also Dan. 5 you may read of the Hand-Writing that appeared at Belshazer's impious Feast who beholding it his Countenance was changed and he cryed out for the Astrologers Magicians and Wise Men here it failed also When Christ Jesus was born of Mary the Scribes the Pharisees the High Priests with all their Schollarships could not find out that he was the Saviour but took him for a most wicked Impostor How â—ame it then that they could not find it out seeing that they had the Scriptures that fore-told his coming nay instead of knowing him by their Hebrew Greek and Latin they persecuted him and put him to the most shameful Death however many poor illiterate Mechanicks had him revealed unto them I might bring many Scripture-Testimonies more to my Defence but at present do content my self with these not doubting but such Hoops as these will make my Vessel hold Water these following may be used also if need be Bishop Jewel in his Book against Papists writ about a hundred years ago said thus The Spirit of God is bound neither to Sharpness of Wit Bishop â—ewel against Hard. p. 532.534 nor to abundance of Learning oft-times the Unlearned see that which the Learned cannot see therefore Epiphanius saith Only to the Children of the Holy Ghost all the Scriptures are plain and clear Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without special Revelation without the special Help and Prompting of God's holy Spirit the Word of God is to the Reader be he never so wise and learned but as the Vision of a fealed Book William Dell It is only the INSPIRATION of GOD that enables a Man to know the Things of God William Dell confut Sims p. 114 115 116 117. and not man's Study and human Learning Dr. Barns Martyr Burnt for his Faith in King Henry the eighth's dayes saith That Man's Will Reason Wisdom Heart Soul or Whatsoever thing is in man without the Spirit of God is but the Wisdom of the Flesh Zwinglius The Scriptures are not to be understood but by that very same Spirit by which they were writ Tom 3. fol. 160. Peter Martyr that famous Italian Protestant teacheth us That the Spirit is the Abettor by which we must assure our selves for the understanding of the Scriptures Peter Mart. ch 6. and that thereby we must discern between the Words of Christ and the Words of a Stranger Erasmus What 's set forth by man's Device may be received by Man's Wit Eras on 1 Pet. 1.19 ibid. or 1 Cor. 2. but the Thing that 's set forth by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost requireth an Interpreter inspired with the like Spirit Thus Reader thou may'st see who abuses the first Reformers my Adversary or I yet he calls himself a Protestant but if he be he is very much apostatized from the first reformed ones and for my part I am a Protestant in this Case with the afore-said good men And whereas in my Book I did give my Testimony That none could understand the Mysteries of God's Kingdom by Human Learning Arts or Sciences and he hath said nothing to invalid my Assertion yet I did not say there nor was it ever in my Heart that Schollarship was not good in its place viz. to translate any History out of one Language to another as Hebrew to Greek Greek to Latin Latin to English English to Welch or Welch to English c. in these and in Commerce with men by them that travel into strange Countries and for trading with them it s of excellent use But let a man be Master of never so many Languages he cannot by them know the true Meaning of the Parable which Christ spoke The Kingdom of God may be compared to a Mustard seed and whoever say they can they are in their own Eyes wise but when they come to the Tryal they will find it deceitful as well as Pilate and the Jews and many others did And John in his Revelations gives in his Judgment in this Case he says The Whore sits upon the Waters and he says The Waters are Tongues Languages and Peoples But may some say Who is that Whore he there speaks of It s plain that a Whore is one that is Adulterated from her Husband and Christ Jesus is the Husband of the true Spouse his Church but many who have laid Claim to him for their Husband have adulterated from him in their Lives and Conversations and this is that Whore which would make People believe she is an Honest Wife she gets the Tongues and Languages and Peoples and upon these as John saith she sits as a Queen and the Cry now is to all Come out of her my People partake not of her Sins lest ye partake of her Plagues Pilate and the Jews who put Christ to Death had Hebrew Greek and Latin for Pilat wrote a Superscription in Hebrew Greek and Latin and set over Christ's Head when he was Crucified and the Jews read it and yet by these Tongues they knew not Christ CHAP. IV. Of his Reflection on me calling me COOPER c. IN this he spits his Malice at me as much as in any and indeed his Book savours of little else and in this he thought to Character to Disgrace by Reflecting upon my small Original but I am quite of another mind for if this