of so much above all viz. The Light of Christ within every Man or Christ the Light within every Man Now to speak in G.F. and J. Stubb's words I charge you Quâ—kers Let us see where the Scripture speaks thus in these â—xpress words Let us see where it is written come do not Shuffle for we are resolved that the Scriptures shall buffet you Quakers about and that you shall be whipped about with the Rule Give us plain Scripture for it without shuffling adding or diminishing I charge you QUAKERS to give us Printed Scriptures for all these foregoing words and let us see in what Chapter and Verse they are Printed and if they do that I think I may promise them to turn Quaker presently But besides this their Hypocrisie herein is more gross For to what end except to deceive should they pretend that they cannot own this or that in theâ— Creed if it be not expressed in plain Scripture wheâ— they have so often and so plainly avowed That thâ— Scripture is not their Rule either for Faith or Prâ—ctice But now for the Protestants to call for plaiâ—-Scripture is but according to their Principle becausâ— they own it for their Rule 7. So again p. 19. G.W. confesses that JESUS CHRIST is MAN one at first view might think hâ— spoke well so he does if he did but mean truly whâ—â— he speaks But that you may plainly see he doth not and may see what kind of Man he means in the samâ— Page he gives you to understand that it is such â— Man as hath not HUMANE NATURE and p. 24 such a Man as is not a Person without us and whâ—â— kind of Man think you must or can this be Is noâ— this a fine Quibble Judg you That this their Equivocation may appear more plain even to the Capacitâ— of the Vulgar consider That when the Quakerâ— say that Jesus Christ is Man They must meaâ— either That he is truly and substantially a Man a created Body and Soul or that he is an Imaginary and Fictitious one only If the first then they must own he is a distinct Person haâ—h as essential to him Humane Nature For to be a Man is to have the Nature of Man and every substantial Man is a distinct Person But this they deny of Christ therefore they do not mean he is such a Man If the other viz. an Imaginary or Fictitious Man let them say so if they dare and consider how Blasphemous it would be and what horrible Consequences would follow thereon And therefore to go round again let the Quakers equivocate as much as they will they must hold that indeed Christ is not Man or else fall into the BLASPHEMY or Absurdity abovementioned In plainness G. is Jesus Christ a Man and not a Person Seeing thou dost define a Person to be a MAN c. In the Introduction of thy Book intituled the Divinity of Christ What meanest thou by the word MAN A Created Body and Soul or some uncreated thing Now G. use plainness and honesty in this particular if there be any in thee or whoever he be that undertakes to Answer for thee Generally all Men in the World that use the Term Man as properly an English word understand by it a PERSON or a RATIONAL CREATURE distinct from all other Men one that is in some certain Place and cannot be in distinct Places at the same time that hath in respect of his Body Dimensions of Length Breadth and Depth that is visible one that began to exist at a certain time one that hath a head and a body so closely united that when-ever they two are severed the Man ceases to be But the Quakers they seem to mean quite another thing by the term MAN sometimes one thing and sometimes another I believe themselves know not well what By the term MAN Do you not mean one that is not a Person or Rational Creature but Flesh Blood and Bones of an eternal Nature J. P's Qu. p. 20. an infinite Soul One whose Flesh is and he is in a multitude of Men and Women in distant Countreys at the same instant of time Myst p. 68. Christ ascend p. 18. One that is not in Heaven as a place to live in remote from Men that live on Earth Spir. of Truth p. 12. Christ ascen p. 21. one that is not VISIBLE Christ ascend p. 37. one that begâ—n not to be for he was eternal one that is as far remote from his Body as Heaven is from Earth and yet lives See Quak. Plainness p. 23. In fine it seems Jesus Christ is a Man whose Glorious Body in Heaven is not a Humane or Man 's Body see the same p. 23. and doth not the Quaker use now admirable Plainness in his Confession of Faith in Scripture-Language Doth Europe or America afford such Equivocation 8. G.W. p. 19. says further That Christ's Body of Flesh and Blood that was born of the VIRGIN-MARY and that suffered was Crucifyed Dye++d and Rose again the third day is called the Body of Jesus But yet G. thou wilt not say nor own That that Living Body is Jesus or that BODY is so much as a part of Jesus Consider this serious Reader here 's still the Quakers Quibble and a clear proof of the Quakers Mystery whereby their poor unwary Hearers are deluded and deceived So they will say the seventh day of the week called Saturday and the eleventh Month called January and the Scripture called the word of God and the Writing or Declaration of Matthew called the Gospel of St. Matthew and abundance the like Which yet they do not one whit the more Believe it for Truth for saying it is called so But Believe quite the Contrary as they believe the Scripture is not the Word of God though it may be called so so they can say by their Equivocation The Body that was born of the Virgin Mary is called in Scripture the Body of Jesus and
