by any legal constitution a body Politick therefore they should not meddle in State Affairs viz. to condemn Acts of Parliaments as Antichristian and Oppressive to the Subject and thereby absolve their Disciples from their obedience to their Lawful Magistrates whom they ought to obey as the higher Powers set over them by God entrusted with the supreme Authority and their part is to yield a dutiful subjection and faithful obedience as whereunto they stand oblig'd by the commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of God's faithful Saints and Servants holy Apostles and Martyrs in all Ages by their Birth as natural born Subjects of these Realms by the dictates of their Consciences and the many Favours they daily receive in being defended and protected in their Liberty and Property and by all kinds of consideration both general and particular c. 4. That they print no Books but what are licens'd by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty for that purpose under pain of forfeiting the whole impression this would be a great means to restore England to its Pristine Glory which once it had when it was famous for extirpating Heresie whereas of latter years 't is reported by the Historian of the Quakers History to be a Nurse for Heresie c. 5. That they do not arrogate to themselves the power of excommunicating such as dissent from them and conform themselves to the Establish'd Religion nor treat them Reproachfully but that they study to be quiet and mind their own business 6. That they be not permitted in their Books and Sermons to call legal Punishments Persecution calling the Magistrates Persecutors thereby rendering them odious to the common People 7. That they be not permitted in these Synods to approve of such Books nor to teach such Doctrine as call the national Ministry Witches Devils Antichrists nor the Parliaments Judges Justices and other Magistrates the Beasts that carry the Whore Persecutors of the Saints nor to impeach their judicial Proceedings 8. That they be not permitted to Summons Try Judge Arraign Condemn and Dyalogue the national Ministry Magistracy and People and thereby lift up and extol themselves as the only Catholick Universal Church of the First-born which cannot err and Curse Damn and Reprobate all other Christians This has been their frequent practice and a main Pillar of their Heresie for when they gain upon the common People that the Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ is re-establish'd only amongst them and that all other Societies are Apostates Antichrists Heathens and Infidels they then have gained the point and will soon claim the Chair and reach at the Scepter 9. That they be forbidden to make Collections and Tax the People and lay by Funds as their manner is for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so may it be call'd the Nerve of Heresie but let each Society of Quakers maintain their own Teacher and not have a common Bank at London and Feoffees entrusted therewith to give 8 10 or 20 l. at a time to their Travelling Teachers who range all the World over bantering all other Ministers who have a settled maintenance and are far less chargeable to their Hearers than are the Quakers Teachers who come uncall'd for like Flies and Mice eat up the provision of others as saith the Historian 10. That they be not permitted to call the Scriptures of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles by those contemptible Names of Death Dust Beastly-Ware Serpents-Food and the like 11. But that they be compell'd to condemn those Books of theirs which so teach for thus do they bring the Christian Religion into contempt in order to raise Quakerism as the most excellent of all Religions 12. Let them not be permitted to call the Church of England an Adulterated Harlot nor to charge her with Witchcraft and Sorceries to be an Adulterous Womb which brings forth monsterous Births neither let them be permitted to call the Book of Common Prayer which is grounded on the Holy Scriptures composed and professed by our Martyred Ancestors and confirmed by Authority of King and Parliament a branch which proceeded from the Pope and from his Loyns say they it draws its Strength Neither let them be permitted to print and publish to the Nations that they have ript up the Bowels of the Church of England and discovered her Adulterous Womb and all the false Conceptions conceived by her and that without any fear of her or her power 13. Neither let them be permitted to teach Schools for there they read W. Smith's Primmer and Geo. Fox's Primmer and a certain portion every day of Geo. Fox's Journal all which enveigh bitterly against the Church of England and all instituted Religion which tends to instil corrupt Principles whil'st the Bible and other good Books are laid aside These things ought to be noted and for the Generation of years sake to be guarded against 14. Upon the whole matter these sayings contained in the 12 particulars being great contempt upon the Magistracy and Ministry upon the King and his People and upon the whole Nation Yet thus do their Books Teach thus do they print and publish even in so many words if they deny it I am ready to prove it And notwithstanding this and much more that might be said of the same nature yet they are so high and rampant that when I printed my Book New Rome Arraign'd c. and laid open some of these Errors they indicted me and prosecuted me at Law to my great cost and damage seized my Books and prosecuted me with all the aggravations imaginable And that it may yet further appear how tender they are of their own Church their own Ministers their own Writings and Epistles I shall recite one of their Anniversary Injunctions viz. From our Yearly Meeting in London 27 of 3d Month 1675. To all our Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England c. Concerning Mens and Womens Meetings it is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of God's Wisdom that the rise and practice setting up and establishing of Mens and Womens Meetings in the Churches of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit And it is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and in the Authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as calling Mens and Womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burdensome that faithful Friends Papers which we Testify have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Mens Edicts or Cannons Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them c. Behold what Names and Expressions are contained in the recited 12 particulars given by themselves to the Scripture Bishops and Clergy Ministry and People
Lizards Moles Tinkers Red-coats Cow-dung Green-headed Trumpeters Rare and Base Wheelbarrows Gimcracks Whirlpools and Whirlygigs a Moon-calf their Bell has no Mettle but the sound of a Kettle capers about quivers up and down like a blind Night-bat Ragged Torn Thredbare Tatterdemallions malicious Serpents Vipers grinning Dogs Jack-puddings dunceable Darkness gropable Blindness Then so many leaps of a Louse bo to a Goose Hedge-hogs Fiery fighters Baxter and Tombs as Twins that tumbled out of one Belly the Womb of that Babylonish Bawd c. All which idle Drollery and ridiculous Nonsence is vindicated by W. Penn in his Epistle prefixed to this Sam. Fisher's Works saying It was so ordered by God's Providence that his Fisher's part fell to be most Controversial in which to carry a clear Mind and an even Hand is very difficult However allowing him in some passages the freedom of the Prophet Elijah against the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18 27. sometimes exposing absurd things by vulgar Terms and Proverbs to Derision in the view of his ingenious Reader he hath discharged himself as a conscientious fair and learned Apologist c. Now if the Quakers will have allowance from the Prophets to vent this sort of wild Gibberish I hope I may take a little liberty to expose their absurd Principles to the just abhorrence and derision of the People Obj. 3. But some may say was there no way to accommodate this Controversy without this publick method surely a more Amicable and Friendly way had been more sutable to a religious Difference Ans It would be too tedious to recite the many and frequent offers that I have given them from time to time to meet me and that according to the very words of their own propositions but they would not I have sent them Summons after Summons until at last I Summoned 12 of their Hearers to give me a meeting but they would not a Copy thereof is as followeth A third Summons For Jo. Hubbard Thomas Brewster J. Haws Ed. Deeks Jo. Peacock Jo. Cranwell Jo. Carver Jacob Baker William Mead John Knight Sy. Birgis Amb. Friend Hearers amongst the Quakers to bring forth Sheba the Son of Bichri 2 Sam. 20. Alias G. Whitehead to stand to his own Proposition in his printed Sheet deliver'd to the Parliament December 1693. Entituled The Qua. Vind. c. p. 4. otherwise to give me a meeting your selves within 20 Miles of my Dwelling and timely notice thereof and then and there openly and publickly either justify your Teachers Books by Scripture proof and if it be not possible for you so to do then to condemn the Errors contained in them under your Hands for the prevention of further controversies thereabout but if not then know that my hand will be heavy vpon you if God permit July 20. 1696. Fr. Bugg Sen. But this being sent to divers of them near 6 Months since and they will neither hear nor answer any proposition how equal soever it be tho' I have often wrote to them and spoke to them Therefore I now proceed to lay their pernicious as well as presumptious Errors further open and in so doing I shall not spare them nay nor pity them being wholly clear of them Obj. 4. But if this had been sooner before they got to this heighth and to this order and settlement as to have their Classes their Provincial Synods their Anniversary Synods and Councels and the favour of the Government it might happily have stopt their further growth which now seems impossible Ans I grant their Heresie is of long continuance yet the Arrians much longer which continued as I have read more than 300 Years who thro' their subtilty got so much into the favour of the Government as to get the Pulpit and the exclusion of the Orthodox yet they are dispersed and withered away and these have not yet been half a century and their Errors more notorious And 't is my belief they will not remain the other half before they are exploded Why then should any be discourag'd in such a work The Pope and his Superstitions have not gone on without many Testimonies against them 'T is said that our famous Wickliff an Oxford Scholar has wrote more than 200 Volumns against his Errors and Innovations And I hope we are not without some such now in our famous Universities who as they become sensible of this Quicksilver Tribe I mean New Rome and know where to fix upon them and their invisible Tenets which at present they mask under disguise owning in words being examin'd what in their Books they deny For indeed their Books are of two sorts carrying two contrary Faces The one to the World to decoy people the other to their Friends to be read in their Meetings insomuch as 't is hard to know a Quaker who as Irenaeus said in his third Book against Hereticks viz. Whil'st Hereticks speak like the Faithful they not only mean otherwise than what 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 c. And no marvel saith St. Paul for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be also transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works 2 Cor. 13. 14. And for our pattern we have the famous Wickliff who pav'd the way for great Luther in Germany who was wonderfully carryed on even as upon Angels Wings which made the Papists rave and roar fret and fume calling him Apostate Self-condemn'd Apostate insomuch that all Mens minds stood as it were upon their tiptoes to see the issue of Pope Leo's rage and brave Luther's courage who went on undauntedly writing many Books until he finished both his Days and Testimony of whom Beza said Rome tam'd the World the Pope tam'd Rome so great Rome Rul'd by power the Pope by deep deceit But how more large than theirs was Luther's Fame Who with one Pen both Pope and Rome doth tame Go fictious Greece go tell Alcides then His Club is nothing to great Luther's Pen. Jan. 18. 1697. Fra. Bugg Sen. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Rice Growth and Progress OF Quakerism With a modest Correction of the General History of the Quakers writ in Holland by the Learned Croese Anno 1696. The PROLOGUE WHen I first heard of the said History I thought it might have spared me this Labour hoping it would have given an impartial Account not only of the coming in of that Sect of the names of the Persons of the places of their abodes of their Handicraft professions of their tumultuous behaviours of their belching out their Defamations and scurrilous Languages to Magistrates and Ministers and of their frequent disturbing the Churches and contemning the Ordinances of Christ and all Instituted Religion But also the ways and methods by which Quakerism have grown and increased and prevailed to