would be so to me it would certainly be of much more to very many that I could name were it not lest any should think I did reflect on them who are now Persons of known Repute and Honour in the World who had smaller Beginnings than my self I could bring the Libeller under this Odium also if he thinks it be any if he be the Man he is said to be but Revenge is none of my Way therefore will at present reply to him of this Matter He 's fitter to Plant Tobacco or at bâ—st to mind hiâ— Ax and Saw Libeller pag. 20. the Joynter and the Adz alias Neddâ— the Criste and the Head-Knife c. Rep. It s known to many now living in this my Native Country wherein I live and it being also near the place where I was Born that my genious from a Child did lead me to Surgery insomuch that before I was Ten Years old I several times over-ran my School and Home when I heard of any ones being wounded or hurt used all my endeavours then to see Fractures and Dislocations reduc'd and Wounds dressed and have been so long missing that my Parents thought they had lost me for which I underwent severe Correction and the troublesome Times being then my Parents sustained great Plunder and my Father dyed before I was Eleaven Years old and my Mother not being then able to produce so great a Sum of Money as to set me to Chyrurgery I betook my self to this honest necessary Calling he upbraids me with with several other things that in those dayes pleased my mind yet during all
AN Antichristian Conspiracy DETECTED AND Satans Champion DEFEATED Being a Reply to an Envious Scurrilous Libel without any Name to it CALLED WORK for a COOPER Being also a Vindication of my Book entituled The Antiquity of the Quakers From the Base Insinuations False Doctrine and False Charge therein contain'd against me my Book and against God's People called QUAKERS in general By me Thomas Wynne Printed in the Year 1679. Isa 51.22 23. Thus saith the Lord the Lord and thy God that pleadeth the Cause of his people Behold I have taken out of thy hand the Cup of Trembling even the Dregs of the Cup of my Fury thou shalt no more drink it again But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee which have said to thy Soul Bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the Ground and as the Street to them that went over Micah 3.5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my People to Err that bite with their Teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their Mouthes they even prepare War against him Matth. 10.25 It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold 1 Cor. 1.27 But God hath chosen the Foolish Things of this World to confound the Wise and God hath chosen the Weak Things of the World to confound the Things that are Mighty TO THE READER Courteous Reader SInce it hath fallen to my Lot for my love to be requited with Hatred it s my satisfaction that I gave no Cause but that in Obedience to divine Requirings I put my Candle on a Candlestick and my Talent although but small to the Bank but what Reception into the World it hath had hath been such as was fore-told by my dear Lord and Master Jesus Christ who said to his Disciples They shall speak all manner of Evil against you falsly for my Names sake and it s so now truly come to pass in our day as in this particular may plainly appear in my following Reply wherein I have considered what I conceived to have any seeming weight against my Book and in general have vindicated my Book my Friends and the glorious Truth which we profess from my Adversary's false Charge who hath dealt with me as the Spanish Inquisitors did by the Protestants they clothed them in their Sambenitoes viz. Garments upon which are painted the shapes of Devils that the Dogs might the sooner fasten on them and worry them even so hath he as may be seen by the Picture he hath put to front his Libel if he excuse himself that he crown'd it with a Windmil which might stave them off yet that he was not altogether without a Patern is very evident for if we look back but until the time of our Master Christ Jesus his Appearance in the Flesh we may find how they mocked him John 19.2 you may see how they plated a Crown of Thorns and put it upon his Head and Pilate as a fit President for the Libeller said Behold the Man thus all who are moderate may see how his Tribe used our dear Lord himself therefore I may conclude he hath dealt with me but in imitation of them and hath only shewed that he hath not degenerated from the Nature of his Predecessors for in imitation of his Patrons he blazens it with a Whip and Whipping Post in it as thou mayest see in the second page of his Libel which were enough of it self to manifest him to all men to be neither a Christian nor true Protestant for Christ would not have Fire come down from Heaven to destroy Enemies much less treat his Friends with such Cruelty who in pure Love visited the Children of Men to turn them from their Evil Wayes My Adversary in this his ungodly Work doth