as the Quakers do account it sufficient But with that worthy Martyr Dr. Robert Barns say Acts and Mon. p. 610. I believe in the holy and blessed Trinity that created and made all the World I believe that without Man's Will or Power Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and took Flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary that HE suffered thirst hunger and cold which as he was God he could not do mark that old Friends and other Passions of our Bodies sin excepted according to the saying of St. Peter And I believe that this his Death and Passion was the sufficient Ransom for my sins and the sins of the whole World and I believe that through his death he overcame sin death and hell and that there is no other Satisfaction unto the Father but his Death and Passion only and that no Works of Man did deserve any thing of GOD but only Christ's Passion touching our Justification For I know said this humble Martyr that the best Works that ever I did is impure and imperfect And according to the Faith of this worthy Martyr the Publick Ministers teach and I believe not but that Dr. Barns was a good Man walked circumspectly had great regard to the Dictates of his Conscience and the Guidance of the Light abstained from that which was evil and followed that which was good and every way as became a good Man as compleatly as the most perfect Quaker in England notwithstanding their high boasting yet you see he did not lean upon his own Deservings but upon the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ even the Merits of HIS Death who suffered thirst hunger and cold who was born of the Virgin and made like unto us sin excepted c. nor did he pretend to a sinless Perfection as the Quakers vainly boast of but humbly acknowledged that the best Works that ever he did was impure and unperfect and this made him rely and lean wholly upon the Merits of another even the Sacrifice of that Immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus his Death and bitter Passion which the Quakers never preach up as necessary to believe Search all their Epistles read in their Meetings hear all their Sermons if ever you hear such a Passage as came from this humble Martyr I will be your Bond slave And thus have I given an additional Proof that the Quakers are of a different Faith from the Martyrs and all true Christian Churches and when I came to understand these their Fundamental Errours which was after I had wrote three or four Books against them in reproof of their Hypocrisie about outward Ceremonies Church Government their pretending to preach write suffer and do all things freely when alas it was all but a cheat they took Money Gifts and Reward for all nay sometimes as in the Instance of Sam. Cater 10 l. where they suffered not 10 d. See New Rome p. 54. to 68. I say after I had thus been brushing at the outside or skirts of Religion for some years it pleased GOD in mercy to open my understanding and to shew me by the Rule of Holy Writ and through the Assistance of His Holy Spirit the Quakers great and Fundamental Errours and then I could not be silent but that too for the sake of many amongst them who have a Zeal I bear them record though not according to knowledge but was constrained to unmask their blind Guides who have caused them to err And if in my Zeal against their pernicious ways I seem to exceed they of all People may bear with me And now to the Trial now to the Examination Who are the true Ministers and the false who are the Worlds Teachers Alluding to the Quakers distinction whose Maxim is to call all but themselves of the World or the Worlds People or the Worlds Teachers c. and who are the Ministers of Christ And though I dare not pretend to know Gods People so as to give an infallible Character of another Mans state as the Quakers do yet I hope to make a truer Description than they have done But for this I must have a Rule and that Rule must be the Holy Scriptures and by the evident Testimony of that let my Work stand or fall A DISCOVERY OF THE WORLDS TEACHERS 1. The Quakers who teach that the Names JESUS and CHRIST do not properly belong to the Body that suffered upon the Cross at Jerusalem nor preach'd it up as a necessary Article of Faith to believe that Salvation is obtained through the Merits of his Death and Passion They are of the World they are the Deceivers and Antichrists 2. The Quakers who teach that the Name Jesus and Christ belong to the whole Body and to every Member in the Body as well and as amply as to Christ the HEAD are of the World and Deceivers 3. The Quakers who teach that the Body of Christ was of an earthly perishing Nature like ours are of the World and Deceivers 4. The Quakers who adore Mortal Men and give those Divine Attributes to Geo-Fox due only to CHRIST are of the World and Deceivers 5. The Quakers who teach that he that hath the same Spirit which raised up Jesus Christ is equal with GOD and which Spirit they pretend to have and by it give forth their Epistles c. and therefore of the World great Deceivers and horrible Blasphemers 6. The Quakers who teach that Josiah Coal being dead is ASCENDED and that IN Edw. Burroughs whilst living was THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF GOD and that the FULNESS dwelt in him of Grace and Vertue are of the World and gross Idolaters 7. The Quakers who teach that Geo. Fox's coming out of the North naked not known prophesied of writ from the Mouth of the LORD c. are Deceivers Impostors and of the World 8. The Quakers who teach that the Gospel is dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter say they and that such are Ministers of the Letter are Ministers of Death which is Serpents-meat that say the Sacraments are dust c. are of the World and great Deceivers 9. The Quakers who teach that it is as justifiable to burn the Bible as the Books wrote by Geo. Fox Geo. Whitehead and others of their way are Decivers and impudent Impostors 10. The Quakers that teach that the Scriptures are uncertain and that what the true Prophets say is false and what the false Prophets said is true what good men spake therein is ill applied and what wise men spake therein is ill expressed and that whether Moses or Hermes was the first Penman of the Scripture is uncertain they are false Apostles deceitful Workers and their Doctrine tends to overthrow the Christian Faith 11. The Quakers who teach in one Book that the four Books Matthew Mark Luke and John are not the New Testament not the Rule for Christians to walk by and teach in another Book lately that the Scriptures are the New Testament Holy Scriptures c. are
Deceivers carrying two Faces in one hood looking two ways JANUS like these are Ambodexters and of the World 12. The Quakers who teach that preaching out of the Scriptures is Conjuration are of the World and Blasphemers 13. The Quakers who teach that they have a Spirit beyond all the Fore-fathers and thereby know not only who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates but also that none need to give them discerning or judgment in any Case or on any Occasion but that at ALL TIMES they are furnished both with Discerning and Judgment are of the World Deceivers Deluders and Impostors c. 14. The Quakers who teach that their own Books Epistles or Writings are THE WORD OF GOD are of the World and Deceivers 15. The Quakers who require and charge their own People and that in the Name of the LORD to read their own Writings Epistles or Books in their Meetings for Worship and never so much as request their hearers to read any Portion of Scriptures in the said Meetings are Deceivers Supplanters and Deluders These Doctrines I charge upon the Quakers as deduceable from their printed Books and Epistles and from which Errours they can never purge themselves but by unfeigned Repentance and a publick Retraction and Condemnation of the same And 't is to be feared their Pride is so great and that they are so fixed upon their Principle of Infallibility and Perfection that they cannot but will rather strive to cover and gloss over things However I presume I