to the King's Mind Where will you have a Foundation to build your Work upon for as it is found contrary to all these weighty Things so by their Authority your Work in cases of Conscience may well be Questioned The Law of the Nation may justly question you the Spirit of Truth may justly question you the Scriptures may justly question you Christianity may justly question you Reason may justly question you Christ Jesus may justly question you the King may justly question you and what can your Foundation be but the love of Money printed 1668. Mark Reader the Impudence of these Quakers who twit others with their own Crimes I am sure every particular may be apply'd to themselves rightly and yet such is their insolent boldness even whil'st Diffenters and acted as well contrary to the Laws as all the things by them mentioned to give out a general Summons to all the Ecclesiastical Order Established by Law But if I give them a Summons this is presumptious seditious tumultuary yea if I Arraign them as New Rome and print without Licence I must be by them indicted and had I not had a Church of England Jury I might have been ruined These are the meek Men the righteous Men the just Men that Burrows and in him the Quakers prayed in the last recital of Burrow's Works to the Government that they might have the executive part of the Law and that Cases between Man and Man might be left to them but thanks be to God who have given the Nation such a sight of their Hypocrisie that hitherto they have not been thought worthy of a place in the Government no not so much as Constable a remembring their Anti-magistratical principle laid down by their first Founder as in News coming up c. p. 20. Sing all ye Saints and Rejoyce clap your Hands and be glad for the Lord Jehovah will Raign and the Government shall be taken from you pretended Rulers Judges and Justices Lawyers and Constables all this tree must be cut down and Jesus Christ in us will Rule alone c. But I thank God this Tree of Defence is still standing which preserved me from your inveterate malice who for not Licensing my Book tho' it be your own daily practice Indicted me as one turbulent and unquiet practicing and intending falsly unlawfully seditiously and maliciously c. as also to move stir up and cause discords tumults and miserable slaughters c. and all because I printed unlicensed Arraigned them as New Rome c. But behold they can Arraign Try Summons and Judge yea and Condemn Magistrates Ministers and whole Churches by whole sale Are these the meek Men the just Men the righteous Men that would so fain have the Administration of the Government God forbid and let all good Protestants and sincere Christians say Amen Reader I must beg pardon for this Digression 't is a fault that sometimes better Writers fall into The next I shall recite is a Dialogue or Catechism between Tradition and Truth The Terms being interpreted are thus in the Original Truth that is the Quakers and Tradition that is the Church of England and if I were to recite it all it is worse than Tho. Hicks's Dialogue between a Quaker and a Christian for the substance of that is true to my certain knowledge but this is so barbarous a Dialogue as none but such that are void of Charity and the Fear of God would ever have attempted but the Quakers they may domineer and insult over their Superiors yea Summon Arraign Try Judge and Condemn the Church of England and thereby the Magistrates Ministers and People present their seditious Petitions to the Parliament Advise and Councel them to let the Ministers alone stand not say they by Baal's Priests down with all that judge for Money alias take Money for their pains and labor as the Quakers themselves do yet none must say a word to them Oh no no touch the hem of their Garment as if they had a Pattent to commit all manner of reproaches revilings scandalous destructive horrible Blasphemies and all manner of impieties cum privilegio Smith 's Works p. 157. A Catechism by way of Dialogue to all Priests and Prelates Truth lay down thy Fundamentals and what they are that they may be known and in their place come to Tryal Tradition these be my Foundation principles of my Religion believing they are sound because I find in the Scriptures that the Saints performed them and served God in them I have Churches Preaching Praying Singing and Bishops Ministers and under them other Officers for order sake Truth these in their places must be examined and by the Spirit of Truth i. e. Quakers proved whether they be right in the ground and have their rise from the Power of God Open thine Eye and behold thy Ceremonies and see what Monsters thou hast generated and brought forth from thy Adulterous Womb. And so hath the birth of thy Adulterous Womb deceived the Nations Tradition I am reasonably satisfied from what hath been said as to the Ceremonies belonging to my Worship but as to my Church Preaching Praying Singing Bishops and Ministers they must be duly observed Truth I shall try them in order and if I find them right in the ground shall approve them if not testify against them therefore speak plainly what thy Church is that I may proceed to Tryal Tradition my Church is a consecrated Place for my Worship to be perform'd in and by many Ancient Fathers Laws been set by c. Truth now I shall try thy Church and if it be not in God it is none of his but an adulterated Harlot covered over with the Mystery of Iniquity therefore Tradition be silent a little and Truth will shew thee thy Error so be cool and hear what Truth saith for now thy Church comes to Tryal Tradition I know that Praying in my Worship is right for it is mentioned in the Scripture and was practiced very much by the Saints and I have the Lord's Prayer and have made many other Prayers which be useful and comfortable for all conditions and on all occasions and I have put them together in a Book which I call the Book of Common Prayer and use it in my Devotion Truth Prayer in the Spirit the Saints practiced but thou art degenerated and hath formed such Prayers as the Lord hath not required neither doth he open his Ear to them and that which thou call'st the Lord's Prayer be thou silent and make no mention of it for thou hast nothing to do with it Oh thou Adulterous Tradition What Monsterous births hast thou brought forth Thy Common Prayer Book is seen to be conceived in thy Adulterous Womb and to branch forth from the Pope Tradition but what if my Common Prayer Book do not fully agree with the Scriptures and the Saints practice yet there are many good things in it and many Scripture sentences which may edifie and comfort Truth that which is
this very Testimony from this Great Prophet of theirs Printed 1659. and Reprinted in 1672. by Whitehead and the Chief Quakers Approbation and at the same time too when the Quakers were seeking Favour was such a piece of Impudence as Arius never had But to proceed to my 4th and last Head proposed viz. Who are in the Quakers Account True and Orthodox Preachers since all that Baptise with Water all that Study the Scriptures and Preach out of them all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above all that take Receive or pay Tyth's are false Ministers Witches Devils c. In a word all not Quakers for so they affirm The Quakers Challenge c. p. â— Come Protestants Presbyterians Independents and Baptists the Quakers deny you all p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they c. And therefore 't is highly necessary to know who they account true Preachers which are these that follow viz. 1. Such as Teach that the Name of Christ belong to every Member of the Body as well as to him that Suffered at Jerusalem that his Body was but a Vail a Garment c. and which they can never call Christ that his Person was no more to his Disciples then another Person but for the sake of the Spirit Frame and Temper that dwelt in him his Disciples loved him that Christ is not God and Man in one Person For Proof hereof see Is Pennington's Question to Professors c. p. 20. to 33. Will Bayly's Works p. 300. 307. The Sword of the Lord Drawn c. p. 5. 2. Such as deny the Blessed Trinity see W. Penn's Sandy Foundation c. p. 15. to 20. and W. Penn's Christian Quaker and his Dev. Testimony p. 98. 3. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are Dust Death Serpents Food that the Sacraments are Dust that Matthew Mark Luke and John are Serpents Meat Dust and Beastly Ware and such as propose it doubtful whether Moses or Hermes was the 1st Pen-man of the Scripture and whether some of it was not spoke by the Grand Imposter some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill Applyed some by Good Men ill Expressed some by False Prophets and yet True some by True Prophets and yet False for Proof see The Quakers Refuge Fixed c. p. 17. News coming out of the North c. p. 14. David's Enemies Discovered c. p. 7. 4. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are not the Word of God and that so to Affirm is Blasphemy See G. Fox's Book Stiled Firebrands c. 2 part p. 159. Printed 1678. and his Great Mist c. p. 240. Printed 1659. 5. Such who Teach that the Quakers Writings are the Word of God given forth by the Eternal Spirit of God that we may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Papers and Queries That if ever we own the Prophets Christ or the Apostles we will own their Books that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater for Proof See Truth 's Defence c. p. 2. 104 107. Fox's his Answer to the Westmorland Petitioners c. p. 3. both Printed 1653. likewise G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. A Brief Discovery c. p. 8. Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 40. 6. Such as Teach that Water Baptism is no Ordinance of God but an Institution of the Whore of Rome And that the Practice of it is Idolatry and that such are bewitched to accept of those two Institutions of Christ Baptisme and the Lord's Supper For Proof News coming up out of the North c. p. 34. 35. A Musick Lecture p. 25. Burrough's Works p. 51. 518. William Smith's Primmer p. 36. 7. Such as Teach that the Quakers Sufferings are greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and all the Marters since That the Sufferings Inflicted upon Christ his Apostles and Martyrs were chiefly done by a Law and in a great part by the due Execution of a Law see Burrough's Works p. 273. Behold Reader not only how they Magnifie their Sufferings the Blasphemy of their Doctors But the horrible Lye far exceeding that of Mahomet's Journey to Heaven as at large in that Learned Treatise Wrote by Dr. Prideaux Arch-deacon of Suffolk Entituled The Nature of an Imposture in the Life of Mahomet c. Printed 1697. Sold by W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet London 8. Such as Teach and leave it upon Record to Posterity that they Suffer 20 l. at a time for Preaching when they not only not suffer a penny but get ten pound clear by the Bargain as in this Book at large shewed in the Instance of that Self magnifying Teacher of theirs Samuel Cater of Little Port in the Isle of Ely See The lamentable Cry of Oppression c. p. 40. to the end Hadenham old Records c. 9. Such as Teach that the very Christ of God is within us his Sufferings within us that his offering himself as a Sacrifice is within us and by the scope of their Ancient Testimony deny him that was nail'd to the Cross Pierced c. to be Christ which their Light never was c. See Burrough's Works c. p. 149. W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 9. and his Catechism p. 57. to 60. 10. Such as Teach that the Quakers have a a Spirit given them beyond all the Fore-fathers and thereby know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a word and that none need to give the Quakers Discerning or Judgment for Christ i. e. their Light doth furnish them at all times and on all occasions see G. Fox's Great Mist. p. 89. Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. 11. Such as Teach and that truly too that the Quakers are raised contrary to all Men yea ever since Noah's Flood and that they have given their Power only to God and that they cannot seek that 's a grand Lie the Parliament can bear me witness to outward Authority But stand Witness against Parliaments that 's true Judges Justices and to such Laws Customs Courts c. they cannot yield Obedidience that the Quakers Kingdom is from above and that they reject the Beasts Authority i. e. the Parliament and the Dragons Power And that the Quakers are gather'd up into the Life which the Holy Men of God lived in That they i. e. Quakers are fallen from the World and it's Ways and Nature That even the Father oh dreadful Blasphemy bears Witness of them and therefore their Witness is true Alluding as in many other Cases to Equalize themselves to Christ John 5. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me and I know the witness which he witnesseth of me is true that Teach saying What have you the publick Ministry lost the Lord to be your Strength that you must flee for Help to Men Must they make Laws to Establish