not resemble CHRIST and his FOLLOWERS but is BONNER and GARDNER like which had he been in their time could hardly have wanted an Office And certain it is that this was not the Method of the true Protestant Reformers he might then well conceal his Name when he would concern himself in so detestable a piece of Absurdity since that most of his Matter was Lyes made at home and his Book a Bell to Ring them abroad and it will neither in this World nor that to come turn to his Credit neither to the Priests nor his other Benefactors who gathered him Money to Print it for at the great Tribunal Christ Jesus will not fear to tell them It was WORK of INIQUITY for said he Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me And whereas there is a great deal of Dirt in his Book which he chargeth on Friends as Matter of Fact which I have not in particular Replyed to they being Abominable Lyes and Slanders as in page 6. he sayes They can like the Blasphemous Muggleton fix Woes or Joyes a Blessing or a Curse Everlastingly to all Eternity And in page twelve among a great many horrid Lyes he telleth of some did endeavour to obtrude that they could foretell to a Minute the Last and Dreadful Day of Judgment and could heal more Diseases than All the World could possibly need Help for with very many more Wicked Lyes up and down his Book which neither he nor the Most Envious of our Adversaries can ever prove against any TRUE QUAKER And as for his calling my Friends Vile Wretches and Coxcombs and many more ill Names and me Charon and Ferryman of Hell and much more Ill Language I pass by knowing that God will rebuke him and plead the Cause of the Innocent therefore I have kept close to what was Matter of Doctrine in it hoping that to the meanest Capacity who will be single that I have cleared my Self my Book God's Truth and People and manifested his to be grounded on a Foundation that is Sandy and will not stand when our God shall make a full Examine of the Matter contained in it Thomas Wynne An Antichristian Conspiracy Detected and Satans Champion Defeated CHAP. I. The Introduction of Quaking and Trembling THE blessed Truth of God together with the true Love I bore to my Native Country North Wales induced me to Salute them with the Book Intituled The Antiquity of the Quakers And after its Publication for a whole Year I was often told sometimes of one Priest Answering it and sometimes of another but at last comes out one not subscribed by any called Work for a Cooper which by Gods assistance I now take in hand and w ll discover to the moderate Reader of what quality soever he be that this Man hath not done like a Man of God at all which certainly had becom'd him to do especially being he seems to make himself to personate so great a Society of People
and to be the Mouth of their Priests But instead of so doing he hath not come much short of the worst of men that ever writ against us as will appear by his scurrillity Perversion of my Words and of Scripture also his many Lyes and Slanders Detractions and unjust Reflections both upon me and the whole Body of Gods People called Quakers in general First after he hath bestowed on me and my Friends about three or four pages of abusive Reflection and casting of Dirt at us he cul'd out two Testimonies out of about thirty which I brought to prove Quaking and Trembling not to be Novel among Gods People and how he undertakes to confute me in those two you shall hear anon But before I make my Reply I think it convenient to acquaint my Reader how I came to joyn my self to those poor despised and abused People of God called Quakers I was Baptized and brought up a Protestant and having learned the Articles of their Faith and the Prayers of the Church I thought all was well untill I was about fifteen Years old and then soon after it happened that I could not find any such Church as I was baptized into the Wolf was got among them who tore many of them to pieces and the rest fled So that go to what Church I would I could find neither Bishop Doctor Prebend Vicar nor Curat to look after my Soul viz. not one of my Protestant Instructers they were all fled and left me to the mercy of the Wolf that had worried them and for many Years together there were none of them so much as visited me nor sent me so much as an Epistle or Collect nor any comfort or hopes But before I was twenty Years of Age I was amazed and astonished to see what was come to pass and began to reflect upon my self and to think what would become of my poor Soul For those who pretended to be my guides to Heaven were fled I knew not the way And my Brethren the Protestants without any more ado both great small went to hear the Hirelings that were then set up unless it were here there one and most of these men of low degree such as they could get nothing off and when I saw it thus come to pass I went also for company but found their great matter was to Exclaim against the Protestants which hit me upon the Sore but when