this theme as if he had aim'd at no other design then to bring in some and play upon others with a few frothy flowrishes of words This is the matter of fact The Parliament made it their purpose and endeavour to give Liberty of Conscience to such as I have Nam'd A Committee of a select number of the house was order'd to treat of this affair They when doubting of the Quakers Doctrine and saith concerning the sacred Scripture and mystery of the holy Trinity because they use not to call the Scripture the word of God thinking that name to be proper only to Christ or to the internal word of God under which sense external Letters can never fall nor to term the Father Son and Spirit three persons that being a word not used in Scripture ordered their Articles and opinion to be presently inquired into Two famous Quakers at that time Geo. Withad and John Virughton treated of these matters with Sir Tho. Clargy a member of the house He advis'd 〈◊〉 with Kindness and Candour to publish their mind fully and fairly concerning these two Articles that were doubted of They without delay write and subscribe their Thoughts and willingly presented 'em to that honourable Man from whom as they had received a wholsom Advice they now also expect a seasonable assistance The form of each of 'em for himself was to this purpose I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth the sacred Scriptures to be Divine left us by Men Inspir'd of God as an exact rule of our faith and behaviour and I profess to believe in one only God who is the father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son very God and very Man and in the Holy Spirit one and the same God with the Father and Son blessed for evermore This confession having pleas'd Clargy was given to be read to the rest of the Members who thought fit to call in some nine or ten Quakers that were ready at hand for such a design to question 'em if that were their faith and perswasion Upon their owning it the day following the matter was presented by the Committee to the whole house and thus it was agreed that the Quakers shou'd have liberty and order'd it shou'd be recorded and drawn out into an Act. While publick affairs were thus changed W. Penn was not so regarded and respected by King and Court as he was formerly by King James partly because of his intimacy with King James and partly for adhering to his old opinion concerning the Oath of fidelity which was now mitigated but not abrogated Besides this it was suspected that Penn Corresponded with the late King now Lurking in France under the umbrage and protection of the French King an enemy justly and equally odious to the Brittish King and united Provinces 'twixt whom there was now an inveterate War This suspicion was follow'd and also encreas'd by a Letter intercepted from King James to Penn desiring Penn to come to his assistance in the present State and Condition he was in and express the Resentments of his favour and benevolence Upon this Penn being cited to appear was ask'd why King James wrote unto him he answer'd he cou'd not hinder such a thing being further question'd what Resentments these were which the late King seem'd to desire of him he answer'd he knew not but said he supposed King James wou'd have him to endeavour his Restitution and that tho he cou'd not decline the suspicion yet he cou'd avoid the guilt and since he had loved King James in his prosperity he shou'd not hate him in his adversity yea he lov'd him as yet for many favours he had conferr'd on him tho he wou'd not joyn with him in what concern'd the State of the Kingdom He own'd he had been much oblig'd to King James and that he wou'd reward his kindness by any private office as far as he cou'd observing inviolably and intirely that duty to the publick and Government which was equally Incumbent upon all Subjects and therefore that he had never the vanity to think of endeavouring to restore him that Crown which was fallen from his head so that nothing in that Letter cou'd at all seem to fix guilt upon him From that time Penn withdrew himself more and more from business and at length at London in his own house confin'd himself as it were to a voluntary exile from the converse fellowship and conference of others employing himself only in his Domestick affairs that he might be devoted more to Meditation and Spiritual exercises In the year Ninety three two books of his came out in English the one of a Solitary life the other a Key to understand the Articles of the Quakers faith This year Penn went out of his voluntary Prison compensing the leisure of his lonely life by the comfort of Marriage which he now entred into and the greater toil he took on himself in managing all his business and affairs Geo. Fox also after many changes and viciâ—â—itudes having seen various chances and dangers after he had often been Anxious concerning the progress and continuance of his life now not doubting to Consummate and end his Labours in the beginning of Ninety one resign'd up his Life After his Death his Widdow Margaret an old woman of about 