tells the Quakers and I think not without good reason that this Doctrine of the Quakers springs from such a pernitious principle as carry all iniquity in the womb of it c. But as W. Pen desires beseeches and begs that I should for once do a poor deluded people right so I will answer his request and the way to do it is to set down Burroughs Doctrine and W. Pens Answer at least so much of it as carry the strength of his argument viz. Burrows Works p. 47. That is no command from God to me what he commands to another diâ— any of the Saints which we read of in scripture act by the command which was to another not having the command to themselves Whereas from the recited Doctrine of Burroughs Mr. Faldo charges the Quakers to teach that no commands in Scripture as such are binding to us which he accounted as such a pernicious principle as carried all iniquity in the womb of it c. to salve which pray hear Mr. Pens answer To this saith he I answer briefly and plainly no commands in scripture are any further obliging upon any man than as he finds a conviction upon his conscience otherwise men should be ingaged without if not against conviction a thing unreasonable in a man Now I cannot see how W. Pens argument can answer the end proposed since 't is very hard for the Quakers nay impossible to be convinced of the reasonableness of their obedience to Scripture commands as such if they adhere to the Quakers Doctrine and names of contempt they frequently cast upon it First for names viz. Beastly ware carnal letter the husk dust death serpents meat some of it spoke by the grand Impostor some by wicked Men some by true Prophets yet false some by wise and good Men yet either ill applied or ill expressed And that whether Moses or Hermes was the first Penman remains a question c. I say here is no ground to hope that these Teachers will ever convince their Hearers of their duty of obedience to Scripture commands as such Again that the people may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Again If ever you own Christs and the Apostles you will ever own our Writings say the Quakers which are given forth by the power and spirit of God Again What is spoken from the spirit of him in any is of as great authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater and very much to this effect as in this Treatise as also in New Rome Arraigned is plainly proved from the Books of their Teachers of greatest note Insomuch that there seems no possibility for the conviction of their followers who adhere and believe such doctrine of their duty of obedience to Scripture commands as also may appear from their practice as for example Christ said go teach all nations baptiâ—ing c. do this in remembrance oâ— me c. here is two positive commands which the Quakers have quite thrown off upon their principle that no commands of God which he commanded to others are binding now unless they have a command from God as the Apostles had at least until as Pen saith they are convinced 't is their duty to obey which is impossible if they tell them 't is Conjuration to preach out of the Scriptures that they are beastly ware serpents meat dust and deaths c. Again hear what one of their most noted Teachers says A Musick Lecture c. p. 35. Where they the worlds people are I was in performances in ordinances in hearing in reading in prayers and fasting but when I came to bend my mind to that of God in me viz. Quakerism I durst not give God thanks for the Victuals set before me c. And the reason is plain he not having the same command the Apostles had for if Scripture precept had been binding he had not only the command but example of Christ and his Apostles and the like may be urged for their disobedience to the Laws of the Land particularly about Tythes which W. Pen and the Quakers make criminal in their hearers to pay as likewise to shut up their Shop-windows on Fast days commanded by Authority these are made capital sins in the hearers But for non-submission to their own humane inventions they charge them with Ranterism thus have they like their Predecessors the Pharisees who strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel made void the commandments of God and precepts of the Gospel of none effect by their tradition Thus 't is apparent that this Doctrine That no commands of God in Scripture are any further obliging upon any man than he finds a conviction upon his conscience is so pernitious that it carries all iniquity in the womb of it And that this position opens the Flood-gates to all error atheism impiety and wickedness for if conviction be all the ground of obedience to the commands of Scripture and that no man until he is convinced that he is obliged to obey the commands of God laid down in the Scripture then all rational Laws Orders and Governments both divine and humane are overturned and from the date of this position a stop is put so far as 't is received and imbraced to all Religion