I came to inquire strictly after them I found they did as the Protestants had done before them as to that part called Interest they had their Peepers into every ones Field lest any should give them a little Sheaf for a great one and were excellently skill'd in Arithmetick for they could make their Parishoners by a Figure they then had and the Priests now have If there were but five or six Geese belonging to a House make them pass for Ten urging as the Libeller doth pag. 26 27. That it was of as much Right to them as the other five were to the Owner They had also the same way for the Piggs and were as well skill'd for Easter-Reckonings and Midsummer-Dues as they call them I thought these did not quadrate well with those nor can it be Gospel in the present ones by this time I began to question whether any were then to be found in the right or not For my Instructers were fled and the others at best were but miserable Comforters for turn to the Right hand or Left I saw Iniquity abound and then I began to recollect my self and consider what my God-Fathers and God-Mothers so called had promised and vowed for me in my Baptism as they called it viz. That I should forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh This indeed was to forsake all Sin but how to perform I could not tell for I had lost my Guides that so taught however I inquired of others whether this might be performed or not No no said they none can ever be freed from Sin in this Life Then might I well say it was unreasonable that any should be bound and so solemnly as with a Vow to do that which neither they nor I nor none in the World could do I asked then Whether any could keep the Christian Faith and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in them all the dayes of their Lives No no said they I afterwards asked both Protestants and Papists the same but found them all to agree in this point That none could be freed from sin in this life then began my Sorrow to encrease and to be more then I could bear and this was the time dear Country-men that the Almighty God who is no Respecter of Persons did break in upon my Soul by his Everlasting Light and discovered to me the emptiness of all those great Professions who only talked Largely and Eloquently of God and Christ and of Religion as it is at this day which was and is verified in their Practices the many great Pretences to Religion was and is but really a pursuing the Error of Balaam viz. Gifes and Rewards And it was at this time that the Lord raised many Witnesses to proclaim the Controversie that God had both with Professors and with Prophane and the Amazing Terrors of God being upon them for sin made them exceedingly to Tremble and it was not for fear of the then Powers nor for fear of Hell nor of Punishment as the Libeller wickedly insinuates in pag. 11. for the contrary will appear by their boldness in bearing their Testimony against the Hirelings and Powers then in Being whose Sufferings were so great that much of them could could not be recorded which will to all moderate men sufficiently rescue them from the Libellers false Insinuations in p. 8. That their Trembling was or is from a servile Fear But hear his Answer pag. 4. If Fear and Trembling were enough to prove a certainty of being beloved of God The Libeller page 4. then Balaam 's Ass and the Demoniacks among the Tombs Faelix the Hypocrite and Judas that hang'd himself for fear of any more seeing his Innocent and Righteous Master yea the Devils themselves might put in for a share too for St James expresly sayes that they believe and Tremble Reply Where hath this Malicious Perverter read in my Book or in any others of the Quakers Writings That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove a Certainty of being beloved of God Nay Serious Reader if thou wilt be but just to both him and me thou wilt find no such Word in my Book as That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove any's being beloved of God Upon my arguing on about thirty Testimonies of holy Writ of which he hath meddled with Two which indeed were too many to Pervert as he hath done and if thou wilt in Moderation read mine thou wilt find me only inser from them That Quaking and
succes l. 6. The Plow-man's Complaint Lord thou gavest us a Command of Truth in bidding us say Yea yea and Nay nay but Lord He Pope that calls himself thy Vicar on Earth hath broken the Commandment so makes a Law to compel men to Swear John Wickliff our famous Country-man in the time of Edward the 3d and Richard the 2d Book Mart. vol. 1. p 554. to 558 was accused among other things for maintaining That All Oaths made in any Bargain or Contract between man and man are unlawful William Thorp an eminent man of the Christian Church refused to swear upon a Bible Because said he a Book is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made Book Mart v. 1 p. 701. and such Swearing is ever Unlawful Elizabeth Young at her Examination in Queen Mary's