76 years who had shar'd with him in the office of preaching wrote thus to a General Meeting of women held at London that same year Most Dear Friends and Sisters in the Lord I Did not scruple to write unto you from the Sense of that which was from the beginning which now is and for ever shall be and that for your great Love and care of me and the half of my self my Husband as long as he labour'd among you for the Lord. Since he 's now entred into Rest and heavenly Glory if we 'll regard what he said while he was alive let 's fix our constant Dependance upon God Neither doubt I if we walk with that Spirit of Life and Strength he had but we shall be preserv'd even unto the end In the mean time growing up and bearing fruit unto the Lord we shall become Trees Justice to the praise and Glory of God Wherefore I do earnestly warn and exhort you to abide constantly in the service of God for ye shall certainly reap the reward of much Consolation in this World and of an eternal Recompence in that which is to come Farewell and joyn with me in praising of God Fox not long before he died by the Interposal of certain Friends and Amanuenses's wrote a large book in English only with reference to what concern'd himself during the time he labour'd among his friends in the Ministry and provided by his latter will it shou'd be carefully Printed and a Coppy of it sent to all the yearly and Quarterly Meetings of his Friends wherever gather'd together throughout the whole World in Remembrance of him and for their particular Advantage The book was publish'd being strengthen'd
who extoll'd the Holy Scriptures paying all Honour and Deference to the same who yet would cry up and extol that Profession of Faith and Manners that they had suck'd from these very Scriptures And that they were so destitute and ignorant of that Holy Spirit that endited them and so great strangers to that Purity of Life and Conversation which is so oft recommended in the Scriptures Fox in this his Solitary Retirement proposed nothing else to himself but doing Service to others designing and purposing some time to be useful in Informing and Instructing not a few by undertaking a Publick Ministry for the Salvation of many And thus he reasoned with himself nay he said it was demonstrated to his Spirit from God himself that though School and College Learning the Natural and acquir'd Qualities and Gifts of the Mind those Arts Men call Liberal and Ingenuous and the Knowledge of Tongues were very useful Accomplishments and Adornments for a Theologue or any invested with that Sacred Office yet the Spirit of God was to be their chief Teacher and Conducter and the Operation of this Divine Spirit though without Learning is of more avail than Learning without the assistance of the Spirit However he did not so totally banish himself from all Company but that he admitted sometimes those that came to him nay and would sometimes of his own accord go to those he thought Men of Integrity and who seem'd to walk reverently towards God and confer with them Sometimes he called on the Ministers of the Gospel such as he thought fit or that he heard did excel in Doctrine and Piety and communicated to them his Sentiments He always so ordered his Discourse that what he spoke was about the condition or state either of Men in general or of Christians and this was the whole and the only Tenor and Context of all his Discourses that the condition of all those we call Christians was such as that all their Religion was in their Tongues in so much that their Ministers and Pastors who dispensed unto them the Divine Word were Men that minded nothing but making a discovery of their Learning and Knowledge and a slight discharge of their Office nay that proposing nothing to themselves but the bare external Reward were very Hirelings unto Men. This his way of Discoursing occasioned his unwelcom Reception among many There was at that time one Nathanael Stevens Minister of the Church at Dreton where George Fox was born who used not only to exspect George's coming to him but oft-times prevented him looking on him as one of his Flock and subject to his Discipline Whom therefore Fox as his Custom was had made his Reflections on him and his Parish accusing both the Minister and the Flock for being ignorant of Christianity and far estranged from it in their Lives vindicating himself to be the Restorer and Conducter appointed for the Recovery of fallen Religion Mr. Stevens would nevertheless leave him to himself as being neither grieved nor angry at him This same Year George went up and down from Town to Town supplying his Necessities in every place he came to with the Exercise of his Trade contenting himself with a little and not apprehensive of Poverty He was much troubled with Melancholy a Disease very incident and in a manner Natural to all that Nation which at that time increased mightily among them and was now become very common George complain'd that he was tormented without intermission with the terrible and mighty Tentations of Satan which drove him almost to despair insomuch