yet will not own that Body either to be a part of Jesus or do believe it to be that Jesus which the Scripture calls it And here I appeal to all sober and understanding People in England to Judg if ever they heard such Quibbling before as the Quakers here use about CHRIST JESUS and this they are constrained â—o do To maintain that first Principle they have took up The Light within for if they should own that living Body of Flesh and Blood that was born of the Virgin Mary and that was Crucified and dyed to be JESUS and the CHRIST then they foresee they should confound that their Beloved Principle The Light within every Man For how can that Man or Body of Flesh Bone and Blood that was born of the Virgin Mary be in every Man and also upon this Ground They deny that Person that Man that was born of the Virgin Mary to be the Christ Because they cannot tell how to make thaâ— very Person and Man to be in every Man and in all Persons and so rather than forego their Principle of the Light within They will adventure to fashion and form to themselves a new Jesus and a New Christ and have hid it and kept it as much as they could in a Mystery and in Dark sayings as long as they might till at last being pressed by many Contests and Disputes they have been forced to discover it And now Dear Friends and Country-Men give me leave to tell you that though I do not remember that I ever positively said That the Quakers were no Christians yet I have much and often doubted in my self and do still whether they can according to their Principles be true Christians since they do not own nor believe that Man nor that living Body that was born of the Virgin Mary to be the Jesus and the Christ and so do not believe that the Christ indeâ—d dyed and if Christ did not indeed Dy he did nâ—t indeed rise again Nay though they own that the Scriptures call that living Body Christ and Jesus yet they give us at the same time to understand They do not Believe nor own it to be what they themselves say the Scripture calls it and so set up another Christ than what the Scripture call's Christ and declares to us to be the true Christ and Messiah of the World And for this Reason and out of this Godly-Jealousy and Fear and not out of Envy and wicked malicâ— as they pretend it is that I cannot own them but have thus opposed them And let all People consider it weigh it well and take heed It is not for nothing or yet a slâ—ght matter only that I set forth their Quibbles But for their setting up another Christ or another kind of Christ than the Scripture holds forth and calls the Christ to wit that Person Man or living Body that was born of the Virgin MARY and what can be of a higher Nature or more dangerous in the Christian Religion than for any to set up any other Christ or any other Person or thing for Christ 9. What plaâ—ner words is it possible to invent that are intelligible to Mankind than are used about this matter in Scripture if Men would not be wilfully Blind as to give you an Instance or two Acts 2.22 23. Ye Men of Israel ' hear these words Jesus of Nazareth A Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know HIM being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledg of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have Crucified and Slain v. 36. Let all the House of Israel know assuredly That God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucifyed both LORD and Christ observe the Apostle says that same Jesus viz. Jesus of Nazareth A Man God hath made both Lord and Christ and if that same then no other and again that same Jesus whom the Men of Israel had taken and by wicked hands did Crucify and Slay That same Jesus and not any thing else hath God made both Lord and Christ Now it was not the Light within that the Men of Israel took and by wicked hands Crucified Hang'd on a Tree and Slew But it was that Man that Person that Body that was born of the Virgin Mary Jesus of Nazareth that the Jews took and by wicked hands Crucified and Hang'd on a Tree So it appears as plain as any thing in the World can be by words made Plain that that same Man that Body or that Person which was born of the Virgin Mary Jesus of Nazareth is he which God hath made both LORD and CHRIST and not the Light within every Man nor any other thing Luke 24.39 Behold my Hands and my Feet that it is I my self handle me and see For a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have and when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet John 20.24 25. But Thomas one of the twelve called Dydimus was not with them when Jesus came The other Disciples therefore said unto him we have seen the Lord but he said unto them Except I shall see in his hands the Print of the Nails and put my finger into the Print of the Nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe v. 26 27 28. And after eight days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them Then came Jesus the door being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing And Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord and my God v. 31. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have Life through his Name What Jesus even That Jesus that same Person that was not within but without Thomas who had the Print of material nails in his hands that Thomas put his finger in is the Christ the Son of God Now G.W. Answer me in plainness once if thou wilt be so honest Was this Jesus that the Apostle says here we are to believe is the Christ the Son of God without Thomas then when he put his finger into the Print of the Nails Or was it only Acted within Thomas his Body And hath the Light within which thou ownest for thy Jesus any Print of Material Nails or hands properly so called of flesh and bone as this Jesus had which is the true CHRIST see also Math 1.1 with verse 16 and Heb. 2.14 10. G.W. p. 20. takes notice of Jer. Ives great Question as he calls it Whether Christ's Humane Nature was a part of Christ But he gives no Answer to it but gives it the go-by by saying it was not a Question in Scripture Phrase But that could be
there such an expression in the Scripture as Proper least Proper c. are not these Philosophical Terms SECT III. In Reply to his third Section shewing G. W's and the Quakers Ignorance of the true Spirits Evidence who deny the Gift of Tongues Prophecy Signs c. to be such 1. IN my Epistle to W.P. p. 8. I minded him of the Apostle Paul's words 2 Cor. 12.12 13. Truly the SIGNS of an Apostle were wrought AMONG YOU in all Patience in SIGNS and WONDERS and MIGHTY DEEDS For what is it wherein ye were INFERIOR to other Churches Here was a Church indeed that had the Spirits evidenee and here was an Apostle indeed that had Divine Revelation the Gift of Prophecying Tongues and Interpretation of Scripture such an Apostle was one who indeed was not of Men neither by Man but sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 But no such Apostles nor Friends of the Ministry can I find amongst the Quakers who yet pretend to be Apostles not of Men nor by Man but immediately sent by God and pretend to have the same Spirit Calling and Power that the Apostle