have given a fair Description of the Worlds Teachers and now let me tell you who are the true Ministers 16. Those are true Ministers of Jesus Christ who preach Repentance and Remission of sins in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and Obedience to the Commands of GOD according to the Rules of the Gospel recorded for our Learning in Holy Writ But E. B. says p. 233. I do believe there was never such a Generation of Teachers as these i. e. Priests are that ever took such wicked courses to their shame says E. B. do I rehearse it Answ This is very uncharitable as well as false in Fact and it looks the worse in that 't is rehearsed by such a Generation of Teachers as are amongst the Quakers who exceed all that ever went before them professing Christianity the Papists ONLY excepted both in Idolatry Blasphemy and Superstition yea and other gross Enormities of which I could give a large List a few for Example sake I shall mention as in the Cage where I have laid Superstition and Immorality together heaps upon heaps plain enough for your view if not I can yet lay these and many more plainer though I delight not in it were it not to humble you and to let you see notwithstanding your proud boasting of Perfection and that you and you ONLY are GOD's People and all besides you of the World Heathens c. that there is cause enough for you to make Confession of your Sins and ask Pardon too I very well know how Retrograde you run and how cross and thwart not only to the practice of the Saints in all Ages but even in this Age with respect to the Christian Doctrine and how you have in little minute matters affected an odd kind of singularity whereby you have separated your selves in Religious Matters as well as in Habit Manners c. As first for any kindness you will not say I thank you but which is tantamount I accept of thy love You will not put the Hat off but nod bow or conjue c. crying out against fine Clothes dainty Dishes lofty Horses Coaches c. until you could get them yea the Woe said you was to such as so did But now who exceed you in fine Clothes except a little Lace or Ribbons which for crosness sake you forbear dainty Dishes lofty Horses goodly Houses brave Coaches fine Perriwigs and what not nay even both Ministers and People witness London Bristol Stoak Erith Northampton and many other places You pretend you cannot for Conscience sake pay to the Trained Solers and yet can pay ten times the value towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France But for the LORDS PRAYER the APOSTLES CREED or TEN COMMANDMENTS not one of them in all your Books no they are too low and mean for your proud Lucefering Minds to teach Nay further as a Fruit of your Doctrine that the Name JESUS and CHRIST do as properly belong to your Believers as to HIM that suffered at Jerusalem you do give the Name of Emmauel and Allalujah to your Children As to Emmanuel it was by the Prophet foretold to belong to CHRIST Isai 7. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his Name EMMANUEL which being interpreted is GOD with us saith St. Matthew Cap. 1. vers 23. And thus do you manifest your Doctrine by your Fruit as likewise Allalujah an Attribute of Praise due only to GOD as Rev. 19. four or five times mentioned as well as in divers other places yet these Names your chief Leaders have given totheir Children But GOD hath and will stain your Pride more and more and make you at length see cause sufficient to confess your sins to GOD and ask Pardon for the same and that for Jesus Christ his sake who died for our sins and rose again for cur justification as the Evangelist says 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness who was the Propitiatory Sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World who now sits at the right hand of God as an Advocate and Intercessour in the same Body in which he ascended in the sight of the Galileans read 1 John 2. 1 2. Acts 1. 9 10 11. Luke 24. 51. Mark 16. 19. at the right hand of GOD in Majesty on high Babylon is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. For her SINS have reached unto Heaven and GOD hath remembred her Iniquities Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and double unto her double according to her works in the Cup which she hath filled fill to her double Rejoyce over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for GOD hath avenged you on her Rev. 18. 2 5 6 20. 1. HERE lye the Men behold and view them well You know their Names and where they use to dwell You know their Parts you know their Fruits also If these be Saints LORD whether shall we go 2. If not why should you not Confession make And Pardon beg for Jesus Christ his sake Are you too proud or do you still disdain Or do you say such things with us are vain 3. Behold I say and mark the Prophets well They did Confess the Scripture doth us tell Their Sins
the whole World Thus have you made the Apostles false Witnesses who have charged the Jews with slaying the Lord of Life and Glory As to the Sufferings of Christ the Question still remains unanswered I know you now see cause to say his Sufferings were grievous Sufferings sweating drops of Blood yea great Sufferings Thus far G. W. is got but George you know there is degrees of Greatness there is magnus major maximus great greater and greatest of all Now the great Query is Whether was the Sufferings of Christ or the Sufferings of the Quakers greatest Ed. Burroughs says the Sufferings of the Quakers was greatest And G. W. hath not yet said the Sufferings of Christ was greatest no other word will do I still pursue the Terms of my Query and wait to have it answered but I find G. W. pinched and in a great strait and knows not which way to wind him Condemn Ed. Burroughs's Expression as a Lye that he cannot do for a World for he was by G. W. counted a Prophet a Son of Thunder one in whom was the Almighty Power of God Can such a man lye Can he err No they cannot give Evidence against themselves so not fit to be of a Jury not fit for any place of Trust in Government not fit to have yea and nay pass for an Oath If so then if the Jury be most Quakers they 'l never give it against themselves they are not impartial they cannot be impartial they are the greatest respecters of Persons this day on Earth E. B. has said The Sufferings of the Quakers is greater than the Sufferings of Christ and his Apostles which is horrid blasphemous yea they thereby undervalue the Sufferings of the Lord of Glory and exalt their own as greater Sufferings This they cannot deny nor this they cannot condemn see the Fruit of Infallibility having once spoken whether true or false a Lye or a true Story both must be infallible they cannot retract they cannot confess their Sins to God how then should they retract and acknowledge their Errors No not for a World then down goes Infallibility the principal Studd of their new kind of Popery The Perfect Quaker in favour of their own Books An Epistle from their Yearly Meeting 1675. It is our Sence Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and the Authority of his Power and Spirit that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as that faithful Friend's Papers which we testifie have been given out by the Power and Spirit of God are Mens Edicts or Canons with such scornful Sayings be permitted Subscribed by W. Penn G. Whitehead and others Several Petitions answer'd c. p. 30. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power Truths Defence c. p. 2 104. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire as our Papers and Queries for our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the Immediate and Eternal Spirit of God Several Papers given out for the spreading of Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Friends to you all this is the Word of the Lord this is the Word of God G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Renewed Advice to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings c. Anno 1693. Dear Friends it 's advised that you be careful in spreading all such Books writ in defence and for the Service of Truth Record this Epistle in your Quarterly Book and sometimes read it for remembrance and notice B. B. The Perfect Quaker's Perfect Contempt of Scripture Saul's Errand c. p. 7. The Letter of the Scripture is carnal and the Letter is Death and killeth and all that do study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the Mouth of the Lord. A brief Discovery c. p. 7. The Priests of the World are Conjurers raising dead Doctrines dead Reasons dead Uses dead Motives out of the Letter which is Death raising Death out of Death Notable Conjurers P. 8. The Commission of Baal's Priests came from Oxford and Cambridge the same poisonous Fountain is filthy the Streams are no better Simon Magus would have purchased the Holy Ghost with Money even the Sir Simons of our Age run to Oxford and Cambridge Babylon's Merchants selling beastly Wares the Letter which is Dust and Death really they are Bloodhounds still hunting and gaping after their Prey like the Mouth of Hell Ja. Naylor's Answ to the Jews p. 4 22 25. It 's Blasphemy for any to say the Letter is the Word of God it is the Devil which contends for the Letter to be the Word of God The Quaker's Refuge fixed c. p. 17. Whether the first Penman of the Scripture was Moses or Hermes or whether both these two or not one or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether some words were not spoken by the Grand Impostor some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill applied some by Good Men ill expressed some by False Prophets and yet true some by True Prophets and yet false c. News coming up c. p. 14. Their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter The Counterfeit Quaker facing round about Quaker's Vindication p. 4. We confess that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of Divine Authority as being given by Divine Inspiration of God c. Count. Conv. c. p. 26. That we prefer the Holy Scriptures before all the Books extant in the World A treble Observation upon a triple Quaker Courteous Readers whether Christians or Jews what think you Is the Counterfeit Quaker sincere Do you believe that he means what he says namely that the Scripturesare of Divine Authority and that he prefers them before all the Books extant in the World If so you may believe Transubstantiation Can you think I say that he believes the Scripture is of Divine Authority when he tells you that Matthew Mark Luke and John is Dust and Serpents-mear and that the Scripture is Beastly Ware that 't is Conjuration to preach out of them that 't is questionable whether Moses or Hermes was the first Pen-man of Sacred Writ or whether either or neither and that what was spoke by good and wise Men was ill applied and ill expressed and what the true Prophets spake was false and what the false Prophets spake was true c Answer me for my part I cannot G. W. tells me I was but a kind of a Quaker and I think 't is the truest word in his Book I think I was not above a third part of
one and that too much too Secondly Do you think he values and prefers the Scriptures before all Books extant in the World I think not my Reasons are many First you hear he calls the Scriptures Dust Death and Serpents-meat Beastly Wares dangerous to read see Truths Defence c. p. 101. yea so uncertain that whether Moses or Hermes be the first Pen-man of Holy Writ is a question But as for what G. Fox c. wrote their Yearly Meeting testifies it was given forth by the Eternal Spirit yea the same Men that charged their Disciples in the Name of the Lord not to call their Papers Edicts or Canons call the Scriptures Death Dust and Serpents-meat judge Reader which they prefer Yea G. W. avouches that what is spoke from the Spirit of Truth in any much more in them is of equal nay of greater Authority than the Scriptures judge Reader which they prefer They say 't is Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and that 't is the Devil that so pleads Yet they say of their own Epistles This is the Word of God judge which they preferr They say we may as well burn the Bible as their Papers and Queries judge which they prefer Come G. W. what Gloss have you in store your Paint begins to vanish and your Jugglings will not now do And as to you that are mis-led by your Teachers I exhort you to read the Scriptures and pray to God to open the Mysteries of Salvation held forth in them that so you may come to have your Judgments rectified Likewise read G. K's Ten Articles which came providentially to my Hand which being sound and orthodox I have exposed them to publick view for general Service desiring from my Heart that you may receive them in the same love they were writ and now exposed yet if you will not hear me nor receive them I of all Men may bear with you in that I once was as averse to Information as the most of you but I obtained Mercy in that I did not wilfully persist against Conviction c. Some of the Principles of G. Keith and his Friends 1. That Bodily Sickness and Death came in by the Fall 2. That Christ has now in Heaven a Soul and a Body that is not the Godhead but the Temple of it and most gloriously united therewith 3. That Christ's Body that was crucified and buried without us rose again without us and is now in Heaven without us 4. That the Man Christ Jesus will come again in that Body without us to judge the Quick and the Dead 5. That there shall be a general day of Judgment that all the deceased Saints are in expectation of 6. That we get not the Resurrection of the Body either in this mortal Life or immediately after Death 7. That Faith in the Man Christ without us as he died for us rose again and is gone into Heaven wrought in us by the Spirit of Christ is universally necessary to make Men true Christians and Children of God born of the Free Woman who have the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father 8. That Christ's Obedience and Righteousness which he performed in himself without us is imputed to us by Faith for the Remission of Sins 9. That Christ is not only God's Elect but all that shall be saved from the beginning to the end of the World are God's Elect being chosen in him not only before they believe and repent but before the Foundation of the World 10. That all and every one of the Members of the Church of Christ who are at age and can speak ought to confess with their Mouths in the hearing of some of their Fellow Members the Fundamental Principles of their Christian Faith before they can be own'd to be Members of the Church that by the same as well as by a Good Life and Conversation it may be known who are qualified to be Members of our Church which is Aboundary Terms and Bond of our Union the Spirit being the Principal which may be easily done by Answering to some plain Questions This is a Copy of G. Keith's c. sound and necessary Articles of the Christian Faith proposed to the Quakers of whom I wish it may not be said Oh how oft would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but you would not but now the things which belong to your Peace are hid from your Eyes I remember G. W. queried of me Count. Conv. p. 15. Whether I when a Quaker denied Jesus of Nazareth to be the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation Answ I do believe I then did not hold the worst part of Quakerism as by my Book de Chr. Lib. c. which he so often quotes to justifie the Quakers from what I now charge them with may be seen yet I do freely acknowledge that I was in great Errors particularly touching the Point of Justification for I then expected Salvation thro' my Obedience to the Light which the Quakers taught was sufficient to Salvation But since it pleased God to open my Eyes I believe that Salvation it attained through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus by Faith in the Merits of his Passion and Obedience to his Precepts Again G. W. says Count. Conv. p. 29. Not reading the Scriptures in our Meetings for Worship is no Proof that we have not a Spiritual Worship nor Evidence that we disbelieve the Doctrines contained in them Answ I do not give it as the only Evidence but as