believe have said and wrote the same Read the Gen. History of the Quakers p. 102. 103. where the Historian is pleased to say the Quakers left nothing unanswer'd They confuted these Charges of Blasphemy with such Reasons that it is apparent saith he they are wicked Men that said so and Fools that believed it altho' the very Man Geo. Fox himself gives the whole Relation And I affirm there is not one Charge answered or taken off as it ought to be but rather all confessed I must confess G. W. I believe is asham'd of his Brother Fox and of his Brother Milner's Blasphemy but yet cannot nay will not condemn the Book they have said it and will stand to it which puts me in mind of a story I once heard of a Woman whose Son was going out Apprentice even at the Door hold said his Mother I have something to say pray have a care of Lying yea said the Son ay said She my Son I charge you not to tell a lye and the Lad going out stay Son said the Woman I say again be sure you do not tell Lies but if it happen at any time that you do tell a Lye besure you stand in it and so farewel The Quakers say in print that he that hath the Spirit that raised Jesus Christ is equal with God He yea He the Man and all the Quakers that hear of this Book I am persuaded because the World's People have got it would wish it were burnt yet for a thousand Worlds they would not have the World know they burn it so beloved a Point is Infallibility The Quakers say in print that 't is Conjuration to speak out of the Scriptures and not a Quaker is to be found that will condemn it George Fox said he was before all Languages were and not a Foxonian Quaker in England will condemn it George Fox said that neither He nor his Name was known in the World not a Quaker found to deny it George Fox said he heard the Thundering Voice from Heaven saying I have glorifyed thee and will glorify thee again but not a Quaker found to condemn this Blasphemy George Fox said he was Christ the Way the Truth and the Life not a Quaker found to condemn it Edward Burrow said that the Sufferings of the Quakers are greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs not a Quaker found to condemn this Book I except the late separate Quakers both in England and America I could enumerate a hundred Blasphemies like these but the Quakers cannot condemn one Thus did Quakerism rise thus did it grow and by these principles hath it taken a deep root and made a large progress These principles are Antichristian they are Antiscriptural Oh! that these poor deluded People would once come to consider of them and condemn them If not my Hand shall not spare nor my Eye pity neither will I keep back any thing that may discover their dangerous Errors Who knows but their Children may see and seeing may abhor these most horrible Blasphemies Fox's Journal is full take a Tast of them as followeth p. 37. Wife said the Goaler I have seen the Day of Judgment and I saw George Fox there and then going to George said I have been as a Lyon to you but now I shall be like a Lamb. Obser And great reason for it for Geo. Fox whether the poor Goaler knew it before he saw the Judgment day and Fox there I say whether he knew it he said he was the Eternal judge of the World and therefore it was time for the Goaler to come to him Trembling as the Goaler came to Paul and Silas Trembling p. 45. A Trooper at Church heard a Voice from Heaven go to my Servant George Fox for direction so I said Fox spake to his condition and his understanding was opened Again Fox said p. 47. that he see the Heavens opened and p. 55. c. Thus have his Editors laid a Foundation for the Youth at R. Scories School to believe the Fox was an Angel and p. 60. it was a dreadful thing to hear the Man was come with his Leather Breeches meaning himself Reader I must mention these things if I perform what I promised to give a Relation of the Rise Growth and Progress of Quakerism And surely the Papists Legends are not more stuft with counterfeit Miracles and Self exaltations and horrid Blasphemies read p. 57. 63 202 30 18. of Fox's Journal And now I return to the Gen. Hist to hear what news from Holland touching the Rise and Progress of Quakerism SECTION III. The Ring-leaders of their Sect Their early applying themselves to the Powers the Parties and Divisions amonst them GEN. Hist p. 136. 137. They address themselves to the Supreme Assemblies i.e. Parliaments of the Nation and set forth in their Petitions 140 Prisoners c. That 21 had dyed in Prison in demonstrating of which they could not yet leave off their old way of Accusation as well by concealing their greater crimes and more notorious Offences that had brought many of them under that confinement as by aggravating too much the many Evils which they Suffered and oftentimes taking and amplifying a little scratch a pinch a blue Spot for a grievous Torment and bloody Wound which two things seems to me may well be observed in most of the Monuments of the Quakers which they have left of their Sufferings for indeed I cannot allow that these Quakers have been so often used as that they were left half dead for no example can be produced of any of their deaths the same Moment or in a short time after Again p. 117. They made it their business to defame and heap up scandalous Reproaches upon the Credit Fame and Reputation of the Magistrates and Pastors of the Church in those most bitter Letters to their Friends and such practices as these did the Quakers extol as Noble doings and Glorious actions c. Again p. 97. And others in their Sermons and Libels cast all manner of Reproaches upon those Magistrates before all Men and imprecated all Evils upon them and as it were pronounce them by the command of God forgetting the Monitor and Author of that saying that we should daily confess our own Failings and love our Enemies In which relation I find the Historian very partial for certainly never did People amplifie their Sufferings and conceal their own Crimes like the Quakers never so Insolently defame both Magistracy and Ministry and extol themselves and their actions like the Quakers And that the World may see Mr. Croese is in the right I shall cite some few Instances of the Titles of their Books as a demonstration to confirm what Mr. Croese hath said with some little matter out of some of them as well as some observations upon them But I cannot enlarge least I swell my Book beyond my intention which is only to shew by what means Quakerism hath Advanced c. Burrow's Works
every word in particular for you have Tongue enough sometimes let us see now if it can wag c. Now Reader this is one way by which they deceived the simple and thereby Quakerism had its progress Gen. Hist 112. The Form of the Quakers Confession before the House of Commons was I believe with my Heart and confess with my Mouth the Sacred Scriptures to be Divine left us by Men Inspired by God as an exact rule of our Faith and Behaviour and I profess to believe in one only God who is the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son very God and very Man and in the Holy Spirit one and the same God with the Father and Son blessed for evermore c. I must confess this Confession if sincere is somewhat to the purpose but if sincere then there is a vast Change in their Minds both from their frequent disputations as well as their printed Books and because we cannot well try them by the first therefore we will examine their Sincerity by the latter and if their Books teach the contrary then until they first condemn those Books we have no ground to believe them sincere in what they say to serve a turn I will at this time quote only two of them viz. The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your carnal Christ is utterly denyed and testifyed against by the Light and whereas you the Priest say that Christ is God and Man in one Person it is a lye c. Now if they believe as they write how can they be sincere in what they say as above for contraries cannot be the same white is not black neither is black white Men never gathered Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles ye shall know them i. e. Deceivers said Christ by their Fruit this is an infallible rule Again News coming up out of the North c. p. 14. Your original is carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and your Word is carnal the Letter and the Light is carnal the Letter their original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is but the Letter c. So then if the Scriptures be Dust Carnal and Serpents-Meat how are they Divine nay how were they given forth by Divine Inspiration What did George Fox mean Divine Dust Divine Food for Serpents a Divine Carnal Letter No sure Then doubtless these expressions were cast upon the Scriptures by way of contempt against such as professed them to be given by Divine Inspiration and that they were in earnest the rule of our Faith and Behaviour against which the Quakers have both Preached and Disputed this 40 years as I can make appear by 40 of their Books now by me One more I shall quote to strengthen what I say Howthen can they be sincere in this their Confession How can they at one and the same time believe the Scriptures are Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Food and also that they are Divine and left us by Men Inspired of God for the rule of our Faith and Practice I say how can these contraries be reconciled nay it 's impossible If they shall say in answer to what I now affirm that their Minds are really changed and better informed I could be heartily glad of it but then let us have a sign of it and some ground to believe them viz. Let them condemn these Books that Teach contrary to their Confession for whil'st then I boldly aver to those who know them and their Doctrine and their Books which they prefer above the Scriptures they cannot they are not to be believ'd The Book I mention to cite is this A brief discovery of a three fold Estate of Antichrist c. p. 7. 8 9. The Priests of the World are 1st Conjurers raising dead Doctrines dead Reasons dead Uses dead Motives dead Tryals out of the Letter which is death raising Death out of Death notable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichrists the Priests of Baal cannot shew any Scripture example for their Heathenish ways and Beastial Worships 4. Witches 5. Devils the Serpent is Head in them 6. Lyers the Commission and call of Baal Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge even the Sir Simons of our days run to Oxford and Cambridge 7. A viperous and serpentive Generation 8. Blasphemers living in the Kingdom and Government of the Prince of the Air yea of the Devils fearful Blasphemers 9. Scarlet colour'd Beasts a well favour'd Harlot having a golden Cup in her Hand full of abomination and filthiness of her Fornication 10. Babylons Merchants selling Beastly ware for a large price the Letter which is Dust and Death for filthy lucre sake 11. Whited Walls painted Sepulchers professing something possessing nothing but poysoned stuff 12. Ravening Wolves 13. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood-hounds 14. Eminent and Ambitious Pharisees living in the same Antichristian steps that the Pharisees did that Christ cryed out against Wo wo wo was their portion then and wo wo wo is their portion now and wo and misery is the portion of the upholders whether King or Parliament of that Treacherous Crew and Deceitful Generation wherefore come from among the Babylonish Merchants c. Oh horrible and unheard of and in this Book there are the Names of George Fox Thomas Lawson Thomas Aldham Benjamen Nicolson John Harrwood five of their primitive Teachers and notable Doctors Behold the way manner and method of the growth and progress of Quakerism what shall this be encourag'd shall this be establish'd in a Christian Nation God forbid Here is contempt cast upon the Scripture upon the Ministry upon the Magistracy and People no matter for their confession whil'st these Books stand uncondemned they keep these Books in their Families read them and recommend them as elsewhere I have observed Even as Arias kept his opinion to himself and yet deceitfully signed as fair a confession to please the Emperor Constantine which is as followeth See Hist Socrates cap. 38. Viz. I believe in one God the Father Almighty and in Jesus Christ his Son who was made by him before all Ages God the Word by whom all things in Heaven and Earth were made who came down and was incarnate who suffered and rose again and ascended and shall come to judge the quick and the dead and in the Holy Ghost the Resurrection of the Flesh and the Life to come in one Catholick Church of God from one end of the World to another this we believe as God shall judge us now and in the World to come Constantine the Emperor was a good Man and thought him sincere and accepted of it but the cheat lay here which afterwards was found out he wrote a Paper of what he really believed and said he believed as he had written and the Quakers have wrot Books that for any to say that Christ is God and Man in one Person is
I deny and this Light to whom they say all Judgment is committed and which they have in them must be Judge of all controversies and consequently their President which deserves the casting Voice No marvel then that the Quakers are not concern'd to vindicate our Bible against the contempt cast upon it by the Papists as saith the same Josiah Coal ibid. p. 104. I find the rest of his Book i. e. A. S. the Roman Catholick consists of divers Arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers whose cause I am not engag'd in therefore it doth not concern me to Answer his Charges against them c. No what neither Sectaries their Bibles nor Ministers Surely tho' he thought himself not engag'd to vindicate the Sectaries nor their Ministers yet if as they pretend to the Parliament they do believe the Scriptures to be Divine and left us by Men Divinely Inspired and that they are a rule of Faith and Behaviour they ought to have vindicated the Bible at least Well but some may say what did this A. S. the Papists call the Bible that they the Quakers think themselves thus unconcern'd to vindicate I Answer 't is his 14th Chapter and which the same Josiah Coal hath printed as an Abettor and Co-workers with him in p. 113. to 116 of his Works The contempt the Papists cast on the Bible and which the Quakers are not at all concern'd to vindicate is viz. Protestant Sectarian Ministers and Preachers who stand in a Pulpit or Tub with such a brazen Fac'd Book as is their unjust corrupt and perverse Bible in their hand c. Oh the deceit of this People What do they pretend to own the Bible only for their own ends to obtain their Liberty and when the Papists vilifie and contemn it and call it a brazen Fac'd Book a corrupt and perverse Book and they not concern'd hereat Well I do still hope that some will be concern'd to vindicate the Holy Bible from the contempt of the Papists calling it a brazen Fac'd Book perverse Book and from the contempt of the Quakers who call it Death Dust Beastly ware Carnal Serpents-meat c. 2. That the Quakers at their Synods make Catalogues of Sufferers for their Religion and what they Suffer and by whom c. I have spoken to this Head largely in the 4th Chapter of the first Part and therein shewed how they boast of their Sufferings how they Augment and make them more than they are yea put them in their Monuments Sufferers 20 l. when they are so far from that that they have gotten 10 l. clear into pocket as in the case of Samuel Cater I have made it appear likewise as my Author says Gen. Hist p. 137. that they amplify their Sufferings viz. A scratch a pinch or a blue spot for a grievous Torment and bloody Wound which may be well observed in most of the Monuments which these Men have left of their Sufferings c. 3. That the Quakers inspect their Books to be printed after approved by their Censors c. From whence let it be noted that if their Books be thus inspected and approved by their approved Censors then are the whole answerable for the Errors contained in those Books and for all the horrible Blasphemies in them But their case is still worse for suppose any one or more of them be moved as he pretends to write a Message Warning or Exhortation to a Nation People or Society as the Word of the Lord God their frequent pretence This Book is first sent up to London for inspection and approbation to one of these Meetings or Synods where their Light is President and made infallible Judge having all Judgment committed to it in Heaven and in Earth this Synod thus Assembled shall afterwards vary the Title and change the Matter to make it harmonize with their design and when this Writer Dyes and leaves 20 or 30 Books thus approved and thus sent abroad the surviving Synod shall take these Books and again alter them put in and take out a second time what they please then re-print them again And what is become of their Infallibility now They had their President at their first inspection what could he not then see and discern clearly but that here must be a new inspection was not their President their Light the same For either the Quakers write as they are moved by the Eternal Spirit of God or they do not if they do then they are equal with the Apostles Writings and then the Judgment denounced Rev. 22. 