Paul had And yet alas do not EVIDENCE it any MORE than OTHERS do who pretend to it with as much Confidence as themselves Nay and so far are they from that that I do not see they are able to produce any MORE or give any better Demonstration of it than those who do not pretend at all immediately to it and therefore I told W.P. if he had had the GIFT OF TONGUES given him by the SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY upon his turning QUAKER Or if he could shew but ONE in all his Church that had such a spiritual Gift or Gifts upon his Conversion to their way it would put a clear difference betwixt them and the Baptists Churches and herein would the Quakers plainly then exceed and excel them and that one such Testimony if true in the Quakers Church would more confute the Anabaptists and Convince their Auditors than a hundred such days brawling disputes where the Quakers shew'd no more POWER OF THE SPIRIT than their Adversaries only fenced with words as well as they could as their wits would serve them best to Distinguish Evade or Answer And therefore I told W.P. I found his Church as Poor and Low as the Baptists whom yet they condemned I finding he had the words of Man's Wisdom in making plausible Orations but askt him Where was the Demonstration of the Spirit in Power and Sign 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 2. Now at this I find George is put to a great loss saying p. 14. What if God will not bestow such Gifts and Signs now Being afraid to say God will and yet not daring to say God will not what George art thou in a Maze Is not this Scripture-Phrase Is not this according to Scripture-Language 1 Cor. 4.19 20. I will know not the Speech of them that are puffed up but the Power For the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power see also Revel 2.2 And is not this according to your own Language G. Foxes Epistle before thy Book Divin of Christ have you the same Power and Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures And such miraculous Gifts are no more than what we find testifyed to have been and remained in the Christian-Church about two hundred or three hundred years after Christ Irenaeus who lived one hundred and eighty years after Christ affirmeth that in his time the working of Miracles the Raising of the Dead the casting out of Devils healing of the sick by laying on of hands and Prophesying were in being and that some that were so raised from the dead remained among them alive long after Niceph. Eccles. Hist Tom. 1. lib. 4. cap. 13. Tertullian and Cyprian which last lived till above 250 years after Christ do both make mention of the ordinary casting out of Devils and challenged the Heathen to come and see it 3. But says he p. 31. this is very strange But what then George It is not more strange than true And I say Is it not very strange that you will pretend to the Power and the Spirit and talk of being sent immediately by God as Paul was and have a Dâ—vine Commission to Prophesie and yet cannot bring any Evidence to prove it more than Others And instead of Producing one such Apostle Prophet or Minister in thy Church the best thing which yet alas is bad enough thou canst say for thy self Oh! our opposers do argue as just like the Papists and Jesuites as if they had served seven years at Rome Reply Ah Quibbler this will not serve thy turn above all Persons for who Argues more like a Papist or Jesuite than your selves about proving the Scriptures not to be the Rule of your Faith Who uses the Jesuites Arguments to prove good works the meritorious cause of our Justification more than you Was it not one of the most eminent and learnedst Men that ever you had amongst you that positively asserts THE SCRIPTURE TO BE A NOSE OF WAX yea and says it is CAPABLE of being NO OTHER Sam. Fisher Additional Appendix p. 21. And is not this the Jesuites Phrase in terminis And none but Papists except your selves use it Andrad Orth. Explic. lib. 2. p. 104. What had S. Fisher served seven years at Rome Nay I can shew you and others may see if they mind it that almost all the Arguments that Mr. Fisher uses to prove the Scripture is not the Rule of Faith are the very same that the Papists and Jesuites have used these hundred years and so G.F. in the Epistle before thy said Book says where doth the Scripture say that it self is the Word of God Just so do the Papists Argue What now George Is the Argument the better or the worse because the Jesuites have used it Dost thou think in thy Conscience this is a good Answer You can sometimes tell us that the Papists may use good Arguments and so the Jesuites make use of the Scriptures yet never the worse for that nay do but see how thou hast Answered this matter thy self in thy own Book Divin of Christ p. 38. It is but a mean way of Arguing to accuse or miscal any for owning any Truth that any sort if they do err in some things do hold for by that way I may as well be reckoned a Papist a Jew or a Turk c. How now George and yet dost thou use this mean way of Arguing against me For shame do not forget thy self and shuffle backwards and forwards thus but use some Consciencâ— in thy Scribling if thou hast any tenderness and plainness in thee lay thy hand upon thy Mouth 4. But further I 'le tell thee that I have oft used this Argument against the Papists and to chuse would use it before any other and the first and best thing as I verily think that I could use if I was to Dispute with a Iesuite