a Demonstration yet if you did in good earnest believe the Doctrines and Precepts of Christ in the Gospel to be blessed and holy as you pretend you would read the Scripture and prefer the Bible before any other Book extant in the World you would read the Scriptures in your Meetings if any Book at all and if you recommend any Book to your Friends beyond Sea it would be the Scripture But since you do neither but instead thereof read and recommend your own Epistles and that as you say for the spreading of Truth this is a Demonstration that you do not believe the Doctrine and Precepts of the Bible to be blessed and holy and an infallible Evidence that you prefer your own Books Papers and Epistles before the Scriptures unless you be arrant Cheats indeed to read and recommend that which you know is worst and hide and keep from them that which is best which I can hardly think And as impertinent as G. W. renders my Ten Reasons I find him not able to confute them As for his Pretence to Pray after the manner Christ taught his Disciples I deny it for it you kept to the manner though not to the form you would not be alone But let the Reader observe all the Prayers of Steph. Crisp R. Ashby W. Bingly and others printed at the end of their Sermons nay all your Books extant in the World and he will not find this passage Forgive us our Sins as we forgive them that
trespass against us No nor yet after that manner for though you must needs know that you are Sinners as well as others and have transgressed the Laws of God in both Tables yet you can neither make Confession of Sin to God nor beg Pardon for Christ's sake which not only shew that you do not Pray after the Manner but that you do not pray in the Name of Christ to God the Father as the Mediator and Intercessor between GOD and Man which is an infallible Proof that as you therein differ from the Faith and Practice of the Primitive Saints and Martyrs yea all Protestant Churches to this day so you do not believe the Doctrine and Precepts of the Bible to be blessed and holy which teach Men so to do which is one Reason Secondly In that you warn charge and command your Disciples to read and cause to be read in your Meetings not only in England but beyond Sea your own Papers Epistles and Books whilst you not only lay aside the Scripture as useless but declare to all the World they are Death Dust and Serpents-meat Beastly Ware and that such as preach out of it are Conjurers Notable Conjurers Thirdly Because you say it's Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and yet allow your own Books that Title giving forth That what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater questioning whether Moses be the first Pen-man thereof Fourthly A fourth Reason is because you deny the Ordinances of Jesus Christ as Baptism and the Lord's Supper which the Scriptures teach saying Go teach all Nations baptising c. this do in remembrance of me c. Which the Apostles Primitive Christians and Martyrs practised who had the Spirit as much as you and witnessed Christ's second Coming as much as you Fifthly Your laying aside the use of the Lord's Prayer both in Manner and Form as aforesaid Sixthly Your laying aside the use of the Ten Commandments Seventhly And the Apostle's Creed Eighthly If you question whether Moses was the first Pen-man of Sacred Writ and what the Prophets spake true or false you I say cannot believe what you question Ninthly You teach that such as preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above are false Ministers but the Scripture tells you That Christ is risen and sits in Glory at the Right Hand of God in Heaven above And Tenthly Because you rob Christ of his Divine Attributes and put them upon your glorified George Fox calling him the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness c. See your Epistle This is only to go amongst Friends largely recited in this Introduction p. 5 6. which notwithstanding G. W's Denial is plainly proved to mean G. Fox yet to strengthen the said Proof see J. Whitehead's small Treat p. 4 5. After these things in the year 1648. God who had compassion on his People did cause a Branch to spring forth of the Root of David which was filled with Virtue for the Covenant of Life and Peace was with him and he spread and shot forth many Branches which did partake of the fatness of the Root and the weary came to rest under his Branches In him also was the word of Reconciliation which turned the Hearts of the Children and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just And in the year 1655. I being a Branch of this Tree meaning G. Fox the life of its Root caused me to blossom and bring forth Fruit for the Spirit of the Lord came upon me c. I say G. F's saying that he rise out of the North was prophesied of c. and the recited Epistle saying O thou North of England who art reckoned barren c. and J. Whitehead setting the date of the rising of this Branch and Star 1648. and that in 1655. he also becoming a Branch of this Tree 't is manifest that what I said in New Rome unm c. p 79 to 87. was not without warrantable ground as by the coherence of their Doctrine doth manifestly appear And since your Books thus interfere let us prove whether they be sincere or which shall we take to be their Judgment in good earnest Answ That they are not sincere I have already given ten Reasons but that I may renew your memory I will add one more viz. In all their Meetings for Worship of GOD they never read one Chapter of the Bible nor one of the Epistles of the Apostles for this thirty years but 't is frequent with them to read their own Epistles as herein I shall further shew only one instance for the present I may recite to confirm you in the truth of their practice and by which you may measure great part of their pretences viz. Several Papers given forth for the spreading the Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Friends to you all this is the Word of the LORD take heed of judging one another To you all this is the Word of the LORD to spread over all I charge you in the presence of the LORD GOD to send this Epistle amongst ALL FRIENDS AND BRETHREN EVERY WHERE to be read IN ALL MEETINGS This is THE WORD OF GOD. G. Fox 1. Pray observe first the design of sending their Books up and down it is TO SPREAD TRUTH and this might be done as well by recommending the reading of the Scriptures or some Portion thereof if indeed they do believe the Doctrine and Precepts contained therein be holy and blessed unless they will say their Books have a greater measure of holiness then the Scriptures which in the best sence they must believe unless they cheat the World most abominably to send them that which they know to be worse or least for their profiting Secondly You may observe what a Charge is given viz. I charge you in the PRESENCE of the LORD GOD to send this Epistle amongst all Friends what to do namely for a Publick Liturgy or Form of Divine Service viz. To be read in ALL MEETINGS Well what Authority had G. F. to impose this upon the poor People namely This is THE WORD OF GOD. Now if they do believe the Doctrine and Precepts contained in the Bible to be holy and blessed why do they not charge their People to read some part of the Scriptures for their Instruction but alas they have disputed against the Scripture being the Word of GOD but now you see they stile their own Nonsence to be THE WORD OF GOD and charge their poor ignorant People as such to receive it and as such to read it and as such to send it up and down into all the Countries and all Places and who dare gainsay the mighty Power of G. Fox Who as Ios Coal says hath his habitation in the power of the Highest who rules and governs in righteousness and his Kingdom is established in peace and the increase thereof is