that he sometimes wish'd for Death rather than Life And in every place he came to he made his Address to the Pious and Godly and sometimes to the Ministers of Churches complaining of his miserable condition imploring some help and comfort from them But when he had thus made known to them the anguish of his Soul some were not willing to undertake so difficult a Cure or thought it necessary to use Medicine for his Body as well as his Soul others advised him to have recourse to the Word of God Faith in him and serious and frequent Prayer for the removal of his Malady in fine he could meet with none that could give him any Satisfaction or Relief then would he as all such afflicted People use to do when they cannot meet with their desires rail against them brand them for unskilful and ignorant Physicians spreading Slanders and Reproaches against them up and down the Country From this time forth he wholly withdrew from all Society or Communication with the Visible Church and on Religious days went alone into the Fields or some retired place carrying along with him his 〈◊〉 and spending the day in Reading and Meditating Nay he spent the best part of his time in Study and Contemplation And both at that time and in the succeeding part of his Life he frequently told how he was at sometimes possess'd with the Divine Spirit how many Dreams and Visions came upon him what Answers he had from Heaven to his Petitions as also that many things foreseen by him and foretold to him were lock'd up in his Breast And that he was daily taught from above and instructed in what relates to the Doctrine and Life of a Christian sometimes in one part of it sometimes in another sometimes what was wicked and disallowable at other times what was good and to be sought after and all these things was he to teach and explain to Men as being sent of God for that purpose After this he grew and increased daily It happened not precisely at this time but a little after when he was Teaching at Nottingham for some things though distant in time are to be connected together having designed to comprise this History in as compendious Bounds as is possible that he was ravish'd into Paradise by the Spirit with a Flaming Sword where he was form'd like unto Adam such as he was while yet in Innocence so that he clearly perceived and understood the most profound and obscure things having the whole Creation laid open and explain'd to him how that Names were given to every Creature suited to their Natures Vertues and Perfections which made him advise with himself whether or no he should undertake the Profession of Medicine bending his thoughts and care to the exercise of the same for the good and benefit of Mortal Men. For it happened in Leicester that God discovered to him how far the Galenical Tribe was estrang'd from Divine Wisdom that Wisdom which contriv'd and fram'd all things so that it was impossible for them to understand the Natures and Constitutions of things But withal the Heavenly Oracle did likewise insinuate that it was possible to reform this corrupted Art and settle it on a surer Foundation if so be that Artists before they undertake to Administer Medicine to the Sick would first apply themselves to Divine Wisdom and then accommodate their Remedies according to its Rules Fox did in every
and other things which same if any alike were not yet some in gathering of those Profits were so severe and hard-hearted that they reduced the poorer sort to beggery such as were able and not willing and whom they could not bring to Reason they subdued by Force of whom they said they were driven thereunto from the only desire of Lucre and Gain and so lived upon their Ministry worse than Porters Watermen and such sort of rough Fellows and that they were always craving and that they went as often as they could to other Assemblies of Men and to them especially from whom they hoped to receive most Advantage Another thing against which these Men were very Angry and highly complained was this That there was and is still such among those Men who some of them cannot endure some of their own People and Citizens differing from them in Matters of Religion though very docible and upon better Information ready to obey but throw them out and eject them others they vexed tormented and fined and those same Persons did this who for such severity had themselves called upon God and Men to bear Witness and when they were able shook off that Yoke from their Necks and esteemed and do still esteem this Liberty as a great Blessing of God of which two things the Quakers did so much the more complain because they were at this time most touched and afflicted therewith To this came to be added afterwards the Complaint and Lamentation of their Fellows and Companions in New-England That there were Brownists there who injured them various ways and put some of them to Death These being the same things which these Men did more particularly discommend and so much charge upon the Churches of England their Native Country But those things which they generally and universally