should be to put him to the Proof of his Church and its Infallibility That 's their first Principle and their Foundation and without doubt any person that will make Tryal shall find it best there to begin with them and it is but equitable just and reasonable that if they say or propose their Church to be infallible and the only true Church that they should first prove it to be so and there would I begin with a Quaker it being both necessary and reasonable Wherefore this is so far from being only a Jesuite's Argument that I am of the Opinion there can be no better way of Arguing against them I need no better Authority than the Example of worthy Mr. Chillingwâ—rth and I would advise all people to go that way to work with the Quakers their main Principles being easily reduced in effect to those of the Church of Rome and those Arguments that prove effectual against one may as effectually serve against the other Take but THEIR LIGHT WITHIN for the POPE and their INFALLIBILITY which now of late is run out of particular persons into that OF THE BODY for the CHURCH and the business is done For as the Papists calls it the CHURCH so the Quakers now call their CHURCH the BODY the BODY of Friends So here 's only the difference of words and who-ever discreetly considers this and makes use of it will doubtless find the ease and Benefit of it in Disputing with a Papist or a Quaker I have already shew'd it to be both necessary and equitable Now Reader canst thou think this was a good or sufficient Answer from G.W. alas it is a sign he was hard put to it that he could find no better Evasion 5. Then he says p. 31 and 32. the Baptists produce no such signs and I so told him before that I found them both a like poor and low in this respect so far as I knew with certainty and hereby then he grants that he stands upon no better ground than the Baptist-Churches why then will be condemn them since they have if not better yet as good demonstrations as the Quakers for ought yet appears But besides the Baptists here have this to say for themselves they do not pretend to immediate Divine Revelations and such inspirations nor to a Gift of Infallibility nor yet to any such immediate Commission from Heaven as the Quakers do and therefore no wonder if they hold there 's no need of Miracles or Signs to Evidence or prove that which they do not pretend to Wherefore George is at a loss and beside the bâ—siness here by thinking to Answer me by Quotations out of the Baptists Books for what 's all this to the Quakers who do pretend to immediate Divine Revelations and Inspirations as the Apostles had to a gift of infallibility and to an immediate Commission from Heaven to go forth as Prophets Apostles c What because the Baptists that pretend not to this need bring no Miracles to prove that which they lay no Claim to must therefore the Quakers who do lay Claim to all this be believed that â—hey have it without giving us any visible Evidence Sign or Demonstration that they so have it indeed only their bare word a very good one as If I should lay Claim to an Estate and yet need bring no more Evidence to prove my Title than all other Persons that lay no Claim nor pretend to it at all But yet this is not all For I find there are three sorts of Persons now in the World that do in a more eminent manner pretend a Title and lay all Claim to infallibility a Divine Commission and a power or Gift of the Right Interpretation of Scripture viz. The Papists or the Church of Rome The Quakers or their Friends of the Ministry or Body The Muggletonians or their Prophet Here the Quakers have two grand Competitors which lay Claim to what they pretend to How will they do here TO EVINCE THAT THEY HAVE IT MORE THAN THE OTHER the least of which viz. Muggleton seems to stand upon even ground with the Quakers but the Papists seem to have a grand advantage above them for they produce a claim of above a thousand years standing whereas the Quaker's is but an Up-start Besides they pretend to be in possession of it and how the Quakers will dispossess them I cannot tell since they have now left going to Rome and I hear no more of Divine Commâ—ssions they receive to convert the Pope of late years Now George Thou hadst dealt honestly and plainly if thou hadst told me this and this is it which is both Rational and necessary if thou expectest or claimest credence before them and this I expect of thee For it is not enough to say Thou art in the Truth and they are in Error and Blasphemy for they say that of thee and this I told W.P. that he knew in his Conscience was but a shameful begging of the Question For why shouldst thou be believed on THY BARE SAY-SO more than they And this is so honest G. that it is according to thy own arguing with me p. 41. sayest thou as if they were all bound to believe his Accusations on his bare word so say I are we all or any bound to believe thy Pretensions and thy Commission from Heaven upon thy bare word or if not upon thy bare word upon what then Answer this George plainly 6. Pag. 32. G. would mince the matter if he could saying Now as we have not this way imposed our Faith upon our Opposers so we shall not thus impose upon this Man or the Baptists But desire he and they may seek and try further Reply Thanks to thee for nothing George Thou and thy Friends have been UNCHRISTIANING of of us these twenty years and UNCHURCHING all the Churches in England and Europe calling the Priests and Professors of all sorts all the abominable names that you could invent and now truly when you are questioned your selves and find that notwithstanding all your boasting pretences and Braggadocio's you can produce NO MORE than others whom you have condemned and unchristianed oh truely then thou sayest we shall not thus impose our Faith upon the Baptists or this Man Pray tell us which way thou wilt impose it or what way dost thou propose for a Discrimination and a Rule to try you by since you have disowned the SCRIPTURES fit for that see S. Fisher Addit Append. p. 21. which Transcriptions and Translations WERE THEY NEVER SO CERTAIN and intire by Answering to the first Original Copies yet are not CAPABLE to be to all Men any other than a Lesbian Rule or Nose of Wax c. If you say the SPIRIT shall be the Rule to try you The Papists and Muggleton say you have it not but each of them are as certain as you they have it therefore it will be absolutely requisite for you to Evince and give some such Demonstration that you have the Spirit