without end and to this W. Penn says well done or very well in his Vindication of this Idolatrous Letter of J. C. to G. Fox So that you may conclude with Irenaeus who in his third Book against Hereticks thus Whilst Hereticks speak like the Faithful they not only mean otherwise than they say but clean contrary and by their Tenets full of Blasphemy they destroy the Souls of those who with their fair words suck in the Poyson of their foul Opinions Now therefore the best method that I know of to try whether there be any sincerity in these cunning Sophisters G. W. c. IS to take William Penn's method with the Papists who after he had shewed their pretence to one thing when they were really for another first said W. P. Let them renounce their Errours and then let us hear what they will say A short instance of his method I may recite in answer to the Objection A Seasonable Caveat against Popery c. p. 3. They i. e. Papists are grown so complaisant as none seem more exasperated at Persecution than themselves WHILST THE VERY FATHERS OF IT decrying the fierceness of some Countries WHOSE INCENDIARIES THEY WERE AND STILL ARE and imputing the Blood of poor Protestants to some unwarrantable Civil soore THEREBY ABUSING THE MAGISTRATE WITH THE EXECUTION OF THEIR OWN CONSPIRACIES Nay for all their venerable esteem of the Popes Infallibility they have not stuck to censure his roaring Bulls THOUGH PROCURED BY THEIR OWN MEANS and all that might express their new tenderness that many unacquainted with their practices are ready to believe them what they say themselves to be whose Moral is to have two strings to their Bow to be ambo dexter and furnisht with meanings to sute the compass of all occasions Thus far W. P. And whoever observes these Quakers turnings and windings in all their Juglings and Ledjerdemain will find they tread the same Path tho' in another manner for who will or can pretend more plainly to own the Precepts and Doctrine of the Bible to be holy and blessed and yet in other Books say 't is dust and death the Serpents Meat and that to preach out of them is Conjuration and that the Minister of the Letter is the Minister of Death and that 't is dangerous to read the Scriptures and so in most things they look two ways JANUS like insomuch that for W. Penn's four Instances of the Papists Hypocrisie I could easily give you forty of these Quakers two-fac'd Practices looking one way and rowing another in short see W. P.'s Method and if you would understand these Quakers aright use it viz. p. 35. To conclude says W. Penn if we would not receive a Thief until he has repented let the Papists first Recant his volumous Errours c. And so say I let the Quakers first condemn their Errours and these their Books which contain them and manifest their sincerity touching the Precepts and Doctrines of the Scriptures SO as to recommend the reading some Portion thereof in lieu of their own Epistles I say let them first Recant what is really erronious secondly condemn the Books thirdly make a a solemn profession of some certain and necessary Articles of the Christian Faith and then and not whilst then they ought to be reputed as Christians As to what G. W. offers in his Charitable Essay c. p. 2 3. in your Vindication about you Creed cited by me in New Rome c. rather confirms what I say then otherwise as will more fully appear by comparing the same with what followeth in this Discourse as well as shew G. W's twelve Assistants their great Errour and Mistake And in answer to them and their blind false and implicite Certificate I do affirm that what I have quoted as the Quakers I will prove theirs and what I now quote under the Title of ERROURS and CONSEQUENCES and in other places are the Quakers own Books and Writings neither do I wrong them And if the twelve will ingage under their Hands either to prove what they can justifie by Scripture and condemn under their Hands what they by Scripture cannot justifie I will take the like number and meet them on a Months notice at Bishop Stafford which is more than half way and by the Testimony of Scripture let the matter be decided and if you refuse this for shame complain no more of being wronged neither let your Drudge G. W. as in his Just Inquiry c. p. 14. says as he doth viz. THE LIBELLER HAS SHAMEFULLY MISREPRESENTED US as is usual with you and all Hereticks to complain of being wronged and misrepresented c. As for instance 1. Tell the Papists of worshipping Images praying to Saints the Sacrifice of the Mass that they believe their own Traditions or Epistles as firmly as they do the Bible that they believe Transubstantiation Indulgencies c. as drawn up by Pius the Fourth according to the Decrees and Canons of the Council of Trent and the CONSEQUENCES of these their erronious Principles and they will tell you they are MISREPRESENTED 2. Tell the Arians that they are Enemies to the Divinity of Christ they will tell you they are MISREPRESENTED for say they all that we contend for is only for such a moment of time as may make good the Relation of a Father and a Son 3. Tell the Nestorians that they made two Persons in Christ and they will tell you they are MISREPRESENTED for all they designed was to avoid the Blasphemy in calling the blessed Virgin the Mother of God 3. Tell the Eutychians their Errour in saying there was but one Nature in Christ and they will tell you they are MISREPRESENTED for say they we do not mean thereby to destroy the Properties of the Humane Nature but only to assert that its Substance was swallowed up by the Divine And therefore in all Complaints of this Nature it is necessary to come to particulars and to examin with care and diligence the matter complained of and then to give Judgment in the Case and therefore I cannot be thought to misrepresent you nor wrong you if I charge you with Particulars and those Particulars too taken and fairly quoted not out of such Books as have been wrote against you which yet might be true enough but out of your own approved Books wrote by your most Authentick Writers solemnly professing to all the World I would not wrong you nor misrepresent you nor to my knowledge have I done it if you think I have I have given you a fair opportunity to make it appear if you will meet me on the Condition aforesaid and if you can shew me wherein I have I further ingage to do you Justice by a Publick Reparation And by these Measures I have proceeded from first to last and by the help of GOD I am resolved so to continue as long as I have to do with you But one thing by the way I would have you take notice of and that is
them besides several Gentlemen and others Inhabitants of Wymondham to renew my Challengs to R. Ashby one of your Teachers which was to prove That the Quakers deny Jesus of Nazareth the Scriptures Christ's Ordinances undervalue his Sufferings exalt your own c. as at large in Quakerism Anatomized p. 2. Which may fully Answer your captious Demands in your Essay p. 7. Viz. June 4 th 1694. Whereas R. Ashby lately wrote to the Inhabitants of Wymondham to beware of Fr. Bugg's Book Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving c. As containing Lies and false Representations c. Upon which some of us desired Francis Bugg to appear in his own Vindication which he readily consented to and renewed his Charge against the Doctrine and Principles of the Quakers as in the recited Book Quakerism Withering c. And gave the said R. Ashby a Challenge to meet him and a Months time to prepare himself But the Day being come and the said R. Ashby not appearing as it 's said on his behalf by Reason of Business at London Nevertheless to prevent all Excuses on the part of the said R. Ashby we have again requested Francis Bugg to renew his Challenge and to give him longer time to prepare himself assuring him That as we shall stand by Fr. Bugg in what he maintains according to Scripture so shall we be against him where he asserts the contrary or mis-cite and falsly charge the Quakers Tho. Wright William Haws Rich. Clark Robert Purt Roger Gay William Le Neve Lewis Hinton Jacob Henery John Henery Peter Atdam Richard Smith And many others And accordingly I renewed my Challenge pursuant to my former Proposition offering to meet him at Wymondham the 18 th of July 1694. And sent him per Post c. And let none think it strange that the Quakers and their Principles are thus Anatomised and set forth to Posterity For those Histories that have derived to us the Knowledge of those Errors and Heresies which sprang up amongst the Ancient Christians as Tares amongst the Wheat have not been accounted superfluous nor their Respect worn out in several Ages How much the more concerned should all true Christians be to have the knowledge of those born in our own Age brought forth in our own Bowels According to Christ's Prophecy Mat. 24. 