days before the Catholick Inquisitors so called who coâ—manded her to Swear as followeth Dr. Martin Thou shalt be rack't inch-meal thou Tâ—aiterly Whore and Heretick but thou shalt Swear before a Judge before thou go Eliz. Young I understand not what an Oath is and therefore will take no such thing Dr. Martin She refused to Swear upon the four Evangelists Book Mart. vol 3. pag. 510.911 for I my self and Mr. Plussey have had her before us four times but we cannot bring her to swear Then said the Bishop Why wilt thou not swear before a Judge Eliz Young My Lord I will not Swear that this Hand is mine No said the Bishop and why Eliz. Young Christ saith that Whatsoever is more than Yea Yea or Nay Nay cometh of Evil. The Christian Protestants in the Valley of Piedmoâ—t who were cruelly tortured to Death by the Papists about the year 1655. one Article alledged against them was Marol Hist p. 217 218. That they believed it was not lawful to Swear any thing be it true or false Erasmus in his Commentaries on Matth. 5. James 5. plainly forbids All Swearing There are several Testimonies of John Husse Jerom of Prague William Swinderley Walter Brute William Sawtry William White who were famous men in their time that refused all Swearing Behold Reader how our Protestant Libeller is apostatized from the first reformed Protestants I might have quoted many others of the famous Fathers and worthy Protestant Reformers who gave their Testâ—mony against all Oaths And here 's a Superstructure built upon the good Foundation Christ Jesus and it s in vain for my present Opposer or any other to bring up Circumcision the Blood of Beasts or Oaths which were allowed in the first Covenant but disannulled and prohibited in the second for no other Foundation can be laid that will stand but that which is laid even Jesus Christ whose heavenly Spirit which doth enlighten everyone that comes into the World hath appeared in Power and great Glory which hath brought a Remnant so far in Obedience to his blessâ—d Command that they dare not Swear at all Had he any Ingenuity or Sense he had never been so silly as to think that Quaking and Trembling were enough to denominate a just or good man by Libeller pag 9 yet is so fond of the Conceit as if there were no other way possible to get to Heaven but this and might as well have affirmed that to be Surly and Churlish Ignorant and Singular Envious and Vnmannerly Dissembling and Hypocritical had been the only way to please God and the certain Character to know the Inspired and Heavenly-minded by Rep. Reader I shewed thee before how he had charged me in p. 4. of his Book with this Falsity of thinking that Quaking and Trembling was enough to prove a man's being beloved of God and now he renews the Charge though it be a Lye and accounts me silly for thinking that which I never did think nor had he ground to think I ever did he farther says I am so fond of the Conceit as if there were no other way possible to get to Heaven By this it seems he thinks to get some other way to Heaven which indeed is a Contradiction to his own Confession pag. 4. for he saith there That till he had mortified his Affections and Lusts he ought to work out his Salvation with Fear and Trembling A gross Contradiction Nay to contradict himself more grosly he adds That I might have as well affirmed that to be Surly and Churlish Ignorant and Singular Envious and Vnmannerly Dissembling and Hypocritical c. were the Way to Heaven What can be expected from such a wicked man as this who one while sayes That till he hath mortified his Affections and Lusts he ought to Fear and Tremble yet soon after in contradiction sayes It were as well for me to affirm Dissembling and Hypocrisie to be the way to Heaven and the certain Character to know the Heavenly-Minded and Inspired by Oh Impious and Wilful Man But before I close up this Chapter concerning Quaking and Trembling with tenders of pure Love I offer for further clearing of the Point these following Testimonies besides what I have hinted already Job 21.6 When I remember I am affraid and Trembling takes hold on my Flesh Psalm 2.11 Serve the Lord with Fear rejoyce with Trembling Psalm 55.5 Fearfulness and Trembling are come upon me and Horrour hath overwhelmed me Psalm 99.1 The Lord Reigns let the People Tremble Psalm 119.20 My Flesh Trembles for fear of thee and I am affraid of thy Judgments Jer. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not Tremble at my Presence Ezek. 12.18 Son of Man eat thy Bread with Quaking and drink thy Drink with Trembling These with many more I quoted in my Book called The Antiquity of the Quakers which in particular he meddled not with yet in the general contradicts them and says pag. 6. They are clearly for other Purposes and quite of other Meanings than I intend them for But if all were true that he hath said then I had missed it indeed but it s his only saying so for he hath yet not proved either other Purposes or Meanings they have Now if Quaking and Trembling were not to be known in the way to Heaven as he wickedly insinuates and that I might as well affirm Dissimulation and Hypocrisie to be the way then in vain was all the Quaking and Trembling of these â—oly Ancients and what hath he done less than Blaspheme in this his Assertion And let him and all his Adherents know that since mans unhappy fall Edens Garden is beset with a flaming Sword which guards the Tree of Life that none can come at it but through Death and this was the Sword which pierced the Bowels of all the holy Ancients and divided between the Joynts and the Maâ—row this was it that made Job to cry out His Bowels burned and his Bones were dryed up with Heat this was it that made David cry and roar untill his Skin was parched upon him yea untill he was become like a Kettle in the Smoke this was it that made Jeremiah
they cannot all people may see how far the Piety and Charity of Levi's Priests in his day and time did exceed these Priests of our time for then the Poor the Stranger the Fatherless and Widow were satisfied of the Tythes but now the Priests who pretend their Authority for taking Tythes from Levi do allow the Poor no share though they see them in great Want they are every day begging at our Doors But the Libeller goeth on in the Priests Vindication of having the Tythes Remember that our Lord Jesus was both a Bishop and a Priest and is said by the Author to the Hebrews Libeller to be a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek Rep. It s true what the Author to the Hebrews said there but he doth acquit himself of the Libeller's Charge for he doth not in that Epistle nor in any other say that its lawful for Gospel Ministers to take Tythes but in the same Chapter viz. Hebr. 7.12 in Contradiction to the Libeller he said The Priesthood being changed who had command from God to take Tythes there is made also a Necessity of the Change of the Law But it seems my Opponent hath found another Law since then which grants a Right to the Priests for Tythes made in the 9th of Hen. 3. I confess that we read of that but for my part I do not believe he had Power to repeal the Law of God which said The Priesthood was changed and there was made of Necessity a Change of the Law And for his insisting on Christ's being a Bishop and a Priest this makes nothing for him nor them for Christ did not set up Tythes but ended them neither were his Apostles inducted to any Benefices one two or three apiece but on the contrary he said Matth. 8.20 The Foxes have Holes and the Birds have Nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head And when he sent forth his Disciples he did not say to them that whatsoever City or Town they entered into they should settle there and be Incombent of that Place and take their Tythes of them and if they would not receive them then sue them at Law and take treble Damage But on the contrary said Freely ye have received freely give and eat what 's set before you and if they will not receive you shake off the Dust of your Feet for a Testimony against them Surely the Libeller missed chusing a Pattern for taking Tythes for Christ although he was a Bishop and Priest he took no Tythes nor his Disciples neither took none but wrought with their Hands and ministred to their own Necessity and the Necessity of o hers But after the Apostles days there was a great Apostacy among the Professed Christians for some turned to be Wolvâ—s which Christ said would come and Tore and Devoured them that kept the Testimony of Jesus and great strivâ—ng was among them about their Priests Maintenance and for setting up of TYTHES as the Reader may read at large in Frarcis Howgil's Book called THE CREAT CASE OF TYTHES and there may be seen how in the several Ages since Christ was put to Death according to the Flesh God had a People that bore their Testimony against TYTHES Soon after the Year 600. Gregoâ—y the fiâ—st who was the first Pope of Rome soon after sent Augustine the Monk to England â—ad Lib. 26. who as it s said Converted E helbert King of Kent but it was but to Popery and he and his Clergy for a long time after followed the Example of tâ—e Apostolical Primitive Church living in common upon the Free-Offerings of their Converts And from that time until Henry the 3 d no Tythes as Tythes were generally paid but only a Decree made Ex. in Bad. 663 c. that for every twenty Shillings Rent a Farding a Sunday was to be paid and this was given by way of Offering From this time until the Year 1200. all that the Priests could do brought the People no farther than to pay their Tythes at their own pleasures which made Pope Innocent the third send his Decretal Letters to the Bishop of Canterbury commanding him to enjoyn every man to pay his Temporal Goods to those that ministred spiritual Things to them which was enforced by Ecclesiastical Censure And this was the first beginning of general parochial Tythes in England this the Popes Decertal Epistle was admitted