which neither they nor others can give before you can be tryed by that because that is the question whether you have the SPIRIT and the POWER OF GOD or no MORE than others 7. And then let me tell George That if he could Demonstrate it this way it would not be nay it could not be any Imposing upon me if G.W. did visibly Evidence and demonstrate to me by Power and mighty Deeds that he had indeed that Power and Spirit that he says he hath Therefore thou talkest deceitfully as if that would be an Imposing But now yours is imposing when you condemn Men for not-believing that you have immediate Revelations or in that you assert and would have us believe you are MORE inspired than other Men or other Societies and Bodies of Christians And you tell us you have the Spirit and are in the Truth MORE than others whom you Condemn as false and yet you produce NOTHING except YOUR BARE SAY-SO MORE than others who SAY SO of themselves as you do of your selves Now here 's the IMPOSING you pretend you are Infallible and yet produce no more or other effects of your Infallibility than other Men can or do Nay on the contrary the same effects of Fallibility are evident among you as among others and yet if any deny it in you you Censure and Curse them for not believing you and this is your way of Imposing And you Quakers say you are immediately sent of God and commissioned from God to deliver such or such a Message or Curse and that this and that is given forth by the Holy Ghost in you or from the Spirit and yet you shew no more certainty to prove to us and for us infallibly to build our Faith on that you are so sent and SO Commissioned from God than Muggleton does or other Churches which yet your selves say ARE NOT SENT OF GOD nor Commissioned by him Now here 's imposing upon Mens beliefs and this I say you are guilty of yea and most eminently guilty of next to Muggleton or the Pope of any Person or People I know and this is the thing George thou shouldst have Answered if thou hadst Answered me to the purpose and main bent of my Epistle to W.P. But this thou pittifully evadest and slâ—ly wouldst slide from But now since you pretend to such high things if you had the visible Spiritual Gifts that were amongst the true Primitive Churches and Apostles to evidence and demonstrate the Truth of what now you ONLY SAY and pretend I should never nor I suppose any Man in his wits call or esteem it any imposing on my Faith But the other is so indeed as I have shew'd you and therefore G. I would take thee by the hand and lead thee back again praying thee not to shuffâ—e and Cut also but Answer this and not that which I never desired of thee nor W.P. That 's the very thing I found fault with you before viz. That you would Answer to that which was not askt you instead of returning Answer to that which was and yet still thus thou servest me but it will not do For my design is that I may know you better what Real Power Evidence and Authority you have BEYOND others that so I may have a good Foundation for my Faith and give Credit to it and you Or that for want of it you may be brought to a better fight of your selves and see your nakedness and Poverty though you say as the Church of Laodicâ—a that you are rich and so may learn to be humble and not Censure others except you can better evidence your own 9. And yet why wilt thou say you have not imposed thus your Faith on others Was not and hath not your Language been such as this viz. It 's true that Timothy Titus and others WHO HAD GIFTS IN THEM for the Ministry were approved by Paul and others of the Primitive Elders for the work but this is no Proof that these opposers Ministers are either so gifted or approved G.W. Enthusiasm above Atheism p. 5. And so say I neither is it any Proof that the QUAKERS MINISTERS are SO GIFTED or APPROVED and the Words before-cited of G.F. before thy own Book Have you the SAME POWER and SPIRIT that gavâ— forth the Scriptures G.W. Wilt thou believe thy own words Then see thy Answer to Mr. Richard Baxters two sheets for the Ministry p. 16. We never understood that they that set up these Priestâ— were called as Peter or Paul or the Elders who had Power to lay on the hands that the HOLY GHOST FELL ON THE PARTY ON WHOM THEY LAID ON THEâ—R HANDS and shew me any ONE of thy MINISTERS CALLED SO George G. F. To all People in all Câ—ristendom says thus p. 2. All Sects have the words of the Apostles but out of the Power and Life A Paper sent forth into the World from the Quakers p. 5. We are against the Pastors that NOW STEAL the words of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles W.P. Reason against Railing p. 115. Many may run into the Practice of several outward things mentioned in the Scriptures to have been the practice of Saints in former Ages and yet not be led into the Truth for all that is but will-worship Imitation and unwarrantable And all this I may say against you which you have said against others and if they were good then why not still For you have but the Names and Images of things you have got the words used in Scripture the Power and the Spirit the Gifts of the Spirit the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power But alas where is the thing it self viz. the visible Power and Gifts of the Spirit the Demonstration of the Spirit that the true Apostles had and the Scripture speaks of To this George can poorly say what if God will not bestow such Gifts now why then George I say thou hast them not only hast stolen the words out of the Scriptures thou hast got the Name the Image and words as thou sayest the Baptists and others have done but alas art as barren of the Gifts themselves as they are only art got into a Form but denyest the True power of God and Demonstration of the Spirit in Signs and mighty Deeds 10. Pa. 33. G.W. hath this further to say That he doubts not but where the Spirit of God lives and Rules it will manifest it self by its Fruits for it is self-evidencing and that they have a record in Heaven and also in many Consciences of the blessed Power of God with them and in them Reply And cannot the Baptists say all this nay and do not they many times They can say thâ—y have a Record in Heaven and in many Consciences also who believe them and pray tell me G. how thou wilt get up to Heaven to search the Record there and disprove them Did one ever hear such silly stuff as this man writes did he indeed think to shufflle it off with such