and Piety towards God and upon this bottom as their principal foundation and corner stone the Quakers first rose in the North breaking all Law Order and Government disturbing the Ministers in their Churches and all other Societies for they were not convinced that they ought to obey Magistrates nor their Laws and how far they still retain this principle this Treatise will shew tho I grant for self-ends they are somewhat reformed and to maintain their Grandeur their Trade and to get into the favour of the Government that in time they may come to be Justices of Peace For it is certain that this position together with their other doctrine take away and rob the Scriptures of their divine Authority leaving all loose and uncertain and where this doctrine will end were it generally embraced God only knows for the Quakers conscience being hardened by the Doctrine of their Teachers against the Ordinances of Jesus Christ Obedience to the Laws of the Land the Papists the Jesuits the Turks the Arians the Socinians the Antitrinitarians all may as well plead to be left whether to obey Scripture commands as the Quakers and the Hearers of them all in all probability as like to be convinced by their Teachers as the Quakers c. who yet at the same time injoyn their Hearers not to pay Tythes not to marry unless they publish their intention before their Womans Meeting not to marry by a Priest not to shut up their Shop on a Fast day but to keep it open in Testimony against the command of the Magistrate and his Authority and a hundred things more and for non-submission to these injunctions there must be no plea nor liberty given nor forbearance until conviction but the Scripture commands
time They were all Traytors against Christ that desired an earthly King The true Christians will not have any more Kings among them but Christ c. News coming up out of the North c. p. 18. Dreadful is the Lord and powerful who is coming to execute true judgment upon all you Judges and to change all your Laws Ye Kings all you Rulers must down and cease and all you underling Officers which have been as the Arms of this great Tree all your branches must be cut down for you have been the fruitless branches grown on the fruitless tree p. 19. so you must be cut down with the same power that cut down the King who reigned over the Nation whose Family was a Nursery for Papists and for Bishops which held up Railes c. VVo wo is coming upon you all the same Teachers are standing that were in the time of the King and thâ— same that were in the time of the Bishops such as take Tythes you must both be tormented together Beast and false Prophet P. 20. Sing all ye Saints and rejoyce clap your hands and be glad for the Lord Jehovah will reign and the Government shall be taken from you pretended Rulers Judges and Justices Lawyers and Constables all this Tree must be cut down and Jesus Christ in us will rule alone p. 27. Sound the trumpet sound an alarm call up to the battel gather together for the destruction draw the sword hew down all fruitless trees which cumber the ground hew down all the powers of the earth slay Baal all the hirelings must be turned out of the kingdom p. 35. All you who receive Tythes deny that Christ is come to us in the flesh p. 38. And thou beast and false Prophet must into the fire the false Prophet is the Councellor to the Beast and the Beast maintains the false Prophet c. E. Burroughs Declar. p. 33. Upon a Rumour that the Quakers Meetings were to be broken up they writ viz. These Tydings do not trouble us neither are we thereby moved no not to beg of any man or men the contrary p. 40. and to any outward Authority we cannot seek Mildenhall 25th of Feb. 1695. Fr. Bugg Senior We acknowledge and believe the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament to be the most certain Rule of our Faith and that not so much for the common consent of the Church but because of the Testimony and perswasion of the Holy Ghost And we believe that the doctrine contained in the holy Scriptures proceeds from God from whom only and not from men it derives its authority And forasmuch as it is the Rule of all Truth containing all matters necessarily required for the worship of God and our Salvation it is in no wise lawful for Men nor Angels to add unto or take from this doctrine or to change it And hereupon it followeth that it is not lawful to oppose either Antiquity or Custom or Multitude or humane Wisdom Judgments Edicts or Decrees or Councils or Visions or Miracles unto this holy Scripture but rather that all things ought to be examined and tried by the Rules and Square thereof wherefore we do for this cause allow of those three Creeds namely the Apostles the Nicene and Athanasius his Creed because they be agreeable to the Word of God We believe that all the Off-spring of Adam are infected with Original Sin which is a vice hereditary to us by propagation and not only by imitations as the Pelagians