and enjoyned by the Law of the Nation King and People being then Papists The Decree of the Pope receiving all possible Assistance from the Bishops and Priests on whose behalf it was made did not only in a short time take away the Peoples right to give their Tythes to those that best deserved them but did also so much corrupt the Clergy that in the time of Richard the second Book Mart. John Wickliff our famous Reformer did make a heavy Complaint to the Parliament in the words following Ah Lord God! where this be reason to constrain the poor People to find a Worldly Priest some time unable both of Life and cunning in Pompe and Pride Gluttony and Drunkenness and Letchery in Symony and Heresie with fat Horse and Jolly and Gay Saddles and Bridles Ringing by the way and himself in costly Cloaths and Pleasures and suffer their poor Wives and Children and poor Neighbours perish for Hunger Thurst and Cold and other Mischiefs of the World Ah Lord Jesus Christ s ith within few Years men paid their Tythes and Offerings at their own free will to Good Men and able to great Worship of God to prâ—fit and fairness of holy Church fighting on Earth Why were it lawful that a Worldly Priest should destroy this holy and approved Custom constraining men to leave this Freedom turning Tythes and Offerings unto Wicked Uses Again hear him That Tythes were and are a Free Gift as among Christians and only pure Alms and the Parishioner may for the Offence of their â—urate detain keep them back Acts Men. p. 69. and bâ—stow them upon others at their own will and pleasures This was also maintained by J. Hus who was burnt for his Testimony at Constance take his own words That the Clergy are not Lords and Professors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards Acts Mon. pag. 605. and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be transported to the poor and if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Thieves and Robbers and Sacriledgious persons except they do Repent by the Judgment of God they are to be condemned Will Thorp an Eminent Protestant gave a large Testimony against Tythes saying That those Priests that took Tythes Book Mart. deny Christ come in the Flesh for the Priesthood was changed that gave them At which the Bishop said God's Curse have you and mine for thus teaching Jerom of Prague William Swinderby Walter Brute Rueas Silvi in his Bohem. History the
Jesus Christ writing against the false Teachers and rebellious Apostates said They walk after their own Lusts c. but said unto the Believers Beloved remember ye the Words which were spoken before of the Aposâ—les of our Lord Jesus how that they told you there should be Mockers in the last Times who should walk after their own ungodly Lusts Jude 16.17 18. Oh Reader seriously read and ponder these weighty and holy Sayings of the Apostles of Christ and flee from those fleshly and ungodly Lusts which War against the Soul and drown those in Destruction who do not unfeignedly Repent thereof and turn therefrom while God gives them a Time of Visitation while he visits them by his holy Spirit of Grace Life and Strength to lead them thereby to unfeigned Repentance and to redeem them thereby out of all sinful and ungodly Lust O blessed are all they who turn unto him while he strives with them to gather them unto himself but most miserable are those who turn not unto him but go on after their own ungodly Lusts who set at nought all Gods Counsel both that which is immediately given them by his Spirit inwardly and also that which is given by him through his Instruments his Prophets Apostles and his faithful Servants which is witnessed unto by the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every man that cometh into the World is lighted according to John 1.9 as is shewed before Of this evil Generation the Prophet complains they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we Pray unto him Job 21.14 15. and 22.17 The Holy Prophet said I sought the Lord and he heard me c. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them O! taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the Man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him The young Lyons do lack and suffer Hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the Fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth Life loveth Dayes that he may see good Keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips from speaking Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Cry The Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil to cut off the remembrance of them c. The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their Troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Psalm 38.4 to the 19th Thus Reader the Psalmist declares of the Mercies and Judgments of the Lord as he had seen and experienced them The Author of the Scoffing Book called Work for a Cooper would no doubt be esteemed a Religious man The Apostle saith