24. For tho' G. Fox in his Journal p. 27 28. 30. 103. 170 171. 173. 307. 350. 407. 503 504. pretend to Miracles as in the Third Table under the word Miracle thus viz. Miracles wrought by the Power of God i. e. She that was ready to dye raised up again The Lame made whole The Diseased restored John Jay's Neck brake restored c. And many other pretended Miracles yet not one of them said to be done in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth as in Acts 3. 6. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk Which is a strong Argument of their disowning Jesus of Nazareth and of their confirming their New Religion in Opposition to that of Christs But I have not room to shew the Tendency of those Blasphemous Pretences of that Impostor G. Fox which probably hereafter I may In the mean while I am June 25. 1694. Thy Sincere Friend FRANCIS BUGG The CONTENTS of this Book THE Quakers and Papists pretended Miracles Page 2 G. Fox when living in a Glorified State 4 G. Fox the Quakers Star-branch c. confirmed 5 6. 16 A Treble Observation on a Triple Quaker 9 Geo Keith's Ten Articles of Faith 14 They value and prefer their Books before the Scriptures 11 12 The Quakers Sufferings greater than the Suferings of Christ 9 The Quakers fly from their Word 21. 23 They say the Name Jesus belongs to every Member of the Body i. e. every Believer as well as to Christ the Head 8. 28 Dangerous Consequences of the Quakers Doctrine 31 A Sign to prove the Quakers Sincerity p. 36 A Conference between F. B. and S. Cater 39 A Cage of Unclean and Hateful Birds 50 The Prophesies of the Prophets fulfilled 55 A Discovery of the World's Teachers 47 G. Fox his Epistle or Liturgy sent to be read in Churches 43 Tho. Bilney the Martyr his Christian Doctrine 59 The Quakers read not Scripture but their own Epistles 41 Geo. Keith charges them to hold Dangerous Errors 38 Queries propounded to the Quakers 65 The Conclusion 68 To which is added the Challenge to R. Ashby Books Written by Francis Bugg I. DE Christianae Libertate or Christian Liberty c. II. The Painted Harlot both stript and whipt III. Reason against Railing or Truth against Falshood IV. Innocency Vindicated and Envy Rebuked V. The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. VI. Battering Rams against New Rome c. VII One Blow more at New Rome c. VIII New Rome Unmask'd and her Foundation shaken IX New Rome Arraigned and out of her own Mouth Condemned X. Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving XI Quakerism Anatomized or a Challenge to Richard Ashby XII New Rome Arraigned c. The Second Edition Besides a Printed Letter to the Quakers and a Sheet to the Parliament An APOLOGITICAL INTRODUCTION Courteous Reader THERE is scarce any Sect of People how erronious soever they be but they have some Advocates and such too as oftentimes may give just occasion for an Apology for writing against their Errors and more especially when they make such fair Pretences to the Christian Religion as the Quakers of late have done in divers of their Books particularly that entituled The Harmony of the Old and New Testament wherein the Author prefixeth a twofold Preface the one to the Christians the other to the Jews premising two things 1st To wipe off such Aspersions as have been cast upon them as denying Jesus of Nazareth and the Divine Authority of the Scriptures Now how far their Book will answer this End unless they make an Ingenuous Retractation of their Errors this Treatise may shew 2dly I have not says this Author transcribed the whole of all those Verses which sometimes is cited but only so much as I conceive doth more immediately relate to c. Very well If then he contract the Scripture and take what he conceives necessary to the Point in hand I hope I shall have the same Liberty and not liable to Censure for the same thing a Fault the Quakers are too much guilty of And because I would be as concise as may be I shall recite their Books which are generally of two sorts of two Stamps and carry two contrary Faces contrary Doctrines contrary Principles c. in two Columns that as in a Glass their Hearers if they will but read may behold the depth of Hypocrisie which lye couch'd in their Leaders Doctrines not only liable to deceive them but the whole World who take them to mean as they say which makes me believe them to be the very Deceivers Christ foretold of Matt. 24 24. for though they come forth pretending to convert the Jews by
Their pretence that such as have the same Spirit which raised up Jesus are equal with GOD I must say 't is horrible Blasphemy yet it ought to be charged upon them until they publickly condemn the Book which hath little else in it but Blasphemy and false Doctrine and railing on the Publick Ministry However it never was corrected by Errata as is usual and hath gone for a Gospel Truth above forty years and as their Principle if they believe as they write and therefore I charge it upon them until they condemn the said Book And secondly their Impudence in saying that if we will own the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles we must necessarily own their Books this is of kin to the rest i. e. Blasphemy And thirdly for them to say If Christ the Light in them say I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE why may He not speak I answer If they can work the same Miracles He did and produce as many Prophets that foretold of G. Fox's coming out of the North as I shall that foretold of Christ's coming then I shall believe them Fourthly What horrible Blasphemy is it to say 'T is dangerous to read the Scriptures and to call them Dust Death Carnal Serpents-meat as likewise the Ordinances of Christ and the Communion of Saints which Christians ought to hold and believe as an Article of their Faith And then fifthly to call the Publick Ministers Witches Devils Conjurers c. is very pernicious Such Books ought to be burnt as Jacob Baker a Quaker once confest he would burn it And sixthly for them to hold that they and they ONLY are in the Truth 't is the perfect Pharisee But for them to write that G. Fox was before Confusion or the many Languages were is monstrous Such Blasphemies ought to be posted As likewise Ja. Parnell to say that he was before Arguments was and was come to the end of all Arguments is notorious And seventhly so is it in G. Fox to say that he stands covered and neither he nor his name known in the world O what shall I say was there ever such wickedness And yet here is nothing so bad nothing so wicked nothing so false so Idolatrous so Blasphemous But G. W. can salve it he can vindicate or excuse it nay more then so he can procure twelve Witnesses to say We 〈…〉 declare on the behalf of the Quakers that what Fr. Bugg says is 〈…〉 and wicked for they never so believed so said nor so affirm'd c. 