18 19. If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto them the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book c. This reward they must expect Again if they do not then are they most horrible Deluders and great Deceivers when they write thus this is the word of the Lord God to you the Inhabitants of Bristol or the like and they believe it not they do not believe the Author to be so moved and commissioned and forasmuch as they served the Works of Edward Burrow W. Smith George Fox Is Pennington so viz. altered added and diminished to my certain knowledge I do thereupon affirm that they are not the Works of Fox Burrow Pennington and Smith but the Quakers in general and they are answerable for their Errors notwithstanding each title assert the same Thus hath Quakerism been carried on thus hath it grown and taken its progress by Cheats Frauds and Hypocrisies 4. About their Womens Meetings and their manner and way of their Female Government Having by my Book de Christiana Libertate c. not only treated at large on this head but also been instrumental thereby in giving that Image a deadly blow insomuch as that in some part of the County of Suffolk as well as in divers other Counties in England there is not a distinct Womans Meeting to be seen nor heard of But yet since 't is mentioned in the Gen. Hist p. 50. They have likewise Meetings like those we call Classes and Provincial and National Synods or Councils These Conventions are celebrated oftner or seldomer as the number of their Churches is but so as to allot each Sex Men and Women their distinct and particular Meetings c. I say since the Relation of their Womens Meetings are here brought to light which many think are so dead and dying as that it 's hard to find one in many places and that by way of commendation as I take it I shall therefore briefly touch upon the principal Heads and Orders both of its novel rise and arbitrary Government and chiefly for this reason because in all the Orders there is not so much as one Scripture proof mentioned to confirm and to
strengthen the same even like William Smith's Primmer and Catechism which contain more than a 100 pages yet in all the Treatise there is not one verse of Scripture quoted nor that I remember one exhortation to read the Scriptures in their Family and in his Works in Folio do I find very few Scripures quoted if any and them that are quoted much perverted and abused but to the matter Of Womens Meetings see an abstract of a Letter from G. F. who was the first mover and setter of them up viz. Dear Friends To whom is my Love It would be well and be of service to have a Womans Meeting that you may assist and inform the Men of necessities in what you cannot do your selves and so it would do well for the Women to have a distinct Meeting by themselves once a Month in the County Town meeting together about the Tenth hour of the day and keep a little Stock amongst themselves George Fox This Letter was wrot about 1670. pursuant to his motion for the Establishment of a Womans distinct Meetings but yet in many places they came on slowly and they made but small progress in this Administration of their Female Church Government for it met very early with opposition from amongst themselves and especially when the observation of it came to be imposed as a thing necessary which many looked upon a thing indifferent and therefore the Anniversary Synod confirmed it in all Points by one of their Acts Anno 1675. A Copy thereof followeth viz. London th 3d. Month 1675. To all Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and elsewhere c. touching Womens Meetings It is our Judgment and Testimony in the word of God's Wisdom that the Rise and Practice setting up and establishing Mens and Womens distinct Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the duty of all Friends and Brethren in all places to be diligent therein and to encourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Counties encourage their faithful Women in the settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth i.e. Quakerism shall either directly or indirectly discountenance or weaken the Hands of either Men or Women in the Work and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but reject it resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division We cannot but look upon them not in the unity of the Church of Christ and order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the power of God and in that work for him his Truth and People and not be swayed or hindered by them or their opsitions Signed by William Penn Stephen Crispe John Burnyet George Whitehead Thomas Salthouse Alex. Parker c. This new order of George Fox's for Womens distinct Meetings being ratify'd and in all Points confirm'd and special orders from above given for the strict observation of them There was then but few that in plain words did care to oppose them notwitstanding their was not a word of Scripture neither by Fox nor their yearly Meeting offer'd to prove their proceedings Apostolical nor to warrant their Precept nor to shew a President since the days of Christ or before that Women should hold a Court or Synod distinct by themselves have a Clark a Book a Purse and the management of Church Government once a Month to meet in the County Town about the tenth hour c. according to the Order and Institution of George Fox And notwithstanding there was no Scripture President nor Divine Authority to confirm this Order of George Fox Yet you see by this Anniversary Synod it was ordained enacted and decreed by and with the Assent of the Delegates and Representatives that whoever discountenanced them directly or indirectly was ipso facto to be declared excommunicate out of the unity of their Church I might enlarge and shew the Decree which went forth from their Anniversary Synod 1677. Signed with 66 Names of the Foxonian Quakers condemning John Story and John Wilkinson and their Party for refusing subjection to the Decree above mentioned as likewise another Letter from the Storian Quakers out of the North signed by 67 Quakers disdaining and utterly condemning the Foxonian Quakers and their Pride and Arrogancy who look upon them not only to make Laws unscriptural but when done to condemn such as did not obey them and over whom they had no power but I rather refer to a Book stiled a Testimony against the 66 Judges c. and W. Rogers stiled The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. and my Book aforecited where both the said Letters are at large and the controversy thereabouts more largely handled I shall only add a Prophesy delivered in the Name of the Lord in a Letter to John Story one of the opposers of the Womens Meetings before several Witnesses the first of the first Month 1677. viz. Oh John Story what hast thou done against the Lord and thy own Soul Thou hast divided the Heritage of the Lord and the good Ordinances which Christ Jesus hath set up in his Church hast thou contemned especially Womens Preaching and Womens Meetings therefore the Lord will throw contempt upon thee and if thou dost not repent speedily miserable will be thy end Oh how hast thou lost thy Place and Dignity which thou had'st among the Saints in Light and now to be numbered amongst the Rebellious If ever thou findest Mercy with the Lord go home to the North with speed and break up the divided Meetings which thou and John Wilkinson has been Instrumental to divide from the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ The Anger of the Lord is chiefly against thee and thou art bound with two bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven and this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these bonds till thou art reconciled to the Brethren i. e. submit to G. F. c. Oh hast to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to George Fox who is God's Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ hast away into the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy brother if possible you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least their blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going for this is the word of the Lord to thee viz. That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God Solomon Eccles. I have recited the more of this Letter of Solomon Eccles for
that it shews 1. That the Quakers believe that Womens Meetings are the Ordinances of Jesus Christ 2. That they pretend to have power to bind and loose 3. That the only way to find Mercy was to submit to George Fox and consequently to obey and observe his Laws 4. That this false Prophesy delivered in the Name of the Lord might be from Age to Age continued upon the Quakers as a brand upon their pretence to Prophesy for when the said Solomon delivered this Message by Letter to John Story the said John was very ill and not like to live yet it pleased God for the honour of his Name and that these false pretenders might be manifest to give him length of days about 4 years after 5. That they accounted George Fox the great Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ from the First Instance 't is no marvel then that the Quakers have thrown off and rejected the Ordinances of Baptisme and the Lord's Supper Instituted by Christ himself since Fox their Apostle have ordained Womens Meetings From the 2d That they are one with the Pope touching the power of the Church From the 3d. That the Merits and Satisfaction of Christ as our Mediator and Intercessor of his Death and bitter Passion are by the Quakers laid aside if the only way to find Mercy with God be to be reconcil'd to the Quaker Church From the 4th That the Quakers are not zealous for God by their cloaking and excusing this false Prophesy of Solomon Eccles as well as divers others of his Idolatrous Practices and by their owning him and his Books to the last and never passing a publick censure upon him and his Books From the 5th That 't is no marvel that they are so much concern'd to vindicate every little Pamphlet of their own with great charge and industry but when the Papists call our Bible a brazen Fac'd corrupt and false Bible this they say in so many words they are not concern'd to vindicate this they leave to the Sectarian and Episcopalians to do for alas they have work enough besides and as to the Bible though the Papists call it a brazen Fac'd Book false and corrupt yet the Quakers are not concern'd to vindicate the Bible and indeed how can they against the Papists for the Papists would soon reply what do the Quakers blame us for calling your Bible a brazen Fac'd Book whil'st you your selves call it Death Dust Beastly Wares Serpents Food How then can you blame us since we are Cousin Jermains and Dear Brethren in the common cause against the Church of England Good God when I consider their deep Hypocrisy in their confession to the Parliament I am astonish'd at their impudence and so I proceed to the next Head 5. Moreover saith the Historian p. 55. it 's also their custome in their Houses never to express a Religious Duty with an outward Voice as praying to God craving his Blessing e'er they take Meat or go to Bed till they feel the impulsion of the Spirit This also is the fruit of Quakerism read one of their Books stiled A Musick Lecture c. p. 25. For where they i. e. Christians are I was in Performances in Ordinances in Family Duties in Hearing in Reading in Prayers in Fastings well but when I came to bend my Mind to that of God in me which is Christ then I begun to learn to be a Fool insomuch that I durst not give God thanks for the Victuals that were set before me c. Reader this their practice is so well known in England as well as in Holland that I need not to enlarge upon it only take up a Lamentation when I consider how many Thousand Families of Quakers there