blamed as well in these same as in other Protestants abroad were these That this indeed is the Doctrine Faith and Profession of all those who are called by this specious Name and love and take delight to be so called that upon the differences being taken away by the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the bright appearance of the Gospel that was between the beloved Nation of the Jews and the rest of Mankind whom by way of singularity and distinction they called Gentiles the Grace of God hath shined upon all Men and that this coming of Christ and those desireable and saving Tydings ought now to be preached throughout the whole World and that this one thing was proposed unto all Men who are made partakers of Christ and of the Gospel that as much as lies in them both by Words and good and pious Works they gain over and present unto Jesus Christ and to God and bring into a salvable state all those who are yet Christless And moreover that all would have and teach this that Circumcision being taken away from among the People of God by Christ Jesus which was of Old observed by the Jewish Nation and that the External Worship of that Nation being overthrown to which this same Circumcision was annext that now these are circumcised who have that which Circumcision did then prefigure and typifie and that which External Worship did represent and that which all the Law and the Prophets did presignifie and promise should be brought to pass and accomplished by Jesus Christ and that there must needs have been those then who were true and real Jews and such as were in Covenant with God and that there are even now true Jews that do heartily and sincerely Worship God and that these are truly Christians chosen by Christ and made one with those Ancient Jews that were so united to God and therefore accepted with him who serve God in the Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the Flesh and that this now is pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father to bridle the Tongue so as to speak ill of vilifie ruine no Man but charitably to Teach Edifie and Help ones Neighbour and besides this to visit the Fatherless and Widows and to help as much as may be the poor miserable and distressed and over and above to keep ones self undefiled from the World But here did these Men interpose and raise a clamour and noise saying That the Protestants did nothing less than any one of these things neither did they stick to say that all that Multitude was a dead Body or a living Carcase bearing only the name of Christians and this they said they would demonstrate thus pretending That all Protestants their Rulers each Member of their Churches were so little concerned about that Grace of God that was brought in by Jesus Christ and is daily offered by him in the Gospel that they had scarce one serious thought of their own and not at all of the Salvation of others and that they either declined to do any thing or did what they could most slightly towards the Instructing of their own People confuting of others convincing of Strangers and enlightning of Foreign and Remote Countries and Nations where a gross Ignorance of Mind and a debauched Life caused hideous Darkness and for delivering of them out of the Jaws of Death for the destroying of the Kingdom of Satan and promoting of the Kingdom of Christ in all the Parts of the Earth as if the name of a Christian which they avouch were enough and that that Happy Life were granted and tyed to them by a certain private and sure Law and that others were to look unto themselves Moreover that all of them did follow in those things which belong to the Knowledge and Observation of Divine things not the Holy Spirit who is the true and genuine Master and Guide whom indeed they knew not but their own and others Instructions or their own Vnderstanding and Sense drawn if it happen so well with them from the single and bare Reading of the Scriptures moreover that they did herein flatter themselves that they bare in their Mouths the Name of Christ held Communion with him and partaked of his Benefits but were therein miserably mistaken in that they knew not who this Christ is what it was to have Communion with him and what his Benefits were or that they by no means spake from their hearts those things they talked of neither were they actuated in those things that were done by them or which befel them from an inward Principle Motion and Instinct and moreover that they put their trust in Ceremonies External Rites Sacraments and bodily Exercise Publick and Private which profiteth nothing and that so they embraced a Shadow neglecting the Thing it self Lastly That all of them laying aside the Love they owed one to another and passing by that Pity and Concern which they ought to have for the adverse and troublesome Concerns of their Brethren and Friends they were so divided and distracted among themselves as well privately with wranglings Strifes and Contentions and that often-times