assert whose errors are detested by us we believe that this stain of Original Sin is Sin indeed howbeit they that are the Children of God shall never be condemned for it because God of his rich grace and mercy doth not impute it to them but out of his bounty doth deliver them through our Lord Jesus Christ And we believe that Jesus Christ being the Wisdom and Eternal Son of God took upon him our Nature so that he is one person God and man man that he might be able to suffer in soul and body made like unto us in all things sin only excepted so that as to humâ—ne nature he was indeed the Seed of Abraham and of David conceived in due time in the Womb of the Virgin Mary by the secâ—et and incomprehensible power of the Holy Ghost and that in one and the same person to wit the Lâ—rd Jesus Christ his two natures are inseparably conjoined and united yet nevertheless in such a manner that each nature doth retain its distinct properties so that even as in this divine conjunction the divine Nature retaining its properties doth still abide uncreated infinite and filling all places so also the humane nature remaineth finite having form measure and property And also the Lord Jesus Christ when he rose from the dead gave Immortality to his body yet he never deprived it of the verity of its nature therefore we do so consider Christ in his Deity as that we do not rob him of his Humanity We believe that by that one Sacrifice which Jesus Christ offered upon the Cross we are reconciled unto God that so we may be accounted righteous in his sight And we believe that Jesus Christ is conferred upon us to be our alone Advocate and that he commandeth us in our prayers to present our selves to the Father in his name We do also reject those means which derogate from the satisfaction of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ And we believe where the word of God is not received and where there is no use of Sacrameâ—ts we cannot judge that there is any Church for we believe that the Sacraments are absolued unto the word that they may be pledges and tokens of the Grace of God We believe that God will have the world ruled by Laws and Civil Government that there may be somâ— sort of bridles by which the unruly lusts of the world may be restrained and that therefore he appointeth Kings and Commonwealths and other kinds of Principalities whether hereditary or otherwise and not that alone but also what pertaineth to the Ministration of Justice whereof he avoucheth himself to be the Author therefore hath he deâ—ivered the Sword into the Magistrates hands that so sins committed against both Tables of Gods Law not only against the second but first also may be suppressed and therefore because God is the Author of this order we must not only suffer Magistrates whom he hath set over us but we must also give them much Honour and Reverence as unto his Officers and Lieutenants which have received their Commission from him to exercise so lawful and sacred a Function therefore we affirm that Obedience must be yielded unto their Laws that Tribute and Taxes must be paid and the Yoak of Subjection born although the Magistrates be Infidels so that the Soveraign Government of God be preserved wherefore we do detest all those who do reject the higher powers BOoks written by Fr. Bugg Sen. as followeth some of which are intended to be bound together and sold as on the Title Page whereby such as desire further satisfaction into the nature of the Controversy may inform themselves I. De Christianae Libertate in Octavo bound II. The Painted Harlot both stript and whipt c. III. Reason against Raiâ—ing and Truth against Falshood c. IV. Innocency vindicated and Envy rebuked c. V. The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. VI. A Letter to the Quakers shewing their frequent addressing to the late K. J. and their never addressing his present Majesty VII Battering Rams against New Rome c. VIII One Blow more at New Rome c. IX New Rome unmasked and her Foundation shaken c. X. New Rome arraigned and out of her own Mouth condemned XI A Sheet delivered to the Parliament Dec. 93. intituled Something in answer to the Quakers Allegations c. XII Quakerism withering and Christianity reviving c. in Octavo XIII Quakerism anatomized c. being a Chaâ—lenge to R. Ashby XIV A Sheet intituled The Quakers Yearly Meeting impeached c. XV. A Second Summons to the City Abel 2 Sam. 20. by way of metaphor to deliver up Sheba the Son of Bichri i. e. G. Whitehead XVI The Quakers set in their true light ERRATA PAge 2. line 7. for Book read Books l. 28. for Book r. Books p. 5. l. 4. for White r. Whitehead p. 7. l. 26. for ot r. not p. 11. l. 23 and 24. for troop r. trooper p 12. l. 42. for Isays r. Jays p. 21. l. 17. for of him r. of truth FINIS