are in England that never prayed to God in their Houses nor gave thanks for Blessings received with outward Voice since they turned Quakers perhaps 20 or 30 years What account then will they be able to give at the great and terrible Day Who have thus bewitched the People from the practice of the Primitive Christians Saints and Martyrs and all Protestant Churches to this day unto the practice of the Heathen that know no God read Jeremiah 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen and upon the families that call not on thy name But possibly they 'll say they think of God when they go to Bed and when they receive the Comforts of this Life to which I answer if that be enough and that words are useless why then do their Teachers speak and pray in their Meetings with an audible Voice and sometimes at your own Houses when People are there Is this their practice only that they may be seen of Men a thing I am jealous of for if they look upon it their Duty why not a Duty incumbent upon the hearers also But they say in Burrow's Works p. 47. That is no command of God to thee which God commanded to others unless they receive it a new as the Inspired Apostles did Thus have they taken away they Key of Knowledge from the People I mean the use of the Holy Scripture which would instruct them better Nay this is not all but where the Spirit of Quakerism is in its full vigor if they happen to be in company with a Man of another Profession whether Episcopalian Presbyterian Independant or Baptist who crave a Blessing upon what they receive ☞ sits the Quaker with his Hat on as a Testimony against that laudible Practice 6. They have Anniversary Synods in every considerable Kingdom to whom belong the Care and Administration of all the Affairs of that Kingdom In England they have a fixed Anniversary Synod on the third day of Penticost Gen. Hist p. 51. This may be true but of how dangerous a consequence both to Church and State I am not able to determine but time will further manifest But the more they encrease and gain upon their People and believe that they are the only true Church and as such cannot err that they have power to bind and loose and that their Precepts and Prescriptions are of equal Authority to that of the Apostles and thereupon ought to be indispensibly obeyed I say as this comes to be received and embraced the danger of these Anniversary Synods will be seen more and more and it may be when 't is too late for they not only already think themselves capable to teach Judges Justices yea and the Parliament too What is their Duty what they may do and what they may not do and the utmost confines of their Jurisdiction particularly in the case of Heresy of which I have recited some Instances and can hundreds more as also by two of their Anniversary Synods they have virtually tho' not verbally repealed great part of two Statute Laws that of the 22 of C. II. and that clause of an Act of Parliament made in the First of K. W. Ill. relating to Tythes by their yearly Epistles enregistred by Authority of their Anniversary Synods I
need not here relate what an Influence their first Epistle had and how little the Law was regarded or observed the whole Nation is witness and as to the last about Tythes and Church-warden Rates which the Parliament took care to preserve in their old Channel in the same Law which indulge the Quakers in the exercise of their perswasion yet this very Law they Anno 1696. Charged implicitly with Antichristianism saying p. 1. That all due care be taken against that grand Oppression and Antichristian Yoke of Tythes that our Christian Testimony born and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all respects and against Steeple-house-rates or Lays as also against the burthen and imposition of Oaths c. Here we see Tythes are Antichristian and their Testimony Christian a perfect Map of their whole Doctrine the Parliament Antichristian the Quakers Christian the Parliament great Oppressors the Quakers Oppressed tho' they pay no more than their Neighbours the Parliament lay Antichristian Yokes upon the Quakers the Quakers the only Christian sufferers and persecuted People of God whose sufferings and persecutions are greater and more unjust than the sufferings of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs for what was inflicted upon them was duly executed by a Law and to this practice of ours agree that Doctrine of St. Edw. Burrow's as it is written in our Gospel in the Book of our Holy Scriptures which we at all times stand ready to vindicate vulgarly call'd Ed. Burrow's Works p. 501. Witnesses we stand against Parliaments Councels Judges Justices who make and execute Laws in their own wills over the Consciences of Men and to such Laws Customs Courts or Arbitrary Usurped Dominion we cannot yield obedience c. And therefore by this our Anniversary Decree we Ordain and Enact that the Members of all our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and all other our Associates in every Kingdom Nation and County that adhere to us and believe us to be the universal Church of the First born who cannot err but are led by an infallible Spirit that all and every of our Disciples throw off all these Antichristian Yokes of grand Oppression and from henceforth stand faithful Witnesses against Tythes as Antichristian against Church Rates against lawful Oathes against carrying Guns and this as the Historian says is to go through England and Wales yea all the World over and all that suffer for their Stubborness and Antimagistratical Principles by the same Edict is to be taken into Record who it is that suffer for what cause they suffer and on what account I have not time to set forth the dangerous consequences of these Anniversary Synods when they once gain upon the People that they are the only universal Catholick Church and as such cannot err that as G. Whitehead Teaches the People are to believe as she believes I say on this Doctrine of Infallibity hangs a load of dangers the Parliament say one thing the Anniversary Synod at Devonshire-house another they now argue privately but in time may dispute the Point publickly Infallibility sticks at nothing provided it be for the Holy Church in the Papists Dialect or for Truth 's sake in the Quakers They are Terms Synonymous respecting their Authors and W. Penns Books cited declare plainly how vigorous he was for his near Friends and dear kindred in the late Reign and the Quakers addressed from their Anniversary Synods run in the same Channel and flow from the same Fountain for K. J. II. and against the Church of England there came forth publick Addresses Annually besides Books every Month in favour of the then Government and against the Church But since King William came to the Crown never a publick Anniversary Address to King W. nor one Book wrot in favour of the present Governments as anon will appear And thus Quakerism like the Snake in the Grass creeps on undiscovered or at least little notice taken how she secretly Smites and privately Stings and throws out her Poyson both at Church and State She 'll Arraign Impeach Try Judge Summons Dialogue Condemn both Magistrate and Minister Ruler and People yet if she be but toucht Oh how she winches and giffles up and down crying she 's wrong'd she 's abus'd and all is malice that 's said of her whil'st she takes the liberty to abuse traduce stigmatize and calumniate all other People This is the Temper of this clamorous Woman and tho' I do solemnly profess as in the sight of God Angels and Men I am not for Persecution neither do I desire nor none need to fear that our King and Parliament should follow the French King's example in what is of the nature of Persecution or Cruelty yet on the other hand when they perceive the Ingratitude of this insolent People they probably may take some measures to stop the stream of Heresie which spreads like a Leprosie through the Nation And forasmuch as something that is praise worthy on the French King's part in granting the Ministry of the reformed Churches leave to hold a national Synod and for the exemplariness of the French Protestants zeal for God care of his Church subjection to the Laws according to the Evangelical Doctrine of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs I shall set down a few things worthy observation from the 28 Synod held at Charenton near Paris the 26 day of December 1644. as in the 2 Vol. of John Quick's Hist p. 4. 28. to 437. viz. The Sessions being opened with Prayer the Lord Marquis of Clermont General Deputy presented the Writ given forth by His Majesty's Command for calling the Synod as followeth This day being the 12 of February 1644. the King being then at Paris upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pretended reformed Religion to permit them the calling and holding a national Synod desiring to gratifie and treat favourably his said Subjects hath permitted and doth permit them the Convocation of a national Synod next to Charenton but with this condition that they treat in it of none other matters but of those which he allowed them and that the Commissioner whom His Majesty shall please to appoint be present in the said Synod as hath been accustomed in witness whereof His Majesty hath commanded me to issue out this Writ which he hath Signed with his own Hand and caused it to be counter-signed by me his Commissioner and Secretary of State and of his Command Signed in the Original Lewis and a litt'e lower Phelipeaux The Lord Commissioner unto the Synod Messieurs AS it is a very great honour to me to be Commissionated to assist in your Synod and to acquaint you with his Will and Pleasure so also have I great deal of joy and satisfaction to behold this illustrious Assembly chosen out of all the Provinces of this Kingdom and that I can tell you by word of Mouth which is to assure you of their Majesties good will unto you and protection of you and of all your Churches and
of the entire execution of the Edicts of Pacification so long as you continue your selves within the bounds of your Duty Subjection and Fidelity which you owe unto their Majesties they being the higher Powers set over you by God intrusted with the supreme Authority and your lot and portion being the honour of obedience unto them whereunto you stand obliged by your Birth the dictates of your Consciences and the Favors you daily receive from their Majesties and by all kinds of consideration both general and particular and observe it I beseech you as a singular mark of their Majesties Favor unto you that there be of your Religion in the Kingdom Persons of the highest Quality There be amongst you most Noble and Illustrious Dukes and Peers Mareschals of France Generals of Armies Magistrates and Judges of Sovereign Courts and their Majesties now this very day out of their great confidence they have of your Loyalty and Fidelity have granted you this Assembly at the very Gates of the Metropolis of this Kingdom in the very face and view of all France and of this infinite People of Paris vastly different from you in Manners and Humours Inclination and Religion who will be severe Witnesses and Judges over all your Actions And that all things may be done in that Order prescribed me by their Majesties I am in their Names commanded to acquaint you that all Ministers who are not Natural born Subjects but Strangers are to be excluded this Synod and that none may assist to Vote in it who hath not Letters of Deputation from his Provincial Synod and that during the time it be held you may have no Communication with Forreigners or other suspected Persons and forasmuch as your Assemblies are not by any legal constitution a Body Politick their Majesties have forbidden you to meddle in State Affairs or matters of Justice because your Synod hath no power to judge of such matters but only to treat of Points of Doctrine and Church Discipline Moreover their Majesties do forbid you to print any Books in any place whatsoever concerning your Religion which are not attested i. e. licensed by two manuel Certificates of two Ministers at the least under pain of confiscation of the whole Impression nor may you denounce any excommunication against any Minister or others who shall change their Religion for that of the Roman Catholicks nor treat them reproachfully neither by Word nor Writing Moreover when they speak of the Pope they are not to call him Antichrist nor to treat him disrespectfully nor shall they tax the Roman Church with Idolatry nor the Sacraments nor Ceremonies thereof as humane Inventions and Idolatry c. Nor to make Collections of Money The Moderator's Answer We thankfully acknowledge the great Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God in answering the Prayers of his poor Churches with his heavenly Blessing and their Majesties condescention in accepting our most humble Petition presented by the Lords of our general Deputies and granting us this privilege of holding this Synod and committing the inspection of it unto a Person most Illustrious for his Vertues and well deserving that high Place of Dignity and Honour in the first and chiefest Parliament of the Kingdom All these and many other considerations do enforce our Souls with a sweet and pleasing violence to break forth into enlarged Praises and enflamed Thankfulness unto their Majesties yea and in most ardent Supplications unto our God for the preservation of their Sacred Persons his Benediction upon their Government the Glory of their Crowns under whose comortable shadows the Churches enjoying a sweet Peace will never have any other desire or thought than to practice faithfully and conscientiously that most express command of our Lord and Saviour by his Apostle St. Peter to fear God and honour the King and that with a most entire and sincere obedience And as we have no design to do it so we shall never admit any persons to sit as a Member of our National Synod who hath not a Deputation c. nor shall we hold any correspondency with nor receive any Letters coming from Forreigners nor return any answers to them unless that my Lord Commissioner who represents His Majesty's Person shall have first perused them nor will we debate about matters of State nor make any Orders in relation to them nor shall we set up Provincial Counsels in opposition to His Majesty's Will nor as His Majesty hath demanded of us will we suffer those Canons of our National Synods concerning the approbation of Books that shall be printed on matters of Religion to be violated nor shall we excommunicate any of those Persons who quit the Communion of our Churches for we do not arrogate to our selves any Jurisdiction over them from that minute in which they left us nor shall we tollerate any Sermons fraught with any injurious and reproachful Language against the Members of the Church of Rome nor suffer that Monies be collected c. Thus Reader you see the Protestants ask and the King grants the King limits them sets them bounds the Protestants promise to obey 1. Not to admit Strangers to sit in their Synods 2. Nor to hold correspondency with Forreigners 3. Nor will they debate about State matters 4. Nor make any Orders relating to them 5. Nor print Books unlicens'd 6. Nor excommunicate Persons that quit their Society for they do not arrogate to themselves such a power nor conceive themselves the only true Church in the World like the old Strumpet and the young Harlot 7. Nor will they tollerate any Sermons or Books fraught with injurious and reproachful Language nor will they suffer Money to be collected which as it 's called the Sinew of War so it may be called the Nerve of Heresie I hope to such as will read this Book and others I have wrote will not stand in need of proof that the Quakers are guilty of all that the Christians are herein said to be thus innocent of Having shewed the danger of the Quakers Anniversary Synods upon their Principle of Infallibility read Mat. 22. 