〈…〉 being solemnly avouched as in The holy fear of Almighty God 〈…〉 an Oath and if what these twelve affirm be false then they are perjured Persons in the eye of the Law and deserve to be Pillored And thereupon I charge them with Perjury with false-witnes bearing until they by publick retraction repent and give Satisfaction For as you will spare none neither Ox nor Ass old nor Young no more will I I will not spare nor my eye shall not pity Friend or Foe which comes up with false Evidence yea so false as if they should say black is white and white is black I must say that as T. G. hath no need to depend on G. W. and that he must know that G. W. hath as little love for him as for some he hath wrote against yet I am sorry to see his Name there As for the others many of them have their dependency on the Chair and G. W being therein I marvel not at them provided their Testimony had been true but I am sure it is notorious false nay and that they themselves know it to be false I will give the World a SIGN which is this If they know and be conscious to themselves that their Evidence is false they will not come forth according to my Proposition in this Book made to meet me but if they be not conscious to themselves of false Evidence how false soever it is they will come forth to clear themselves and be glad I give them the opportunity and by this SIGN they shall be proved Come on you twelve Master-Builders can you read these sixteen Instances and not blush when you behold your Certificate and particularly the first third fifth and eleventh as also the first second and third Errours I say can you read the Passages taken out of your own Books wrote by your most eminent Preachers and yet affirm you never said so wrote so believed so nor taught so and not blush and be horribly ashamed But I have given a Sign to prove you and by it you shall be tried Again Can you read p. 77. of G. F's Great Mystery where he justifies Felony under a pretence of being moved by the Spirit of GOD and not blush What is all your Zeal gone or are you fearful of displeasing G. W. now he is got into the Chair Can you look on the fifth Instance and see how G. W. teaches that the Scripture is not the Rule nor Matthew Mark Luke and John the New Testament but the Letter which killeth c. And can you behold his contrary Pretences in his late Writings and not reprove him can you hear him pretend that he was moved of GOD to write Judgment Fixed c. and that GOD laid a necessity upon him to write that Book and that therein the neither consults the Events nor fears the Effects and yet proved to write notorious Lies And can you thus let him pass only with saying he was mistaken when he fathered all his Lies upon the moving of the Spirit of GOD even six Lies in number and great part of his Matter bottomed thereupon Can you hear and read his Excuses and Vindications of the Idolatious Letters wrote to G. Fox by Jos Coal John Audland John Blaikling and Sol. Eccles and can you be silent at these things Read my Parallel between the Papists and Quakers in New Rome c. p. 40. to 49. Can you take notice of the Names he and others have given my self and such as have opposed your Church Government and the imposing the observation of your Womens Meetings which some of you are no more in love with then some of us which wrote against the mischief of your Impositions I say can you behold the Names he c. gave us viz. Old canker'd Apostates vile Apostates unruly Beasts Runagades Treacherous Apostates Apostate Informers betraying Iudas's Devils Incarnate Wolves Doggs Enemies of all Righteousness Children of the Devil dark Devil-driven dungy Gods Heathens Atheists c. See some of the Quakers Principles and Doctrines c. p. 10 11. for more of this stuff nay such personal defamations and detractions which hath had such an Effect not only of our Profession in Religious Matters but upon our Persons and Imployments which in time may be further taken notice of Can you behold all this and a hundred things more which I might name which hath occasioned a great part of your Troubles And can you submit your Necks your
Observation So then I read out of G. Fox his Book what followeth the Astonishing Confutation abovesaid News coming up out of the North c. p. 14. So Dust is the Serpents meat their Original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death their Church is Dust and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter S. Cater I deny that we call the Scriptures Dust or Serpents-meat F. B. But S. Cater wilt thou deny it if you see it in one of your Friends Books S. Cater Yea wherever I see it I will deny it F. B. Richard Tilson go and fetch my Box which he did I read it as in the recited Charge and Sam. Cater took the Book and read it S. Cater Thou saidst we call'd the Scriptures Dust and Death but there is not the word Scripture in the whole Passage F. B. People I appeal to you whether Matthew Mark Luke and John be not Scripture With that perceiving S. Cater's Evasion the People gave a great shout and said Yes Yes S. Cater Matthew Muck F. B. Hold Sam. what Matthew muck what Muck is that what shall we have a new Gospel John Cade a Norwich Preacher said Friends take notice that as the Bible grows old it will moulder and crumble away and become Dust F. B. People observe They would not have you think that new Bibles are Dust but when they grow old they moulder away c. and therefore my Advice to you is to get new Bibles W. Read Francis we deny thy words we have given it in to the King and Parliament that we believe the Scriptures was given forth by Divine Inspiration and they have accepted of it F. Bugg The more shame for you to be so deceitful to give in a Testimony so contrary to your Belief For if so why do you not Retract and Condemn your Books which are as opposite to what you now say as Light is to Darkness And some few Passages more we had But if they believe as they write that the Gospel Matthew Mark Luke and John be Dust I wonder with what face they could appear before the Parliament until they had first retracted and by some publick Act have condemned their Books which throw such Contempt upon the Holy Scripture For a further proof of this Charge see the sixteen Instances Object But possibly some may object and say It 's true you have more then sufficiently proved your first Charge and in the proof thereof there is enough said of their speaking contemptuously of the Holy Scriptures by calling them Dust Death Serpents-meat Carnal Letter killing Letter Dangerous to read c. yea and their contemptuous Speeches of the Sacraments Church Ministery c. yet the second Branch of your second Charge seems unproved where you bring it as an Argument against them of their not owning the Scriptures and that they over-value their own Writings Now if you have any thing material to offer pray do Answ I am very willing as I always was to leave things as clear as I can and place my Argument upon Matter of Fact out of their own printed Books And having already signified that ERROURS and CONSEQUENCES are out of their Books and their rejecting the Scriptures and reading the Scriptures in their Religious Meetings if I may so call them being a Consequent of the second Errour I shall so call them viz. both the Titles of their Epistles and the Conclusion enough to signalize their way and manner and THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF THE Quakers ERROURS First THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS c. Directed To the Camp of the Lord in England meaning the Quakers Subscribed Edw. Burrough and Fra. Howgill Second To the Flock of Christ every where to be read in their Assemblies by G. Fox Printed for Ben. Clark 1681. Third To the Children of Light c. Directed thus I desire this Epistle may be read in the fear of the Lord in your several Meetings By William Penn. Fourth A Salutation of Love from the Spirit of Life unto all Friends of Truth c. Let this be read amongst Friends who are Exiled or sentenced for Exilement when they are met together in the fear of the Lord. Josiah Coale Printed 1665. Fifth An Epistle to Friends in Holland Let this be sent amongst the Friends in Holland Jos Coal Printed 1667. Sixth To the Flock of GOD gathered out of the World in the Province of Mariland Let the Copies of this Epistle be sent amongst Friends every where in the Province of Mariland to be read amongst them in all their Assemblies in the fear of the Lord. Jos Coal Seventh Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth c. I charge you in the presence of the Lord God to send this amongst all Friends and Brethren EVERY WHERE to be read in all Meetings To you all this is THE WORD OF GOD G. Fox REMARK Thus Reader I have given a few Instances of their way and manner of sending their Epistles to be read in their Meetings both in England Holland and Mariland and were it needful I could give you a hundred more which shews that they give their own Writings the