Clergy as the fountain of wickedness the issue of prophaneness and the deceivers of the Nation and to lay them open that all people might see their shame and turn from them And now my work I am entered upon is to thresh down Quakerism as the pest of the Nation the fountain of wickedness the issue of prophaneness the deceivers of the people and the broachers of damnable heresies and to lay them open that all people may see your shame and in abhorrence of your abomination to turn from you Come G. W. look for the same measure for you are like to have it heaped thrust down and running over Come George remember your Brother Pen who in his Book The Skirmish defeated c. being told that the womb of Iniquity was in the Quakers Writings said p. 10. He has invaded my body and soul religion and life for I am said W. Pen by my doctrine if the Priest may be believed an Heretick a Blasphemer an Atheist c. And what remains but that the Dogs or the Lyons devour me the Rabble or the Government sacrifice me c. And I pray good Mr Pen what are the Priests if the Quakers may be believed are they not Witches Devils Blasphemers Antichrists c. I say if what you say may be credited what are they good for but the Dogs or Lions to tear them to pieces the Rabble and the Government to sacrifice them saying there ☞ goes a Witch read Exod. 22.18 which says 't is death here ☞ goes a Blasphemer stone him to death Lev. 24.16 Here goes a false Prophet who is not to live Deut. 18.20 knock him down thus in every Town where you come to get credit you have invaded their Soul and Body Religion and Life Come smooth G. W. is not this seditious in the nature of it You know Westmorland Petitioners told you so 2. That my shéet delivered to the House of Commons Dec. 1693. was malicious Answ Reader I will give you some account of the reason of it I having occasion to attend the Parliament by way of sollicitation about our Trade 1693. there was every day 4 or 5 Quakers up and down attending also at last they presented a fine smooth printed paper stiled The Case of the People called Quakers humbly offered to the tender Consideration of the House of Commons to incline them to grant the Petition of the said People c. The Petition was to have their Word pass for an Oath that they might be Rivals with the Peers of the Realm But when I saw it and considered how they but a little before had indicted me for printing a Book unlicenced when I was 60 miles off and they got them seized and taken from my Bookseller notwithstanding they frequently print and publish without Licence and also considering how by little and little they are getting ground and knowing what a litigious People they would be if there was not that Barr to keep them out of Government I took their printed fine wheedling sheet and answered it and did immediately deliver the Answer to it to the Members as I think it was my duty and it was as kindly accepted by the Members and the very same day I delivered my said Answer to their Case their Petition was thrown out to the great joy of all Christian People and notwithstanding G. W.'s belying Mr. Goldwell I had his leave and hearty ascent to deliver it and never had of him a word of dislike for all I have writ nor of none such as he was 3. That my Impeaching their yearly méeting was presumptuous Answ If so But why then did you teach me the way See Burroughs works printed by the order and approbation of Geo. Whitehead Anno 1672. p. 793. stiled Persecution Impeached as a Traytor against God Now all your wilful sufferings for your obstinate disobedience to the Laws of the Land by you are called Persecution and that you have the presumption to Impeach all the Judges Justices and Inferiour Officers under the odious Name of Persecution why may not I for once Impeach you who sit at Devonshire-house to null make void and repeal as unlawful what the King Lords and Commons make lawful at Westminster And whether I be most presumptuous for telling you of your faults or you in committing them for that 's the great case between you and me I will leave the Reader to judge when I have recited the said Impeachment and Proof as in the said sheet viz. The IMPEACHMENT That Geo. White and his Brethren at a Convocation at London the 5th of May 1693. ending the 8th day of the same month did contrive make and promulgate several Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical containing in them divers matters and things contrary to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm against the Rights of Parliament against the property of the subject and matters tending to Sedition and of dangerous consequence as may appear by the recited Epistle A few instances thereof as proof I shall recite The IMPEACHMENT PROVED The Quak. Yearly Epist 1693. p. 1. And therefore that all due care be taken against the Grand Oppression and Antichristian Youk of Tythes that our Christian Testimony born and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all Respects and against Steeplehouse Rates as also against the Burthen and Imposition of Oaths that Friends at all their monthly and quarterly Meetings be reminded