and that 's all I ask of them 15. And thus G.W. says amiss when he talks as if I did not acknowledg the sufficiency of the Spirits Evidence and Teaching for I do fully acknowledg it where it APPEARS indeed to be and do more fully own it than yet the Quakers seem to do who are loath to own Real Miracles and the Gift of Tongues to be a certain EVIDENCE of the SPIRIT But must I therefore own that to be the Spirits Evidence which every one calls so or will G.W. himself acknowledg it so I dare say not why then it remains that G.W. others must Evidence to us That that is indeed the Spirits-Evidence which they call so Before that either he or they can justly call us UNBELIEVERS or accuse us for not owning the sufficiency of the Spirits-Evidence and this G.W. and all the Quakers in England must confess or else I may as justly accuse them for not acknowledging the sufficiency of the Spirits Evidence and Teaching in the Church of Rome or in Muggleton and let them clear themselves of it if they can 16. Now since the Quakers will not produce any of their Miracles I would not have them angry with me if I should produce one or two that are the likeliest that I know of if that which they say be true I never found any upon Record in their own Writings except this may be Recorded for one viz. in G. F's Professors Catechism p. 13. And is not the POPE the MOTHER of all your observing of Days Saints days as you call them According to this it seems G.F. their Grand Prophet Converted a MAN into a WOMAN and that a POPE too which if true must needs be a Miracle and that it was not the Printers fault his next words assured me And is not SHE your Example and not the Scripture And again in another place in the same Page is not the POPE the MOTHER Then I considered what Pope this was whether it might not be Pope-JOAN that did first Institute Saints Days and so G.F. the Prophet by a strange impulse speak more Truth than he thought of But my Authors assure me 't was not Pope-JOAN but that it was a MAN Pope and the name Pope signifieth as much as FATHER and yet for all this G.F. hath turned the HE into a SHE and Converted the MAN into a WOMAN yet this is the Man that hath helpt to set out a whole Book in Folio shewing the sinfulness and impurity of saying you and not thou to one in the singular What a Prophet What a Scholar is this that cannot tell the MASCULINE Gender from the FEMININE was he can any one think skill'd in so many Languages as he hath set his Name to that does not write true English 17. The other thing which I shall leave to your own Judgments whether it be a Miracle or not is what is Recorded of them in the Court of Chancery THAT THE QUAKERS CAN TAKE AN OATH AND YET NOT SWEAR AT ALL If this be so some think it must be miraculous That they cannot swear that they swear not at all is their Principle That several of them have taken Oaths and have been sworn in Chancery is upon Record in that Court as Jer. Ives hath satisfied the World by Certificates in his Questions for the Quakers and yet the Quakers still say they did not Swear nor take an Oath which if true must be wonâ—erful at least But these are not such Miracles and Evidence as lie necessarily incumbent on the Quakers to produce for the better Evidence and Proof of what they say and pretend to and therefore I shall say no more of it here but refer them to produce such Evidence as will indeed prove them to be sent of God to go forth as Apostles Prophets c. more than all others and be satisfactory in Answer to the foregoing Particulars SECT IV. In Reply to his fourth Section shewing the Comparison betwixt the QUAKERS and MUGGLETON to be both Just Rational Honest and Necessary G.W. P. 35. TO compare Muggleton and them he says is both Idle Quibbling and Envious Canting What if W.P. does not pretend to more than Muggleton does will it therefore follow the Quakers are Impostors or like him who holds many Blasphemies The Baptists may be ashamed of such gross and abusive Insinuations as these Reply Stay George be not so hot run not so fast give me leave to call thee back again and tell thee that if the Comparison in my Epistle was any abuse that it was not the Baptists that did it but I and therefore if so I am to bear the blame of it But neither they nor I need to be ashamed of doing it that I see as I shall now shew you and if you had exercised a good Conscience you might have seen it your self and spared me the Labour 1. Then I say That if W.P. does not pretend to more than Muggleton yet if he or the Quakers pretend to have received immediately a Commission from Heaven and Divine Revelations and inspired by the Spirit of God to go forth as Apostles Prophets c. as Muggleton does and yet he be an Impostor as he is then if the Quakers can produce no more for theirs than Muggleton does for his it will follow that the Quakers are also Impostors And do thou Answer it if thou canst and so thou hast thy idle Quibbling and envious Canting return'd on thy self 2. And for thy accusing Muggleton with Blasphemies it is as certain that he accuses you with Blasphemies and many others have condemned you also as holding apparent Blasphemies then by this thou art as well condemned as Muggleton is condemned by thee so that this will be no Proof and besides How wilt thou evidence to others That all what thou sayest and callest Blasphemy is such indeed or doest thou think thy bare word is sufficient for all others to give Credence to and build their Faith on so that here the doubt and Question will remain still 3. I am verily perswaded in my heart that many Quakers have censured several Doctrines for Blasphemy which yet are not truly so as if they had the Romish Authority and every one of them a Pope within him Take an Instance out of G.W. himself Ishmael p. 9. For a Man's saying That it is all one to say the Scripture saith and God saith G. calls him thou Blasphemous Beast dost thou make no difference between the Scripture and God here let all that reads this see thy Blasphemy Now George let me ask thee if a Man should affirm it is all one to say thy Book Ishmael saith and the Spirit of God saith whether this would be Blasphemy since in thy Title Page thou asserts it was given forth from the Spirit of the Lord in us and was not that given forth by Scripture Writing or Speech If thou sayest no then thou hast condemned the Man wrongfully unless thou wilt say that that Book