Humane Nature was not so depraved or that there was some Natural Light remaining whereby they may free themselves from that Vitiosity and that God indeed joyns himself to such as do their endeavour and helps them so as that it is not the meer Grace of God but in some sort Merit in Man and that either some Word or somewhat else is bestowed of God to this end whereas the Quakers have no such thoughts The next Article consisted of such Benefits which are peculiar to those whom they said did not resist the foresaid Illumination but obeyed it for when this Article is known and that which all Protestants teach concerning this matter none will deny but that there is a great deal of difference between the Opinion of Protestants and these Men of whom I now speak apart for this is that which they would have that Christ having performed his Obedience and suffered Death obtained for all Men indifferently to be brought into such a state wherein they are capable of receiving of Christ into them which when it comes to pass that then Christ who is altogether Holy and Just exists in that Person and lives and operates and that by that means the same Person the Justice of Christ existing and operating in him becomes himself Just to wit that the Depravation and Malice of his Nature is gradually unlearnt and laid aside and greater proficiency daily made in Justice and Goodness but yet so as that he may always sin backslide and fall into his former Darkness But he may also arrive at that Perfection so as not to sin at all neither can that constancy in Good fail and cease and seeing no one is happy but he that knows himself to be so this same Man is even then fully conscious of his own Felicity The last Division of this their Doctrine was this and which consists in the Measures and Mediums of receiving the Benefits by which how much also these Men differ from those of whom I have spoken will from hence be no hard matter for us to Judge For they would allow no other Mediums and Aids herein than watchfulness of Mind and attention to that Light which shines in the Heart of every Man and to the Oracles of the Holy Spirit in the Scripture or the Admonitions and Exhortations of Spiritual Persons And thus indeed did they receive and admit of the Ministry of the Gospel but such a Ministration as every one ought to undertake though in a different degree being impelled thereunto by the Holy Spirit alone without the Vocation of Men without Price and Reward and that even Women themselves should not be excluded from Teaching This they would now have and require that all Christians ought frequently to meet at certain Times and Places to the end that they might Worship God and the Father with Brotherly and united Minds and Instruct and Admonish one another to the Observation of the Laws of God and Men and to the exercise of Vertue and Modesty but yet not so as that their Worship should be confined to those Places and Times so as that it must necessarily be undertaken begun and finished there and then according to the Decree and Limitation of those Men for that Worship should be performed by the Impulse and Assistance of the Spirit alone who Acts freely being confined to no spaces or limitations now they would admit of no Sacraments Signs or Seals of the Grace of God that were perceptible by the Senses whence they assumed the Notion that Baptism and the Lord's Supper is something that is inward and Spiritual and that those external Rites continued in the Apostolical Churches but as Figures for a time until the substance of the thing it self was obtained The Quakers spoke and wrote many things from the very beginning of their Sect concerning God and Christ as they were in Men and that Men subsisted in them and almost all their Discourse depended hereon but so as that it was hard yea impossible for a Man to understand what they meant thereby or to cause any other to understand it They began in process of time to explain their meaning more clearly upon this Head and to be more open concerning it and therein as it were placed the Foundation of their whole Doctrine which shall be spoken of at a more convenient time This therefore was the first Form and Description of their Doctrine but as the Doctrine and Faith of these Men was admirable and singular their Life and Conversation was no less for this chiefly consisted in Abstinence and Continency they said all publick and private Wars were forbidden by the Law of God and they shunned all Acts of Revenge and Resistance also neither would they when they had any concerns with other Men though before a Magistrate and that the matter might require it confirm their Asseverations with any Religious Affirmation much less with an Oath and such ways they said were altogether forbidden Moreover they abstained from Pleasures gay Cloaths and superfluous Attire and hated such ways and artifices as tended to Vanity and Pastime as also Shews Play-houses Plays and all manner of Joking and Laughter and besides these they declined to use such Voices Faces Gestures Motions Salutations Blandishments Obsequiousness and the like which are commonly practised in the Societies and