21. Tit. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. Rom. 13. 1 2 3. and Tindal's Works i. e. The obedience of a Christian Man c. p. 111. viz. For God hath made the King in every Realm Judge over all he that resisteth the King resisteth God if the Subjects Sin they must be brought to the King's Judgment if the King Sin he must be brought to the Judgment of God and as it is to resist the King so it is to resist his Officers which are sent to execute the King's Commandment for it is written let every Soul be subject to the higher Power here is no Man exempt but all Souls must obey and so I proceed to the next Head 7. Gen. Hist p. 110. The Quakers also could not but love him King William and Embrace him as their most Effectual Defender without the hindrance or fear of Molestation HEre I find my Author as
yet none must say why do they so but it must be accounted malicious and yet how tender are these Men of their own blasphemous Books and defamatory Libels insomuch that as I am willing to note some things from the French King so would I have some observe the Quakers method in this matter for their example and not suffer the Holy Scripture the Book of Common Prayer the Christian Magistracy and Ministry to be thus contemned vilifyed and set at naught by this irreligious spawn of the Jesuits and so I conclude this matter and subscribe my Name Fra. Bugg Sen. January the 28th 1696. A Supplement to the former History containing a further correction of the learned Croese's General History of Quakerism GEN. Hist p. 62. ' They the Quakers condemn no Man till they hear him c. My Author the Historian is now so far besides the matter and gives a Relation so contrary to their practice that He and I must part again for I may not keep company with him at present but I must shew him his mistakes 1st In general They Summons all Archbishops Lordbishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars Curates and all Prelaticals as this Book sets forth at large not personally but fictiously and when this is done they Arraign Try and Judge them unheard to be Monsters Witches Devils Antichrists Bloodhounds Conjurers and false Prophets but to come closer to matter of fact viz. Particularly about the Year 1676. A difference happen'd between me and Sam. Cater and one of their Speakers touching a Fine of 15 l. which I suffered for him for that his Name and Habitation was unknown to the Justices so as to levy a Fine upon his Goods and Chattels and in regard I thought it but reasonable that he should make me restitution and also finding by their Books that in the loss of 13550 l. by Fines and Distresses by an Act of Parliament made the 22 of King Charles II. Entituled An Act to prevent and suppress seditious Conventicles c. The Preachers where strangers never lost 50 l. and thereupon not barely for my own sake but my Fellow Hearers I prosecuted Sam. Cater for restitution of the said 15 l. suffered for him as aforesaid in that he did not declare his Name and Habitation when he saw the Informers convicting the Meeting as at large set forth in my Book The painted Harlot both Stript and Whipt c. and that Entituled Reason against Railing c. and to which I refer the Reader for further satisfaction Yet to shew that they condemn Persons unheard and that their judicial proceedings are Arbitrary and Partial as well as Illegal and therein like the high Court of Justice which would not permit King Charles I. to give his Reasons nor to be heard in his just defence as at large in The History of Independancy c. I shall transcribe some passages of that Transaction viz. Anno 1676. I went to the Yearly Meeting in London and in the Face of their Assembly I proposed this Question viz. Whether Friends in the Ministry where they are strangers ought not to tell their Names and Habitations upon their apparent sight of Informers coming into the Meeting taking the Names of Friends in order to convict the Meeting that so they may stand in the same capacity relating to sufferings with the Hearers and not the Ministers in one capacity free from Sufferings and the Hearers in another capacity i. e. always lyable to Sufferings and not for themselves only but also for the Meeting-houses for the Poor and Indigent for Strangers and Forreigners and for the Preachers unless they declare their Names and Places of Abode c. This was such an unexpected and terrifying Question that it set the Synod on Fire and startled the most Eloquent Orator of them all insomuch that W. Penn steps upon a Form and adjourned the Meeting to Horsly-down Meeting-house in Southwark the next day at 7 in the Morning where after some private debate it terminated thus that unless a Magistrate or a Constable with his Staff came to a Meeting to demand the Speaker's Name and Habitation he was at his liberty whether to declare it or no upon which finding which way the Hare run I came home and the Month of September following I gave Sam. Cater a personal Summons to appear at our Monthly Meeting next following at Chattirise in the Isle of Ely where I demanded Justice against Sam. Cater but the Meeting refused and rejected my Reasons and then I appealed from thence to the Quarterly Meeting as Superior but that Meeting also thro' the influence of Sam. Cater refused to do me right Then I appealed from thence to the Yearly Meeting Anno 1677. as Superior to them all and as a preparatory for my matter I wrot seven sheets of Paper to W. Penn called Speeches and Passages grounded upon an Edict made at the Yearly Meeting Anno 1675. Whereby the Hearers were obliged neither to forsake decline nor remove their Meetings like worldly fearful and Cowardly Professors and on that bottom and for divers reasons grounded thereupon I set forth the reasonableness that the Preachers who thus advise and enjoyn the Hearers and exhort them to stand valiant and give up all should likewise stand the brunt and not shrink and turn back like Cowardly Officers and become the same worldly and politick Professors they advise us not to be like I also wrot a Letter to W. Penn J. Crook and R. Barkley referring the matter in controversy to them Thus being prepar'd I went to the Yearly Meeting Anno 1677. and after some discourse with W. Penn to give him his due he used great diligence to get me a Meeting which was at Ed. Man's House in Bishops-gate-street June 9th 1677. and there we came to this Agreement viz. Memorandum That on condition that Friends of the Quarterly Meeting do chuse and elect 10 or 12 Friends to hear and determine the controversy between F. B. and S. C. relating to the 15 l. Fine c. They the said F. B. and S. C. do hereby promise to stand to their final determination witness our Hands this 9th of June 1677. Fra. Bugg Sam. Cater Witnesses Jo. Whitehead G. Barnadiston W. Whaley Jo. Burnyate Amb. Rigg Leo. Fell and others But when the Quarterly Meeting came which was the 5th of Sept. 1677. I call'd for the written agreement but Sam. Fulbig with whom it was entrusted being Sam. Cater's Creature would not produce it neither would Sam. Cater allow that the Meeting should chuse any but themselves Moreover the Meeting resolved against any other Election but themselves by which I perceived their design but being tired with an endless prosecution I at last tho very unwillingly submitted to the Meeting who chose 12 out of themselves to examine the matter and to put an end to the controversy contrary to the condition of the recited agreement which only impower'd the said Quarterly Meeting to chuse and elect and not to judge
profess true Religion It is that which hath made the Jesuits to be abhorred amongst some of the honestest of the Papists themselves so that they would not let them come into their Houses If the Maid be a wise Woman and of Age to dispose of her self she will not let any of our Preachers meddle wiâ—h her concerns of chusing a Husband for her that is none of their business they should only meddle with their own business and let honest Friends make their choice themselves we have no Law nor Custome among us for such as defame lawful Marriages or obstruct lawful Marriages The Church of England is honester upon that account than we They make such as obstruct or defame Marriages either to make good their charge or to make sufficient satisfaction to the Parties wronged c. Again see W. Rogers second scourge for G. Whitehead who has been many years acquainted with their private way of raising Money and hoarding up Common Banks which indeed is as bad as hoarding up Arms and Ammunition for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so have I often said it is the Nerve of Heresie For this Dagon Money raised by the Common Bankers amongst the Quakers has an ill tendency many ways Well let us hear W. Rogers opinion thereof and Ellwoods answer thereto And yet when she Rome's Sister is but call'd She winches like touch'd Horses that are gaul'd Confusion her attends next follows wo For thus she whirls but God knows whether she 'll go Who when they wanted money to proceed The Church her cash then did supply her need And therefore when her cash was emptied she Crav'd money to supply her ministry And when that practice was dislik'd by some She seem'd like some whose downfal's near to come This Church will fall her load will be her guile If you O Flock keep Purse-strings fast a while When that Spring fails by her you 'll not be priz'd Usurpers then o'er you you 'll see despis'd And woes may long attend such prating Preachers As for preferment turn'd deceitful Teachers Fox is term'd Head yet Whitehead steer'd the course Till both was scorn'd and they grew worse and worse Thus Reader you see Testimony after Testimony against their raising Money for their Teachers in a clandestine way pretending they do all things free without Money or without Reward Now hear Tho. Ellwoods Answer by his Book stiled Rogero Mastix where instead of denying matter of plain Fact he confesses all what is said and laid to their charge viz. But that Christ's Ministers should be supply'd With necessaries by his Church his Bride Is such a known and certain truth as none Perhaps has e'er oppos'd but thee alone That 't is the Churches duty to supply The needful wants of all her Ministry And truth it is too plain to be deny'd Christ's Church should for Christ's Ministers provide What carps thou at then William would thy muse Plead that St. Paul did not this priviledge use That what was lacking to him privately The Macedonian Brethren did supply Thus it appear'd the Apostle did partake Of that Provision that the Church did make Christs Ministers to furnish and their need Supply when they want money to proceed Pretend thou can'st not that this Stock is given To such as have no need thereof but even Thy flurt at Richardson for taking pay For what as Clark he writes do much bewray Thy folly and injustice is' t not fit Who works for others should be paid for it And that by them who him to work desire The labourer is worthy of his hire Thus has Ellwood confest the whole matter and tells us 't is too plain to be denyed as indeed it is Thus you see they confess their Ministers take Money their Clarks take Money Why then do they so bitterly enveigh against the Clergy for taking Money and pretend that their Ministers take none But if Mr. Mead would open his Books of Accounts we should see how many Thousand Pounds their Speakers have in a Year besides their private Quarters who comes like Flies and Mice uncall'd or unsent for and so live on the Provision of others And this I may say that their Ministry hath cost me as much in 4 Weeks as the publick Ministry has cost me in 4 Years and yet these are the free Preachers free Writers and free People if you will believe them But having been more large on this Head in my Book Battering Rams against new