preferrence as well as that they lay aside the use of the Scriptures in their Meetings and no marvel if the Scriptures be Death Dust Carnal Serpents meat and if it be Conjuration to preach out of them and if the Ministers of the Scriptures be Ministers of Death and if it be dangerous to read them as were they as by the Quakers esteemed Dust Death Serpents-meat it were surely dangerous to read them for who would feed upon Dust and Death and Serpents-meat this could no way nourish nor strengthen but corrupt poison and putrifie the Minds of such as are most exercised in reading them and that so it is in their Judgment For if it were wholesome to read them and that they believed them to be given forth by Divine Inspiration as they to the Parliament have pretended to serve a Turn why do they not read the Scriptures or sometimes a Chapter or sometimes one of the Apostles Epistles in their Meetings as that they do not nor never did nay I challenge all the Quakers in England whether ever their Ministers recommended so much as one Chapter to be read in any of their Meetings for Worship these forty years much less charged them in the presence of the LORD GOD to read such a Chapter or such an Epistle as wrote either by the Prophets or Apostles And if they cannot let it be a Sign for ever that they deny the Scriptures first by contempt thrown on them and next by their practice of laying them aside and reading their own Epistles and let it rest upon Record as a witness against their deep Hypocrisies and let it be a Testimony against the false Pretences and Perjury of the twelve false Witnesses Nay and not only in their own Meetings but let me give you one
the fruit of your doings yet I would in your next have you shew me a Reason why you have not answered my former Queries and Mr. Archer's Query I remember G. F. put forth a Book stiled A Primer for the Doctors and Scholars of Europe c. Anno 1659 wherein is contained Two thousand four hundred thirty four Queries demanding What was a Genitive Case a Dative Case a Participle an Adverb an Interjection a Dipthong a Vowel c. on purpose to bring contempt upon Learning and the Learned as cited in Battering Rams c. I have shewed more at large But O how he strutted and vaunted and boasted like Goliah of Gath saying Come out of your Holes and Dens draw your Weapons if you have any worth the drawing for the little Davids i. e. Quakers are risen who have the Slings the Baggs and ths Stones c. And therefore come forth ye Scholars into the open field there to be tried with the little Davids and let us see if your Tongues can wag c And if you refuse to answer my former Queries yet let me prevail with you to answer these following viz. Query 1. Why did you in your Book The Trumpet of the Lord c. cry Wo to such as were call'd Master and Mistress Sir c. And that drank Wine eat dainty Dishes wore Silk and Velvet that had Waiting-men and Waiting-maids that rode in Coaches and high and lofty Horses c. since 't is now common for the Quakers to call and be called Master and Mistress Sir and to drink Wine eat dainty Dishes were Silk and Velvet and Perriwigs c. to ride in Coaches and as lofty Horses and rich Houses as any Body your Circumstances considered and to have Waiting-men and Waiting-maids Doth not this argue an Apostacy Or is it only lawful to the Quakers and under the woe in others Query 2. Why do you refuse to pay two pence or four pence towards the reparation of the Militia Arms and yet can pay ten shillings towards carrying on a vigorous War against the French King Is not this like your pretending it unlawful to fight and yet excite stir up and incourage Oliver his Officers and Army to fighting saying O Oliver Cromwel thou shouldst have invited all Nations on Earth to come in and joyn with thee Let thy Soldiers go forth with a free and willing heart that thou maist rock Nations as a Cradle c. more largely recited in Battering Rams c. p. 3. Do you not in both these Instances delude the World or like the Pharisees of old strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel Query 3. Why do you refuse giving respect to your Superiours when at the same time you exact it of your Servants and Apprentices making them stand bare headed before you in your Houses and Shops Is not this Hypocrisie Quest 3. Why do you make such a noise against all other Ministers calling them Hirelings when you take money not only for preaching writing c. but for suffering as in the case of Sam. Cater who took 10 l. for Suffering where he did not suffer 10 d. as in New Rome unmask'd c. p. 60. to 90. Query 5. Why cannot you present to King William and Queen Mary one Publick Address in five years time as well as to the late King James the Second six in four years time Query 6. Since you say That visible Miracles have been done amongst the Quakers in the sight of the World Reply to the Vind. c. p. 14. And since you say We have Thousands at our Meetings and none of us dare speak a word but as we are eternally moved of the Lord A true Account c. p. 18. These two Assertions I further charge upon you to be notoriously false and therein as the Scripture truly says you tell lies in Hypocrisie Query 7. Whether it be not a sign of great Ignorance in your Deciples that not one in a thousand of twenty years old and under can say the LORD's Prayer the Apostles Creed and Ten Commandments and if so whether you do not nurse up your People in Ignorance and thereby manifest your Affinity with your Elder Sister who says Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion And that until you have condemned your Books which call the Doctrines and Ordinances of Jesus Christ the four Evangelists Matthew Mark Luke and John Dust Death Serpents-meat you ought not to be reckoned sincere in pretending that the Doctrines contained in the Bible are holy and blessed Answer these few Queries in plainness and let us know what you hold and believe in these things queried and answer my former Queries also COme Quakers all and answer to my Charge I have not time to draw it out at large For if I had and should the same design For every Errour I could draw out nine Your Books are full and your Epistles all So swell'd therewith even Errours great and small Such as no Sect save yours that 's known to me Afford the like this I do clearly see And could be glad to see you them Retract Condemn and Censure yea with all my heart I have no pleasure them to enumerate But rather mourn for to behold your State And were it not that others might be warn'd And you your selves precaution'd and forewarn'd I silent should remain for ever and Injoy my self in this my native Land Search the Scripture as CHRIST himself advise With reverence and them you 'l highly prise The Prophesies fulfilled you will find Which may confirm and satisfie your mind For they do teach that Salvation's in none So rightly plac'd as in HIS Name alone Who of the Virgin in due time was born Who liv'd and dy'd for Man's Salvation Read Acts the tenth and every Chapter there And Paul's Epistles too which do declare The Prophets too yea holy Men of old Avouch the same it cannot be controul'd Answer my Queries too or you 'l be blam'd As not able or else quite asham'd It is but fit that you should now discover Your Principles and no longer smother Wherefore come out of your closs Dens and Holes Into the Light and not lye hid like Moles Under the ground or like the Night-blind-Bat Avoid the Light this is a dismal state Come forth I say appear in the field Put on your Weapons yea also your shield For shame I say remain no longer mute Nor cowardly or fearful to dispute Remember how you to the Bishops call To learned Doctors yea to the Clergy all For to come forth and meet you in the field As if so arm'd as not design'd to yield What are you storm'd what are you put to flight Or are you weak or are you in a fright Where 's now your Stones your Slings your Sword your Bag Where is your Tongue why does it not now wag Where is your Zeal where is your boasting now What is it lost or do you not know how To answer me or to defend my Charge What