Interviews of Men and go by the name of Vertues or of Good Manners and Breeding and did require this That every one look after practise and perform in a serious prudent sparing sober grave and severe manner all that which the Dignity Honour and Excellency of a Christian did require and this both in words and deeds and that they conformed themselves as much as might be to that way of Living This is that Method of Living which the Quakers from the very first rise of them have retained constantly to this very day and they did indeed so extol this their Theology as if this at last and no other did agree to the Constitution and Condition of the New Covenant between God and Man and of the Instrument thereof the New Testament and as if it were the only one adapted to convince and lead all sorts of Men to the Reception of the Christian Faith and to ingenerate true Piety towards God and Men. And as to what appertained to the Life and Manners of them they were themselves very sensible how the Men of this World hated them made a Laughing-stock of them and accounted them as it were the scum and off-scourings of Men for the austereness and severity of their Manners as being so opposite to the Conversation of Men and as it were upbraiding the Folly of all of them But as they bare this Misfortune with great Constancy of Mind and said that they shunned nothing feared nothing besides what was really a sin either against God or Men so they also retorted this that all good Men who own that the Christian World hath long since groaned and as it were been
Prank when Naylor was stigmatized with an hot Iron in the Forehead and not running of his own accord but haled held Naylor with his hand while the Brand was a doing and presently after licks the Wound with his Tongue as if it had been some Sacred and Religious thing though indeed Naylor always excused himself herein that he did nothing to an ill intent and purpose or suffered to be done unto him but did always and particularly then when that was done unto him condemn him for his Folly that he had so much vain and foolish Honour done him by the People and that he suffered justly and deservedly for that Crime and Offence and acknowledged that he was under the Vindictive hand of God for it and 't is a wonderful thing that amidst so many and such great Torments he was not heard to pour out the least sigh or groan Besides while all these things were doing many of the Quakers sent Letters daily to Naylor and did incessantly rebuke him that he would be so audacious as to do such a Wickedness and to advise and exhort him that he would do his utmost to correct and amend his Fault and at length forsake it Though either these very Advisers or others of that Society did again as well as Naylor defend all that was done of Naylor by publick Papers and concerning Naylor by his Friends and for this purpose they alledged divers Sayings and Examples of the Holy Scripture and would adapt them for the Proof hereof And indeed Naylor did continue all the remainder of his days in the same manner affected towards the Religion of the Quakers and also wrote Books whereby he endeavoured to promote his and their Religion among other People I have said before that George Fox and his Followers were clapped up in Prison and detained there for a long time because of their publishing and dispersing of their Libels and Pamphlets among the Common People Fox in another Pamphlet did so clear himself of all Crime herein that he affirmed that there was nothing else taught in those Pamphlets but that it was the Duty of all Men aright to consider the Light that shone in their Consciences and that he might extenuate the Suspicion had of them he so exaggerates and amplifies their Sufferings as if the cry of his and his Friends Blood reached up even as far as Heaven and drew on the Anger and Vengeance of the Almighty upon them for it Just at this time when Fox was not yet set free from his Imprisonment and the Afflictions he complained of which he cryed out were so hard and not to be endured came a Pamphlet abroad at London without any Name indeed to it yet without all doubt George Fox was the Author thereof That Libel opened and explained the causes why and for which the Quakers ought to refuse deny and reject these Earthly Teachers by whom they meant the Ministers of the Publick Churches The Author did in that Libel blame and accuse all Pastors and Teachers upon the same foot without distinction as of other Vices so of Falsity Deceivings Frauds Lyes in as much as that they pursued Lyes for Gain or Favour and for Covetousness sake brought Men to their bow with hypocritical words and adulterated the Holy Scriptures yea that they were guilty of Enchantment Magick and Necromancy The Accuser ought to have a good Memory and take heed lest while he is falsly and foolishly Accusing of others he do give occasion for himself to be derided of Men and be very nigh a-kin to the very same Crime he lays to their charge The thing it self manifests that the Author of this Libel had an evil purpose therein in that