Rome c. And that Entituled New Rome unmask'd c. I shall conclude this Head since they are first charged to preach for Money write for Money contrary to their pretences and that T. Ellwood whether at unawares or no I will not here determine has confessed to be matter of fact and thereby puts the thing out of doubt c. I find the Author of the Gen. Hist p. 63. treat about their Marriages and also a few days after a Child is born of their calling the Midwife Of the first he seems only to speak by way of commendation not mentioning so much as one of their Orders and as to the latter as if he were wholly a stranger to them there being no such matter as calling the Midwife or Neighbours on such an account However that he may the better be informed I shall shew several of their Forms for Marriages which are at large treated on in my Book Innocency vindicated and Envy rebuked c. The First Order for Marriage by George Fox printed by Tho. Symons the 7 of the 11th month 1659. Somewhat abstracted viz. And if any Friends go together in the power of the Lord after the thing hath been made known between themselves and laid before able Friends and nothing appear to the contrary they may declare it in the end of the next general Meeting or as they are moved they may declare it in the midtime of the Market on the Market day in the next Market Town or they may not as their freedom is And if they are moved they may declare it to the next Magistrate if they will or they may not then after in an Assembly not less than 12 they may speak their Testimony and then a Certificate may be given of the Day Month and Year and Recorded but that nothing be Recorded for money in these things but freely a free People serve one another in love c. A Second Order for Marriage by George Fox Anno 1662. And when they take one another in Marriage let not less than a dozen Friends and Relations be present according to your former Order having first acquainted your Mens Meeting and that it be Recorded in a Book c. A Third Order for Marriage Anno 1667. That as any are moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage let it be made known to the Children of Light and being by the Light made manifest to be of God let them be joyned
that whereas the Miracle wrought by the Apostles in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth was a means to convert the Jews to the Christian Faith and to confirm the believing Gentiles But these of G. Fox's in regard he wrought them in his own Name only they seem to be a means to shake the Faith and Confidence that some well wishers to us had of our Religion nay and to be plain many amongst us begin to doubt of them and to think them too like the Popish Legend and the counterfeit Miracles of Simon Magus that Sorcerer and I my self am almost at a stand about them and divers others of his assertions touching himself which before our adversaries quoted them I did not take so much notice of Teacher Friend Benjamen you are in the right of it for betwixt You and I Christ never wrought Miracles in a corner and publish'd them 20 or 30 years after they are said to be done but in the face of the World before multitudes of mixt People Friends and Enemies witness that of Cand in Gallilee where he turned Water into Wine likewise his feeding many Thousands with a few barly Loves and a few small Fishes He healed all manner of Diseases whether the Disease were present or absent and some of his Miracles he wrought on the Sabbath day which the Pharasees his great Enemies found fault with him for though they could not deny matter of Fact Likewise his Followers who preached in his Name the Resurrection of the dead they likewise wrought Miracles saying in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk and he the Cripple walked and leaped and praised God Clark Ah these were Miracles indeed But this Fra. Bugg makes the World believe that G. Fox's Miracles are meer shams lying wonders and delusions and I must tell thee I fear so too and to be free some Friends tho' they dare not say it openly think so as well as I and for my part I do not like them at all Teacher Like them who can I was at a Friend's House not long since where I heard an eminent Friend say that since some had wrot so much against the Journal and Miracles c. she had a mind to see it and I asked her how she liked it she said she did not like it at all and indeed if we consider a few things who can like it For 1. His Miracles were done in a corner no body knows where noâ— when otherwise than by his own relation 2. Never published till many years after they are said to be done 3. They were wrought in his own Name only and not in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth 4. Here is not one Cripple that ever he cured nor one dead Person that ever he raised nor one blind that ever he gave sight too to come forth and avouch that he was cured was raised was blind and now he sees and to be very plain I do believe there never was any thing of a Miracle at all but only an Artifice to hold the people in admiration of G. Fox and to confirm them in the belief that we are the only true Catholick Church of the First-born and that the Apostolick order thereof as well as Miracles are restored and re-established amongst us But let us have a care that no body hear us for if this discourse were known to G. W. I should loose my place and you might be in danger to loose yours Clark But pray what think you of his pretence to discerning who said he knew who were Saints who were Devils and who were Apostates without speaking ever a word Again W. Penn said none need to furnish him with discerning or judgment Christ has furnish'd us already and doth on all occasions Teacher Oh Friend I have been a Quaker more than 20 years and am ashamed to hear of such vain boasting For indeed if we were always thus furnished with discerning and judgment on all occasions so that we knew who were Saints Devils and Apostates without speaking ever a word how came it to pass that Sam. Cater in his Narrative p. 18. 19. was so mistaken that Geo. Fox was so mistaken in Thomas Murford Ste. Crispe Tho. Rudyard Ezekiel Woolly c. And how came it to pass that G. Whitehead was so mistaken in Christopher Atkinson Tho. Leacock W. Warwick c. Clark But if this Journal be so erronious so stuft with false and counterfeit Miracles so thick larded with Antichristian as well as Antiscriptural Principles why do our Friends thus run a whoring after it as to have it taught in Schools and placed in all Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and parts beyond the Seas Why is it sent to the University to be reserved to posterity in their Library and to be free I think our Friends run a whoring after it as much as the revolting Israelites did after the golden Calf c. Teacher Come Friend Benjamen I will Answer you by what I have heard in my Travels 1. By teaching our Youth it they are the more weaned from the Professors Religion which is founded on the Letter 2. For that it is sent to all Quarterly and Monthly Meetings it has this service namely to prove the antiquity of our Religion and to shew how it was confirmed by Miracles 3. And its being received into the Library in Oxford it is to shew our Errors and to expose us as may be seen by a Letter sent from the Library-keeper to Fra. Bugg which is as followeth viz. Mr. Bugg You must needs think it strange to receive a Letter from a Man so utterly unknown to you yet the same motive which made you to publish your useful Books I mean the publick Good causes me to become a Petitioner to you in the behalf of the publick Library of Oxford in which place I have the honour of being a Servant to our Universary I have seen your Book call'd The Quakers set in their true Light c. At the end of which is a Catalogue of 15 Books more all written by you The Quakers have already presented us with Fox's Journal Barkly's Works c. I am satisfy'd it would be extremely well taken if you would be pleased to send us your own Works which are so capable of instructing those who are desirous of hearing what can be alledged on both sides Here they will be for ever preserved and your Donation shall be particularly Register'd among the other Benefactors by Sir your unknown but humble Servant c. H. W. Bodlejan Library April 6 1696. Clark Come Brother it grew late if thee wilt answer me a few Questions Briefly do and we will part for this Time and wait another Opportunity for a little more Familiar Discourse about Truth 's Affairs And First Why did our Brother G. Whitehead send a Paper to Turners-hall April 29. 1697. called a Protestation against George Keith's Advertisement and not come and defend our Books Teach Why You need not ask the
beginning And therefore in order to draw a perfect Map of Quakerism I shall consider 1. Who the Quakers Account False Ministers 2. How they pass Sentence on them as such 3. And particularly what bitter Enemies they are against Episcopacy 4. Who the Quakers account true Ministers and the true Church the Bride the Lamb's Wife And first who they account False Ministers 1. Such as Sprinkle Infants and tell People it is an Ordinance of Christ George Fox's Primer p. 84. 2. Such as Preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 3. All that do study the Scriptures and Preach out of them c. Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 7. 4. All that either Receive or Pay Tyth's c. Thomas Ellwood's Antidote p. 78. I could give a hundred Instances of the like Nature by these Primmers and Books they Teach their Children and Inculcate these horrible Principles into their Disciples viz. That all that Baptize with Water all that Preach out of the Scriptures all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above at God's right Hand making Intercession for us As our for ever Blessed and Adored Advocate In short all that Pay or Receive Tyth's And thus have they Sentenced not only the Ministers of the Church of England But Presbyterians Independents and Baptists and the Deceased Martyr's and Christians in all Ages and they are the same still they are not chang'd and by this they shall be proved to be the same in that 1st They so Profess to be in all the Parts of Quakerism and 2ly In that they refuse to Retract and Condemn these their Antichristian Principles Again Thirdly How they i. e. the Quakers pass Sentence on them as such see their Book A Brief Discovery of a Three-Fold Estate of Antichrist c. p. 7. 8 9 10. In Manner and Form thus stand their Superscription viz. Of the False Ministry 1. The Priests of the World are Conjurers Raising dead Doctrine dead Uses dead Motives dead Reasons out of the Letter which is Death raising Death out of Death notatable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichrists the Priests of Baal who cannot shew any Scripture for their Heathenish Ways and Beastial Worships 4. Witches and blind Guides who Bewitch poor Creatures 5. Devils the Serpent is Head in them 6. Lyers the Commission and Call of Baal's Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge these are not Ministers of Christ but Stewards of the Devils Magazine Dissemblers and Lyars a Vaporous and Serpentine Generation going about to Strangle the Child Jesus holding a Worm-eaten Beastly-form 7. Blasphemers yea of the Devil 8. Scarlet-coloured Beasts a Harlot full of Abominations and Filthiness 9. Babylon's Merchants Selling Beastly Wares for a large Price the Letter which is Dust and Death the day is coming when these Idol Merchants shall cry c. 10. Whited Walls Painted Sepulchers professing something possessing nothing but Poisoned Stuff 11. Ravening Wolves evermore Persecuting the pure Truth that the Saints live in Ring-leaders of that Wicked Design 12. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood-hounds still hunting and gasping after their Prey like the Mouth of Hell Barking and Raging like Sodomites 13. Eminent and Ambitious Pharisees living in the same Antichristian Steps that the Pharisees did of the Devil wear Gowns wo wo wo was the Portion of those Pharisees then and wo wo wo is their Portion now and Wo and Misery is the Portion of the Upholders whether King or Parliament of that Treacherous Crew and Deceitful Generation Reader I have shewed how the Quakers Arraign Try Judge and Condemn the Clergy And now I have fairly Recited their Sentence of Condemnation Pronounced by an Eminent Quaker Thomas Lawson and Witnessed too in York castle by three other of their then Principal Speakers viz. Thomas Aldam Benjamin Nicholson and John Harwood In which is a Letter Wrote by Ja. Nailer to George Fox and George Fox's Blasphemy and too much of that Nature But least these five should not give Sentence sufficient pray hear what my Lord Chief Justice W. Penn says who tho' he came in late yet he drives the Nail to the Head in his Witty Windy Wordy Book Stiled The Guide Mistaken c. p. 18. And whilst the Idle Gormandizing Priests of England run away with above 1500000 l. a Year under pretence of being God's Ministers and that no sort of People have been so Universally through all Ages the Bane of Soul and Body of the Universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of God's most dreadful Vengeance is reserved to Act their Eternal Tragedy upon c. The next Head I am upon is to shew what Enemies the Quakers were and still are to Episcopacy But having shewed already out of their Famous Smith's Works how they Dialogue their Clergy rip up the Bowels of Episcopacy charge the Book of Divine Service Established by Law and Confirmed by His Present Majesty's Royal Declaration to spring from the Pope c. And many other Quaker Testimonies I have Cited so that it seems needless yet that I may leave nothing without Presedent or Proof see Edward Burrough's Works p. 618. 619. In Answer to the Baptists Declaration Printed about the Year 1659. which also was Answered by Richard Hubberthorn as in the Dialogue But in regard that this Burrough's was a Prophet among them of the first Form even one of their three Worthy's A Son of Thunder one of whom 't is Written in the Volumn of the Commendatory Epistles prefix'd to his Works That he Burrows was endued with the Almighty Power of God and his Works Printed by the Approbation of G. Whitehead G. Fox and others of their Chief Leaders Anno 1672. when Episcopacy was Settled by Law and even when they Flock'd to the Parliament every day begging Favours yet then was this Re-printing And the like may be noted of Richard Hubberthorn's Answer to the Baptists Recited Declaration well to the Matter In Answer say E. B. to the Baptists Declaration Whereas you Baptists speak of the Publick Ministers of the Nation that you will not destroy them but stand by them and preserve them from Violence and Injury c. To which saith Burrows I answer what are you Baptists about to make a League and a Covenant with Antichrist Have you been opposing them in Words and are you now Recanting of what you have have done when you are sensible of a Danger upon you And will you now bind your selves to stand by them and preserve them from all Injury and even as they are Ministers too But let me ask you say this Innocent Quaker do you look upon them as Ministers of Christ or of Antichrist If Ministers of Christ wherefore do you oppose them Oh ye Hippocrites But if they are Ministers of Antichrist then how is it that you will stand by them and preserve them as such Is not this a League with Hell and Death c. I think