If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue this man's Religion is Vain Pure Religion and Vndefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World James 1.26 27. That this man hath not a Bridle to his Tongue and that his Religion is Vain take his own Book for proof which is plentifully furnished with Lyes Scoffing and Railing a little of which I may here Collect. Thomas VVynne is known amongst his Neighbours to be a Sober Honest Man I have known him for above Twenty Years last past and I never knew nor heard other of him till this prophane Scoffers Pamphlet appeared against him These are the Names he gives him viz. Our second Tom of Bedlam pag. 6. Our Cinque and Cater pag. 7. Note here this vain man speaks here more like a prophane Player at Dice then a sober Religious man Again Our wise man of Gotham pag. 8. Again speaking of T.W. and his Friends saith Their Hocuspocus Tricks are now much laid aside pag. 13. Again speaking of the said People saith That they are the most Formal Coxcombs produceable in this Age pag. 15. Again pag. 1â— he renders T.W. A beastly Quaker Again scoffing at T.W. saith He knoweth not what Consanguinity there is betweâ—n the Porpos and the VVhale or the Craw-Fish and the Lobster pag. 21. Again he call him A Robber upon Gods High Way pag. 23. Again he calls him Wicked Ferry-man of Hell pag. 24. Thus I have collected a few of his bad Words and ill Names he has given to an Honest Man by which the Reader may see that his Tongue is not bridled as it ought to be and that his Religion is vain Now I shall collect a few of his Lyes He sayes The Quakers would endeavour to obtrude that they had been with God c. and have received the Spirit of Prophecy with the Gift of Miracles and all other that God had or could bestow pag. 12. Answ He names no persons on whom he fastens this his charge but throws it at the Quakers in General I say it is a Horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for though we do own that God hath given the Manifestion of his Spirit to profit withal and some amongst us do prophecy and testifie of Christ and of God in the Spirit which he hath given yet we never said That we had received all other that God had or could bestow This is an Abominable Slander their is none that will believe him herein but those who are given up to believe Lyes Again That they could to a minute fore-tell the Last and Dreadful Day of Judgment Answ This Charge is general against the Quakers he names no Person or Persons that said so I return it as a Lye forged against the People of God and I exhort him to Repent of that and the rest of his Wickedness Again thus And heal more Diseases then all the World could possibly need help for Answ This is another horrid Slander that the Wicked One has in Envy led him to cast upon us the Lord Rebuke thee thou Prophane Man Again thus That they and they only were those of whom it was said They should lay their hands upon the Sick and they should recover Answ This is another horrid Slander proceeding from the Father of Lyes for which God will bring thee to Judgment Again thus And that God meant them only when he said I will pour my Spirit upon all Flesh Answ This is another horrid Lye for we believe that he poured forth his Spirit upon his Prophets and Apostles his Sons and Daughters and Hand-maids according to his Promise in former time and he is pouring it sorth in this Day and we believe he will pour it sorth according to his Promise upon all Flesh but we do not believe that the People called Quakers are only intended to be that All Flesh Mark In the compass of nine Lines he has told five Lyes in pag. 12. there being five in so little compass Reader thou mayst conclude there is a great many more in the whole Book These few here may suffice to give thee a taste and sence of the Wickedness of the man and to shew thee how Wickedly he deals with the People called Quakers It is our desire that he may Repent of these things and do so no more that so he may know forgiveness of the same and may come to Peace and Rest with God in his Latter-end God speaking of his People said Surely they are my People Children that will not Lye so he was their Saviour Isa 63.8 A Faithful Witness will not Lye but a False VVitness will utter Lyes Prov. 14.5 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth when he speaketh a Lye he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it John 8.44 A False Witness shall not be Vnpunished and he that speaketh Lyes shall not escape Prov. 19.5 They bend their Tongues like Bows for Lyes but they are not valiant for the Truth Jer. 9.3 In this POSTSCRIPT I have shewed the Falseness and Wickedness of this Scornful man and have rebuked him in the Love and Fear of God and I unfeignedly desire his Repentance and Salvation who am a Lover of Truth and Righteousness who desires the Eternal good of all People but I Hate Lying Envy and all Wickedness William Gibson London the 25th of the 8th Moneth 1679. THE END