they also blamed and severely carped at these things in their Adversaries because they said that the Gospels of Matthew Mark Luke and John were the Gospel that they said the Gospel was light the Scripture saying that Christ was the Light the Apostle taught that the Bodies of Believers were the Temples of God and of the Holy Spirit but that they taught that those Temples were Steeple-Houses and material Buildings which were made of Stone and Wood and many such things there were not spoken but written cunningly for to stir up the ignorant Multitude and provoke Men of a wicked and evil Disposition by these Practices which were not much different from a Malignant Spirit and flagitious lust of Mind or furious Rage and Madness and thus did these Men again and again stir up the Envy Wrath and Hatred of their Adversaries Moreover seeing that the same Men especially being encited thereto by these Heralds and Enticers did not only not cease but went on more and more in their rash ways and inconsiderate boldness not only to Preach about and to direct their Discourses to People in the Markets and such like places but also to interrupt the Ministers Preaching in the Churches with their inveighing Interruptions and Bablings or afterwards to make a noise excusing themselves at the same time according to their usual manner with this one Sentence constantly That they were excited by the Spirit hereunto Hence all sorts of Men increased in Indignation and Bitterness against them and Severity in Punishing of them This happened from the Year Fifty Six for the two following Years For so indeed it came to pass that not only they who spoke what they pleased in Publick places but even they also who were not wont to go hear the Sermons usually preached in the Churches or had Sermons of their own in their own Houses were some of them fined some cast into Prison some whipped and then forbid their Homes and thrust into Banishment of whom some were so stiff and obstinate being as it were Conquerors over Fear and Pain that they returned again one was George Bayley who came back twice who were as often whipped for the same the same was done in the Towns of Sherborn Longhorton c. and in Dorchester the chief Town of the County it self The Quakers wrote that the Ministers of the Churches themselves did not only in their Sermons that were adapted to stir up and inflame the People excite the Magistrates and more especially the credulous and headlong Multitude so far as that they should either drive away the Quakers or hinder them to hold their Meetings but also that they did come themselves among those that were armed for to disturb their Meetings as well among the Publick Guard as the Promiscuous Multitude but there are no deeds so much noted and enlarged upon by them in all the Monuments of their Writings as those done by the Scholars and Students of the University of Oxford against them If the Quakers did at any time enter into the Churches they fell upon and severely treated them for their boldness in coming to the sight of those Youths who were themselves most bold and ready for all wanton tricks As often as the Quakers held their Conventicles and that it came to the Ears
but by vinegar they have for that use are refresh'd and restor'd This gave rise to that pleasant story which as every rumor taken from an ill resented Action of some one of 'em overspreads the Minds and Discourses of all that the Quakers at their Meeting have a bottle of liquor which whoever drinks of is immediately made Quaker As these with many other unquiet Men did most bitterly Tax some Protestant practices as preparing Licensing ordaining and maintaining of Ministers so of late they 've begun to jangle among themselves and more and more draw one another to their contrary Injunctions On these they now more eagerly insist They were and as yet are greatly offended that those who aim at a sacred function shou'd be form'd and imbellish'd with those previous studies whereby they gradually arrive at that province And thus they reproach Parents and Friends who devote Children to the Ministry from their tender years as if they were design'd for some Trade Traffick or civil business that they may exercise themselves in the Employment for a Livelihood so that the office Religion Faith and Piety are made matter of and not preferr'd to their gain that Children shou'd be thus educated for offices of this Nature and delivered to the tutelage of teachers however they be inclin'd or whatever Spirit they be led by tho they do nothing but commanded and constrain'd while as in other occupations we consider what a Child's Genius prompts him to and our designs and purposes are hitherto referr'd That Boys are so posted to Schools and Colleges without time to consider and search their Inclinations that they may direct their Course according to the stream of their Temper and after entrance are so inveigled with study and desire to attain what they 've been forestall'd with advantagious thoughts of that being unconcern'd for the inlightning and converting grace of the