lyes under the Guilt of p. 2. and so represents and suggests to the world Him to be the Author of all those abuses lyes and slanders which in truth he is innocent of Therefore it is hoped that Mr. Hedworth will be at least so just to himself and his own Name as to require satisfaction for such wrong and injustice done him when as it is another Person that ought to be charged with all those manifest abuses lyes and slanders if any such there be Sect. 9. VVas it the Light within that led thee G.VV. to the publishing this suspition or not If thou sayest not then G. where was the Light or thy sincerity to it If yes Then thy Light leads thee to publish suggestions of Persons and things that are false It must come from a false Spirit it being a false Suggestion Sect. 10. I should not have said so much about this but upon these two Considerations 1. Because these are the Persons that pretend to Infallibility and a Gift of Discerning MORE than others that are not of their way If G.W. had indeed a Gift of Discerning by the Light within how wicked or silly was he not to inquire of it whether this suggestion was true or false and the suspition right or wrong before he published it Or if he did inquire and the Light within him could not tell him what is false and what is true then how doth he and his Light exceed others or make him MORE Infallible How evident here and plain is either this Man's wickedness or vanity in his Pretensions to a Gift of Discerning 2. Because of this Man 's base unworthiness and unchristian carriage in publishing such a thing when I had before in a Letter to him seriously assured him that Mr. Hedworth was a Person no more acquainted with me than G. himself was but this Man being so guilty himself of asserting and writing so many untruths and falshoods he thinks others are like him and no more to be Credited But now let the unbyassed Reader Judge of it do they think to Grace their Cause by such doings Where is thy Conscience and Religion George Is this the Quakers Christianity Oh silly Scorner blush and be ashamed SECT II. About the Author 's NAME and LETTER Sect. 1. THE Ingenious and Impartial Reader may easily Conclude how he hath managed the rest of the Work by puâ—â—â—g such a false suggestion even in his Front and that so basely and unchristianly and at the same rate he goes on with these words Looking upon thee to be an unworthy Cowardly base Spirited Man who shuffles about to hide thy self How now Friend What such as M.Y. saw through the Key-hole or so as one G.W. did in the Matter of Mrs. Bat when accused at T. Y's According to thy own way with Mr. Danson this is but a Query Mr. Sleights thou better knowest the Mystery Sect. 2. Thou art very cautious thy Name should be discovered But alas poor Men that are put so hard to it that they are now forc'd to make use of such slight shifts for Excuses For the time was when the Quakers could tell you that even the Blessed Name of JESVS and CHRIST it self without that they call the Power are but EMPTY WORDS Princip of Truth p. 12. And yet behold what a considerable thing does this Quaker now pretend to make of my Name Oh the Folly and Hypocrisie of these Men can the Knowledge of an Empty word be of such weight to them which yet they cannot tell but that they do know to be sure they will not own that I am in the Power what is this Man so base then as to make my meer literal Name to be of more concern to them than they have declared the meer literal Name of the Lord CHRIST to be to them What wouldst thou make thy being unacquainted with an EMPTY WORD an Excuse Blush for shame Sect. 3. But to take that false Cover from him and cut all short I do hereby tell them for a certain Truth That my real Name is in Print as a witness against them and my Books as a Testimony against several of their Principles and let them either Answer or Confute them if they can Though this is more than 〈◊〉 â—as Obliged either by their Civility or any other Law that I know of to tell them what if I should ask them whose Name is to the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Acts of the Apostles whose Name is to the Books of Judges Kings and Chronicles Can the Quakers tell with all their Light uncontroulably what Men writ them And will it not thence appear it may be both good and honest enough though a Man's Name should be concealed And neither the Man the worse nor his Book the worse what have they to say against Paul's changing his Name Besides the continual Custom of many good Men amongst us nay and of the Quakers themselves sometimes if they will admit themselves to be good Pray G. whose Name is put to that Printed Paper Entituled A Paper sent forth into the World c. accusing the Ministers of the Nation and several Teachers of many gross things Pray who writ The Principles of the Quakers Defendable by Scripture who is it that cannot see now most strange Hypocrisie in these Men And what small twigs they would catch at and hang upon any thing rather than to deal honestly and give an Answer in plainness Oh Timerous Man what sorrowful shuffling art thou fain to make use of Sect. 4. And whereas I said suppose the Author be a private Person what if he Dwells fifty or sixty miles from London or what if the Author had subscribed M.A. could not W.P. have joyned N. according to Mr. L's way of Addition and then have read it a MAN and that it was happy that their Light left them in so much darkness of the Author that they could not tell whether it was the Author's real Name or no when they read it to this G.W. says Hast thou not bewrayed thy own Equivocation and that the Author's Name is not Tho. Thompson I Answer no But I have bewrayed the Quakers Folly and Vanity and that was one part of my aim thereby to try Experimentally whether their high boasted Light would reveal any more to them than others or stand them in stead when they had need of it whereby they might know and have a DISCERNING beyond others But alas Experience which is one of the surest Masters now tells me that the Quakers are as easily mistaken and do as foully deceive themselves as other Persons in the World do Their Light will not so much as help them to know really a Man's Name when they read it except the Person himself or some other Man Reveal it to them And thus we see that I or a meer man may Reveal more to them if we please than their Light within Sect. 5. Besides to make this Man's Folly more manifest how silly is he to