Synod the King may have his Commissioners present to Inspect and even to Regulate their Proceedings That nothing may be their Transacted prejudicial to the Government How much more reasonable is it to have the Quakers Synods Inspected who have given such demonstration of their Antimagistratical Principles If Christian Emperors and Princes have had their Ambassadors and Ministers present in general Councils If the Hugonots in France have submitted nay desired and requested to have the Kings Commissioners present in their Synods which by His Majesties Grace and Favour they have been suffered to hold If the Presbyterians in Scotland tho' now Establish'd as the National Religion have a Commissioner present in their general Assemblies why should the Quakers not be oblig'd to receive a Commissioner from the Government to recide in their Anniversary Synods If at their beginning they were too Inconsiderable for the notice of the Government they are now become a numerous and wealthy People and in all respects worthy not to be neglected especially if their Principles be as their Writings set forth And their not meeting G. Keith and others who have in like manner challeng'd them is not the least demonstration of their Guilt The Postscript to the Map Being told that the Quakers had Answer'd my Book The Qua. Set I went yesterday to their Booksellers Shop in White-hart court for one but found it not but seeing G. Whitehead's Antidote against the venome of the Snake c. I found two Passages which being Reply'd to may indifferently serve for an Answer to the Book For no Charge can be undenyably true upon them Why Because they can deny any Charge how true soever it be Again if they will not Determin a Point in Controversie being proved out of their most Authentick Authors unless we can produce the Original Manuscript Copy which is impossible for us to do then farewel all Answering Books Behold the Quakers run and are ready to give up their Cause the Passages are these viz. The Author of the Snake c. said That Mr. John Pennyman was an Ancient Worthy and most Sincere Gentleman as indeed none that know him can with any Colour of Justice say the contrary who had been invegled with their False Shew and Pretence to Piety till he discovered their Gross Immoralities which being complained of tho' the Fact could not be denyed yet they could not Sensure any that remained in their Unity for which Reason he at last left them G. W's Antidote 252. Answer as his Character of John Pennyman is in the Superlative Degree appears Flattery and his Scandalous Story 's on his behalf and reason of leaving us appears neither True nor Impartial I never had any undeniable Proof of the Matter of Fact heard from John Pennyman c. Reply Well done George thou art in the right on 't for I never knew any Matter of Evil Fact Charged on the Quakers and their Errors but thou hast had the Impudence to deny it at least as Stated or in some other Sophistical manner So that 't is Morally Impossible to prove Matter of Fact against the Quakers undenyably True Why because they have a Face of Brass to deny any Matter of Fact against them how true soever it be of which this Antidote is not the least Instance and for which Reason I could wish the Author of the Snake may not trouble himself to Reply Again 2dly p. 254. G. Whitehead has Cited a Passage in the Snake c. viz. Quakers Registring their Sufferings for the Truth as they call it would make them exceed all the Ten Persecutions and to be more Undescerving than the Sufferings of Christ himself or the Apostles c. To which G. Whitehead Answers These are False Suggestions we have no such hopes he i. e. Snake Cites Edward Burrough's Unfairly and Partially in this Point And yet the Comparison of the Quakers Sufferings as Greater and more Unjust than in the Days of Christ and his Apostles or any time since is a mistake And whether it was so first Verbally Stated by Edward Burrough's or some time since I shall not Determin unless I see the Original Copy c. Reply I do positively Affirm and before any Ten Ministers of the Protestant Churches viz. Episcopal Presbyterian Independent or Baptists will prove that the from Recited Authors Charge is undeniably true Matter of Fact But what then G. W. still complains of Evil Suggestions of Unfair and Partial Citations tho' poor Heart he is so Stung with this Snake that he is forced to acknowledge a Mistake some where but dust not determin where oh horrible what a Book Wrote in 1657. by one of their Inspired Prophets as the Word of the Lord and dispersed 15 Years up and down the Nations and then Reprinted by thy own Approbation dear George with thine and G. Fox's Epistles of Recommendations And now to tell us of a Mistake but know not where and to call for Original Manuscripts Wrote 40 Years since is such a piece of Fallible Infallibility that had I room I should farther enlarge upon it Francis Bugg Sen. May 13. 1697. BOOKS Wrote by Fra. Bugg Sen. 1. DE Christianae Libertate c. in 8vo bound 2. The Painted Harlot both Strip'd and Whip'd c. 3. Reason against Railing c. 4. Innocency Vindicated and Envy Rebuked c. 5. The Quakers Detected and their Errors Confuted 6. A Lette to the Quakers shewing their Frequent Addresses to K. J. 2. 7. Battering Rams against New Rome c. 8. One Blow more against New Rome c. 9. New Rome Unmask'd and her Foundation shaken c. 10. New Rome Arraigned and out of her own Mouth Condemned c. 11. A Sheet delivered to the Parliament Dec. 1693. Entituled Something in Answer to the Quakers Allegation c. 12. Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving c. 13. Quakerism Annotonized c. 14. A Sheet Entit The Quakers Yearly Meeting Impeached c. 15. A second Summons to the City Abel by way of Metaphor to deliver up Sheba the Son of Bichri 2 Sam. 20. i. e. G. Whitehead c. 16. The Quakers set in their true Light c. 17. A Brief History of the Rise Growth and Progress of Quakerism 18. The Picture of Quakerism drawn to the Life c. FINIS
a lye and therefore they cannot believe that Christ is very God and very Man but believe as they have written They also have written that the Scriptures are Death Dust Serpents-meat Carnal and Beastly Ware and though they have made a confession that the Scriptures are Divine and left by Men Inspired of God and that they are a rule of Faith and Behaviour yet they believe also that Geo. Fox was divinely Inspired and wrote from the Spirit of God so they believe as they have written If any think I wrong them let their Books be laid before them which I have cited and let them be asked Come which do you abide by which do contain your Faith and Belief Do you believe as you have confessed if you do at the same time condemn your other Books which teach the contrary if you say no our Books are writ from the Eternal Spirit of God we cannot condemn them then condemn your confession for we will not have you halt between two opinions if God be God serve him if Baal serve him This will be the Test which were it put to them you would soon see them to be Quakers still and not Christians yet And so I proceed to the next Head SECTION VIII Their horrid Blasphemies their pretence to Miracles their agreement with Simon Magus their great Grandfather who was admired adored and worshiped as well as George Fox GEN. Hist p. 27. Fox taught that the sick were cured unclean Spirits cast out his Followers who were as Rattles and Cimbals to blaze about his Fame disguis'd the matter thus that the Woman was possessed with a Devil who had troubled her for the space of 32 years that being brought to him after some hidious shrieks and out-crys like the bellowing of a Cow and a most noisome stink breathed from her Mouth she was freed of that malignant Spirit And to confirm the Quakers pretend to Miracles see Fox's Journal p. 370. where one of them by himself is left upon Record as also many more but this I will recite viz. There was one John Jay being to try a Horse got upon his back and the Horse fell a running and cast him down upon his Head and break his neck as the people said They that were near him took him up dead and carried him a good way and laid him on a Tree I got to him as soon as I could and feeling on him concluded he was dead and as I stood by him pitying him and his Family I took hold of his Hair and his Head turned any way his Head was so limber whereupon throwing away my Stick and my Gloves I took his Head in both my Hands and setting my knees against the Tree I raised his Head and perceiving there was nothing out or broken that way then I put one Hand under his Chin and my other behind his Head and raising his Head two or three times with all my Strength and brought it in I soon perceived his Neck began to grow stiff again and then he began to rattle in the Throat and quickly after to breath the People were amazed but I bid them have a good Heart and be of good Faith and carry him into the House they did so and set him by the Fire but I bid them get him some warm thing to drink and put him to Bed After he had been in the House a while he began to speak but did not know where he had been the next day We passed away and he with us about 16 Miles to a Meeting c. Now this is one of the Miracles directed too in the third Table or Index under the Letter M thus Miracles wrought by the Power of God And amongst the rest this being the chief and to me seem most remarkable I have set it down at large and whereby it may appear 1. That it was wrought in his own Name I I I did so and so and not as the Apostles did In the name of Jesus of Nazareth arise no no Geo. Fox like Simon Magus wrought counterfeit Miracles in his own Name only 2. This is said to be done in 1672. and brought to light but in 1694 which is 22 years after it was said to be done and there let me compare him to Simon Magus and see how far they run parallel read Acts 8. 9 10. There was a certain Man called Simon which before time in the same City used Sorcery and bewitched the People of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying this Man is the great Power of God c. This account the Holy Apostle gives on him next let us hear what Justin Martin said of this Simon viz. Many adored him as the supreme God they gave heed to him they believed and obeyed what he Taught they placed their hopes and confidence in him c. See Pools Synopsis of the Criticks p. 14. 62. Erasmus in his paraphrase on that place saith viz. A Man there was among the Samaritans called Simon a Deceiver of the People and a Practicer of Delusions who before Philip came there practiced in that City Magick-Art and by his counterfeit Miracles had made the Samaritans fond of him who by means of such falshood and deceit vaunted himself before the simple and plain People boasting that himself was an excellent Prophet unto whom the Samaritans from the highest to the lowest gave good heed But nothing had he done in the name of Jesus And therefore they as a People astonished at such monsterous sights said this Fellow is God's own right hand who is called Mighty Many a day had he been with them and long had he made them with his Sorcery to dote upon him and therefore when he had oncegotten himself a name with them of great estimation many believed all he Taught From whence we may observe by way of parallel 1. That this Simon the Sorcerer was a great while and many days with the Samaritans so was George Fox with the Quakers 2. Simon Magus wrought counterfeit Miracles in his own Name only and never in the Name of Jesus so did George Fox and thereby like Simon got himself a great Name of estimation amongst the Quakers 3. That the Samaritans adored Simon Magus and call'd him the power of God so did the Quakers whil'st living witness Josiah Coal's Letter and others in the first part recited and now dead they have printed him to be the power of God saying Miracles wrought by the power of God Third Table under the Letter M and for more of this Nature see his Journal p. 167 170 103 28 29 258 370. Where he would make us believe he was an Angel that he saw the Heaven opened that he was seen at the Judgment Day that he cured the Sick restored the Lame and wrought many other Miracles which will complete the parallel But this story of John Jay is surely as idle and unworthy of being esteemed