Spirit when they arrive at some pitch of that sort of Life they 're so tenacious that nothing can occur to pull 'em from their purpose especially when the change wou'd be late and Age comes on so that they can scarce begin another profitable project Besides the rude and unpollish'd younsters whose minds are impressible as wax and of so soft a temper that they may be easily drawn out into any shape whose prelections they 've once fix'd their Attendance on those with an inconsiderate rashness they must ape and imitate in all the thoughts and Actions of their Ministry and Life And yet many run also headlong into Gaming Idling Rioting and Wantoning So at length they betake themselves to their Ministerial Declamations and many wholly stretch all the Nerves of their skill to talk only with a volubility of Tongue to the hearers and some Courts complaisance of voice and gesture placing there the Power of Doctrine and stress of Eloquence When at this rate from prating Puppets they become perfect Orators and are reck'ned worthy after a Specimen to be prefer'd to the care of the Lord's Vineyard the Laurel's propos'd to him that knows best to scatter words so as to feed the Ears and Eyes with the grateful delight of Debonnair and Oratry Men taken with their chanting like a Shepherd's pipe chuse 'em for their pastors while yet say they nothing that 's spiritual or savoury drops from their Lips into the minds of the hearers and they receive little but words sitting to hear the reading of a few dry sentences as stones on stones and dead on the dead which they then stand upon This they say of Students affectations in the Schools They acknowledge the understanding of Languages especially of Hebrew Greek and Latin formerly was and still is very useful to understand and expound the Scripture yet they take 'em not therefore to be necessary to the Ministry which they wou'd have to be managed by the Spirit alone nor so profitable that one unacquainted with them must be stil'd Idiot Illiterate and of no autority But Philosophy as it 's generally taught in the Schools and School Divinity from hence arising they not only think useless but also pernicious and a plague Destructive of sound Doctrine brought in by the Devil as the Idol of Lyers and a hindrance to the knowledge of God and Godliness They despise the distinguishing Titles of Ecclesiastick Dignities as Masters Licentiates Doctors Professors c. Saying they only tend to make him that 's invested with the honour taken notice of with greater respect and so to swell him to a further Caprice and affect a Lording it o'er his former fellows They blame Protestants for restraining Preachers by Divers Constitutions to a certain Number and prescribing Laws of yearly revenues imposing or suffering themselves to be impos'd on and not endeavouring that through Churches at least greater more preachers and teachers may be appointed to teach and admonish all publickly and privately and execute other Offices of the Ministry or be sent to labour in Foreign Nations that these that are strangers to God and Godliness may be carefully imbru'd with the knowledge of both that the Borders of the Kingdom of Christ may be extended and inlarged to the utmost ends of the Earth Lastly they charge the Protestant Churches for maintaining their Pastors too profusely with Salaries They deny not the provision of Food and Raiment for such and other necessaries for a convenient life nay they own it to be suitable to the Command of God It appears then they differ from the present Anabaptists both the open-hearted and more simple and crafty and more reserv'd who tho liberal of their labours under Colour of Munificence draws the unwary into their Ginns that they may gull 'em of a daily sustenance at their pleasure They wou'd neither have the study nor office of the Ministry so to confine the Actions of ones Life as to inforce the neglect of all other business whereby he may furnish himself with a competency They won'd neither have sixt Stipends given nor pactions to intevrene twixt pastor and people lest the latter be forc'd to give superfluously and sumptuously to cherish the luxury and idleness of the former They decry driving Ministers to their duty for gain as illeberal Mercenary Sordid and Conductitious that they may only work for wealth which when got inclines 'em to do little or nothing yea gives rise to Avarice Lust Idleness Wantonness Riotousness perpetual Contention Ambitious Domineering and very grievous Iniquities Whose houses seem's dect with an almost Royal Magnificence who call themselves Preachers of Christ for Christ's sake when they become so pompous neglecting their Office despising their inferiors oppressing with Tyranny their people they shew how Antichrist of old got first entrance and then footing in the Church These the Quakers oppose by a bare mentioning the manner of their Ministry which they constantly observe and reason for thus Since all in the Church as Members of the Body have their proper gifts they may also have proper operations and functions for the good