to call for the Records of the Sufferings of Friends to see that they be duly gathered truly entered and kept and accordingly sent up to London as hath been often advised both of what Tyths c pretended to be due and for how long a time and the time when taken and by and for whom and what Goods are taken and the value thereof as well of those not exceeding as those exceeding the sums or quantities of Tythes demanded it being a suffering in both for truth sake they being in these particulars found defective and imperfect in divers Counties which is an obstruction to the General Record of Friends Sufferings c. Observation From whence we may conclude that the main reason why the Quakers refuse to pay their Tyths and Church Rates and other things which the Government calls for at their hands is the Authority of their Yearly Meetings and not Scripture Proof and where is there a Parish in England but feel more or less the sad effects and evil consequences of these their Antimagistratical Incroachments besides it looks very ill and ungrateful to charge the Government with Persecution for Tythes which is a civil right established by Law Yea even in that very Act of Parliament which gave them their Tolleration and which some if not all these Anti-Lawmakers know well enough 't is in fol. 308. thus Provided always that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt any of the persons aforesaid from paying of Tythes or other Parochial Duties or any other Duties to the Church or Minister or from
and are most eminently serviceable to our common Adversary for their principles are such as could not come out of any other Mint but the Jesuits And truly no opinions can more resemble theirs than those that are held by that crafty and perverse Sect do they the Quakers not think themselves as infallible as the Romanists think the Pope himself to be and do they not say that one reason why they divide from us is because we confess our selves to be men subject unto error do they not lower the Magistrates Authority as the Jesuits do and by all imaginable methods endeavour to render him contemptible do they not villify the holy Scriptures as the Jesuits do and call the Bible a dead Letter do they not cry up the light the light just as the Jesuits cry up tradition tradition do they not think themselves to be the only people of God as the Jesuits think their Faction to be and count all others who are not of their Communion Reprobates and damned persons do they not take it for granted that they are perfect and cannot sin Why do but turn the Tables and behold it is Jesuitism upon which they build the Doctrine of Meritorious good Works for where there is not perfection there can be no Merit But the most lucky and advantageous principle that ever was infus'd into them is this that they must not by any means swear tho call d unto it by due Authority The Jesuit was no Fool when he taught them this for hereby he keeps out of harms way and shelters hâ—mself from a necessity of taking any Oaths of Supremacy or Allegiance this Principle therefore they do arrantly guard and make many proposals that they may be allowed this and as long as 't is allowed it will be impossible to hunt our Enemies out of the Heard or to distinguish indeed between a Quaker and a Jesuit By this any unprejudiced Man may see that this sullen and dogged Sect is the Jesuits natural and undoubted Issue tho like other bastards they are ashamed to own their father c. A Discourse concerning the Idolatry of the Church of Rome p. 282. Yet any one who compares them i. e. Jesuits and Quakers would imagin the Life of Ignatius had been their great Exampler I know not whether any of that innocent and religious Order of Jesuits had any hand in forming this new Society i. e. Quakers among us as has been frequently suggested but if one may guess the Father by the Childs likeness Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Jesuits was at least the Grandfather of the Quakers c. And now it remains that Ignatius Loyola and G. Fox compare notes that we may rightly understand whether indeed the Quakers be the natural Issue of the Jesuits as both these learned Divines agree they are and if they be let us lay this spurious off-spring at Ignatius Loyola s door but let us judge the tree by the fruit 1. Did Ignatius Loyola cry down the Scriptures so do the Quakers witness the contemptible names they bestow upon them as beastly ware carnal letter dust death and serpents meat 2. Did Ignatius whose Life was exemplary delight in and read the Papists Legend of the Lives Miracles and Enthusiasms of their Saints as Don Quixot rather than the Scriptures so do the Quakers who read their own Epistles in their meetings for worship and suffer none to call the same Edicts and Canons 3. Did Ignatius preach in the Streets Market-places on Bulks and Haystacks in opposition to Authority so did the Quakers for many years 4. Did Ignatius exalt his own sufferings so do the Quakers saying their sufferings are greater and more unjust than the sufferings of Christ and his Apostles and Martyrs read Burroughs works p. 273. 