of BLASPHEMY in it self Solomon Eccles one of their Ministers did not onely write privately but thought fit to Publish it in Print to the World That it may be SAID yea and SO said of GEORGE FOX AS it was said of CHRIST that he was in the World and THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM and the World knew him not whom John said HE WAS NOT as you may see more largely in the Second Part Quak. Quib. p. 93 94. G.W. In his Serious Search p. 58. In this matter undertakes according to the Jesuitical Art to DIRECT Solomon Eccles's INTENTION and gives us to understand that indeed Solomon Eccles did not INTEND as he writ and published but though he said it of GEO. FOX yet seeing People take notice of the Blasphemy of it and of the Divine Honour that they give by such words to G. FOX to the shame and dis-credit of their Cause he INTENDED it onely of CHRIST so he spake or writ one thing and meant another which yet in sincere-hearted W. Pen's sence at another time he can tell you is no better than to be one of the worst of KNAVES they are his own words in his Rebuke p. 8. And so let him share it amongst them if they please Sect. 2. You have another ingenious one in this sheet of G. VV's p. 4. concerning FIGURES yea even when they are speaking of Figures and against Figures they speak by a Figure One while the Quakers tell us ALL Figures were ended by Christ but now this Quaker is at the Old Jesuitical Art again of DIRECTING THE INTENTION and gives you to understand that though the Quaker says ALL Figures yet he does not INTEND all but onely SOME viz. The Figures under the Law I need not onely set his Quondam Master Fisher to whip him for this Rusticus ad Acad. p. 142. So on this score our Scribes scape scot-free still by their SHIFTS To meet with Quakers we need never doubt Nor need we when we meet them fear a rout If all 's but some Out 's In and In 's for out Then they are always In and never Out Thus says Fisher the Seed of the Serpent saves it self alive in its Enmity against the Holy Seed not so much by PLAIN DOWN-RIGHT DEALING as by shameful SHIFTINGS FROM SENCE TO SENCE miserable marchings from meaning to meaning so that one can hardly know well where to have them nor how to find them nor what they mean Then he complains But as for us we may not safely WITHOUT THEIR CENSURES so much as take the Scriptures to be what themselves are neither afraid nor ashamed to make them viz. a LESBIAN RULE and NOSE OF WAX which may be made yet scarcely is by any more than themselves to shew it self in 7 8 9 shapes at once Oh brave Fisher And though they dare Dispute themselves and Argue any way from Figurative and Forreign and proper and improper Literal or Mystical meanings and Importments of words and Phrases yet they can well digest or dispense with none of all this in us and LEAST OF ALL when we do as we mostly or EVER do keep to the true honest Ordinary and plain purport of the words as they lye OPEN AND CLEAR to every Ordinary and Common Capacity that is willing both to know own and do the Truth So far he and need any Man any more to Confute and Confound this Figurative Quaker Sect. 3. Nay and they undertake not onely to DIRECT their own Friends INTENTIONS but other Mens also such Masters of it are they as hear G.VV. again p. 4. If Quakers use Figures either Metonymies Metaphors or Ironies Oh then it is used and INTENDED in a Serious Sence But if T. Hicks or another use the same or the like in the Title or words of their Books Oh then it is INTENDED as palpable Slander or DESIGNED Forgery Thus indeed Geo. is so far from clearing of himself by his silly Answer from the dint of his Second Sentence against himself that all he says can amount but to thus much viz. That T. Hicks speaks or writes words which are Scoffing slandâ—rous Lyes used in a Scoffing or Ridiculous sâ—nce And the Quakers speak or write words which are serious Lyes used in a serious sence Taking both their words equally and alike in their Natural Proper and Grammatical Sence without Respect of Persons which once I am sure the Quakers pretended much to abhor and nothing worse or more unjust than Respect of Persons For if the first Accusation alone will so alter and vary the Intention and make a Man Guilty then the Quakers are as liable so to be made by T. Hicks as T. Hicks by them yea and rather more because the Quakers are Originally the first Persons Accused and impeached by T. Hicks in his first Dialogue and this Renders G. W's Cause very lame and sorely wounds it And which is worst of all Mr. Sleights is so willing to Sleight over this that he slips by his own Prophet's words which yet stood as fair to be seen as any there on the very top of the last Page in the Epistle which if he had said any thing to the purpose he should have cleared for there G. Fox speaks Directly of Figurative Speeches viz. VVe Charge thee shew us a Verse in Scripture that speaks such Language and where ONE WORD may be put for ANOTHER by METALEPSIS and so leave People in Doubts and Questions What sayest thou now Geo What couldst thou not see this If the next time thou writest thou canst not I will write to the Book-seller to buy a pair of SPECTACLES for thee to help thy Eye-sight Now for him thus slily to avoid this if he could by a Figure surely cannot be much better than one of his Devils drawn Figures Sect. 4. Another Excellent rather most grossly false one he gives us in this thread-bare sheet of his sleight stuff p. 7. where he DIRECTS his quondam Master Sam. Fisher's INTENTION though dead and Directly contrary to his words yea the main Scope Bent and Intent of his Book Well now good Readers I am fully satisfied G.VV. is a wicked Man and of no good Conscience but of an Audacious Confidence for otherwise he could never have had the face to publish such a thing that all Persons that can but Read English and understand what they Read may detect his falseness in as here Sam. Fisher in his Appendix p. 21. speaking of the Scriptures and the Scripture Text says thus in these very words VVhich Transcriptions and Translations were they never so certain and entire by answering to the first Original Copies yet are not CAPABLE to be to all Men any other than a LESBIAN RULE or NOSE OF WAX now if so far be not a plain Assertion I never saw nor heard any in my Life Then he goes on in his Proof or Confirmation of it as his word Forasmuch denotes FORASMUCH as even WHERE MEN HAVE THEM as half the world has not they