5. Did Ignatius refuse to put off his Hat to men in authority the Quakers do the same 6. Did Ignatius allegorise the Scripture the death and sufferings of Christ his passion attonement resurrection and ascention to be within so do the Quakers 7. Was Ignatius a Tradesman G. Fox was a poor Journeyman Shoemaker and wrought Journey-work for George Gee of Manchester and so are many of his Followers the Preachers amongst the Quakers and G. Fox was no Scholar but ambitious of being thought so for instance his Book stiled A Battledoor for Teachers and Professors Anno 1660. to learn singular and plural viz. tu and vos with the form and figure of a Battledooâ— to imitate a Childs penny Horn-book containing divers learned Languages as Greek Hebrew Latin Syriack Italian Caldee and divers others and all this noise to bring into contempt both the Gentry of this famous christian and learned Country and the learned Clergy 8. Did Ignatius and his Disciples pretend to a gift of discerning to know the thoughts of their Neighbours so did G. Fox who said the Quakers have a spirit given them beyond their fore-fathers and know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostles without speaking ever a word c. saying as Christ is so are we Quakers in this world Gr. myst p. 89. 10. Did Ignatius travel up and down preaching working Miracles seeing Visions to Montsorret Manresa Barcelona Padua and after he was soundly beaten for not putting off his Hat to the Governor of Barcelona back again to Salamanca where he was put into the Dungeon and there chain'd to a Post at which he gloried as much as ever his Grand Children did after that to Antwerp Paris Roven where he stood up to the neck in dirt to represent to his Companions the filthiness of sin and to get commiseration in the people and thereby some followers as G. Fox and his followers used to go into Churches till some or other brake their Shins or made their Nose bleed and then some silly tender people would follow them into some poor womans house where they would hold forth and tell them do you see the fruits of the Priests and so gat here and there a few unwary Disciples c. at last Ignatius got to Rome to Pope Paul 3d and got his Bull to confirm the Society of Jesus October 3. 1540. and for more of Ignatius Loyola's Acts and Monuments I refer the Reader to the Works of Maffejus Orlandinus and Ribadeneira who wrote his Life So did G. Fox to settle Quakerism travel up and down disturbing Ministers in Churches preaching in Barns Market-places on Haystacks on Bulks working Miracles yea as true ones as Ignatius Loyola and as like them as if they were Twins quite through England Wales Ireland Holland Barbadoes Virginia Maryland and many places more as his Journals set forth so that 't is needless further to blot paper to manifest the parity between Ignatius and George his Grandson if Ignatius pretended to a sinless perfection George and his followers are full as good at it read his Gr. myst p. 33 107 267. where he tells you he can give an infallible character of another mans state and condition and
the Writ given forth by his Majesties Command for calling the Synod as followeth This day being the 12th of February 1644. the King being then at Paris upon the most Humble Petition of his Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to permit them the calling and holding a National Synod desiring to gratify and treat favourably he said Subjâ—cts hath permitted and doth permit them the Convocation of a National Synod next at Charenton but with this condition that they treat in it of none other matters but of those which be allowed them and that the Commissioner whom his Majesty shall please to appoint be personally present in the said Synod as hath been decustomed In witness whereof his Majesty hath commanded me to issue out this Writ which he hath signed with his own hand and caused to be counter-signed by me his Councellor and Secretary of State and of his Commands Signed in the Original Louis And a little lower Phelippeaux Assoon as the Officers of the Synod were chosen the Lord Cumont Councellor for the King in his Council of State and Parliament of Paris deputed by his Majesty presented Letters Patents which did commissionate him to represent his Majesty in this Synod these being read were incerted into the Register of the Acts of this Synod as followeth Louis by the Grace of God King of Navarre to our trusty Councellor in our Council of State and Court of â—arliament gréeting We having granted our Subjects of the pretended Reformed Religion to hold a National Synod in the Town of Charenton near Paris on the 26th day of December next coming composed of all the Deputies of the Provinces of our Kingdom to treat of affairs concerning their Religion And being to make choice of a meet person and of approved fidelity to us who may precide in the said Assembly as our Commissioner and may Represent us in it we have commissioned and deputed you and we do commissionate and depute you by these Presents signed with our own hand to go unto the Town of Charenton and to sit in the said Synod there assembled and to Represent our Royal Person in it and to propose and determine whatever matters we shall give you in Command according to those Memoirs and Instructions we have now delivered unto you And you are to take héed that none other affairs be there debated but such as ought to be in those Assemblies And in case the Members of the said Synod should attempt to do any thing contrary thereunto you shall hinder them and interpose therein with our Authority and to give us speedy and timely notice of it that such course may be taken to prevent those inconveniencies which would arise as we shall judge most convenient for the doing whereof we give you Power and Commission and Special Commandment by these Presents Given at Paris the 28 of November in the Year of Grace 1644 and of our Reign the second Signed in the Original Louis And a little lower Phelippeaux The Speech of the Lord Commissioner unto the Synod together with his Propositions made in their Majesties Name c. Messieurs As it is a very great honour to me to be commissionated by his Majesty to assist in your Synod and to acquaint you with his Will and Pleasure so also have I a great deal of joy and satisfaction to behold this illustrious Assembly chosen out of all Provinces of this Kingdom and that I can tell you by word of mouth what was expresly charged and commanded me by the King and the Queen his Mother which is to assure you of their good will unto you and protection of you and of all your Churches and of the entire execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you continue your selves within the bounds of your duty subjection and fidelity which you owe unto their Majesties they being the Higher Powers set over you by God intrusted with the supream Authority and your lot and portion being the honour of obedience to them whereunto you stand obliged * * I am the longer in this recital that the Quakers may see and in seeing may learn to know both their place and duty both from Scripture and the Practice of the Martyrs and all true Christians thro all Centuries c. by your birth the dictates of your Consciences and the favours you daily receive from their Majesties and by all kinds of consideration both general and particular and observe it I beseech you as a singular mark of their Majesties favour unto you that there be of your Religion in the Kingdom ††It was their obedience to the Laws brought them to that dignity it is the disobedience of the Quakers and their antimagistratical principles which keep them out of all places of trust in the Government persons of the highest quality there be amongst you most noble and illustrious Dukes and Peers Mareschals of France Generals of Armies Magistrates and Judges in Soveraign Courts and their Majesties now this very day out of that great confidence they have in your Loyalty and Fidelity have granted you this Assembly at the very Gates of the Metropolis of this Kingdom in the very face and view of all France and of this infinite people of Paris vastly different from you in manners and humours inclination and religion who will be severe Witnesses and Judges over all your actions And that all things may be done in that order prescribed me by their Majesties I am in their Names commanded to acquaint you That all Ministers who are not natural born Subjects but Strangers are to be excluded this Synod and that none may assist to vote in it who hath not Letters of Deputation from his Provincial Synod and that during the time it be held you may have no communication with Foreigners or other suspected persons and forasmuch as your Assemblies are not by any legal constitution a Body Politick their Majesties have forbidden you to meddle in State Affairs * * Come G. W. look and learn you are strangers to these limitations you have the face to absolve his Majesties Subjects from their active obedience to the Laws which require them to pay Tyths to pay to Church Wardens Rates to take lawful Oaths to carry Guns c. by which 't is plain that as you increase the strength of the Nation will decrease or matters of Justice because your Synod hath no power to judge of such matters but only to treat of points of Doctrine and Church Discipline ††G. W. so do the Kings Laws forbid you but whether you like the French Protestants do regard those Laws I shall shew by and by no the Law what is the Law to you for as G. Fox did not heed a Cart Load of Warrants no nor do you a Waggon Load of Laws Moreover their Majesties do forbid you to print any Books in any place whatsoever concerning your Religion whieh are not attested i. e. Licenced by two