time They were all Traytors against Christ that desired an earthly King The true Christians will not have any more Kings among them but Christ c. News coming up out of the North c. p. 18. Dreadful is the Lord and powerful who is coming to execute true judgment upon all you Judges and to change all your Laws Ye Kings all you Rulers must down and cease and all you underling Officers which have been as the Arms of this great Tree all your branches must be cut down for you have been the fruitless branches grown on the fruitless tree p. 19. so you must be cut down with the same power that cut down the King who reigned over the Nation whose Family was a Nursery for Papists and for Bishops which held up Railes c. VVo wo is coming upon you all the same Teachers are standing that were in the time of the King and thâ— same that were in the time of the Bishops such as take Tythes you must both be tormented together Beast and false Prophet P. 20. Sing all ye Saints and rejoyce clap your hands and be glad for the Lord Jehovah will reign and the Government shall be taken from you pretended Rulers Judges and Justices Lawyers and Constables all this Tree must be cut down and Jesus Christ in us will rule alone p. 27. Sound the trumpet sound an alarm call up to the battel gather together for the destruction draw the sword hew down all fruitless trees which cumber the ground hew down all the powers of the earth slay Baal all the hirelings must be turned out of the kingdom p. 35. All you who receive Tythes deny that Christ is come to us in the flesh p. 38. And thou beast and false Prophet must into the fire the false Prophet is the Councellor to the Beast and the Beast maintains the false Prophet c. E. Burroughs Declar. p. 33. Upon a Rumour that the Quakers Meetings were to be broken up they writ viz. These Tydings do not trouble us neither are we thereby moved no not to beg of any man or men the contrary p. 40. and to any outward Authority we cannot seek Mildenhall 25th of Feb. 1695. Fr. Bugg Senior We acknowledge and believe the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament to be the most certain Rule of our Faith and that not so much for the common consent of the Church but because of the Testimony and perswasion of the Holy Ghost And we believe that the doctrine contained in the holy Scriptures proceeds from God from whom only and not from men it derives its authority And forasmuch as it is the Rule of all Truth containing all matters necessarily required for the worship of God and our Salvation it is in no wise lawful for Men nor Angels to add unto or take from this doctrine or to change it And hereupon it followeth that it is not lawful to oppose either Antiquity or Custom or Multitude or humane Wisdom Judgments Edicts or Decrees or Councils or Visions or Miracles unto this holy Scripture but rather that all things ought to be examined and tried by the Rules and Square thereof wherefore we do for this cause allow of those three Creeds namely the Apostles the Nicene and Athanasius his Creed because they be agreeable to the Word of God We believe that all the Off-spring of Adam are infected with Original Sin which is a vice hereditary to us by propagation and not only by imitations as the Pelagians assert whose errors are detested by us we believe that this stain of Original Sin is Sin indeed howbeit they that are the Children of God shall never be condemned for it because God of his rich grace and mercy doth not impute it to them but out of his bounty doth deliver them through our Lord Jesus Christ And we believe that Jesus Christ being the Wisdom and Eternal Son of God took upon him our Nature so that he is one person God and man man that he might be able to suffer in soul and body made like unto us in all things sin only excepted so that as to humâ—ne nature he was indeed the Seed of Abraham and of David conceived in due time in the Womb of the Virgin Mary by the secâ—et and incomprehensible power of the Holy Ghost and that in one and the same person to wit the Lâ—rd Jesus Christ his two natures are inseparably conjoined and united yet nevertheless in such a manner that each nature doth retain its distinct properties so that even as in this divine conjunction the divine Nature retaining its properties doth still abide uncreated infinite and filling all places so also the humane nature remaineth finite having form measure and property And also the Lord Jesus Christ when he rose from the dead gave Immortality to his body yet he never deprived it of the verity of its nature therefore we do so consider Christ in his Deity as that we do not rob him of his Humanity We believe that by that one Sacrifice which Jesus Christ offered upon the Cross we are reconciled unto God that so we may be accounted righteous in his sight And we believe that Jesus Christ is conferred upon us to be our alone Advocate and that he commandeth us in our prayers to present our selves to the Father in his name We do also reject those means which derogate from the satisfaction of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ And we believe where the word of God is not received and where there is no use of Sacrameâ—ts we cannot judge that there is any Church for we believe that the Sacraments are absolued unto the word that they may be pledges and tokens of the Grace of God We believe that God will have the world ruled by Laws and Civil Government that there may be somâ— sort of bridles by which the unruly lusts of the world may be restrained and that therefore he appointeth Kings and Commonwealths and other kinds of Principalities whether hereditary or otherwise and not that alone but also what pertaineth to the Ministration of Justice whereof he avoucheth himself to be the Author therefore hath he deâ—ivered the Sword into the Magistrates hands that so sins committed against both Tables of Gods Law not only against the second but first also may be suppressed and therefore because God is the Author of this order we must not only suffer Magistrates whom he hath set over us but we must also give them much Honour and Reverence as unto his Officers and Lieutenants which have received their Commission from him to exercise so lawful and sacred a Function therefore we affirm that Obedience must be yielded unto their Laws that Tribute and Taxes must be paid and the Yoak of Subjection born although the Magistrates be Infidels so that the Soveraign Government of God be preserved wherefore we do detest all those who do reject the higher powers BOoks written by Fr. Bugg Sen. as followeth some of which are intended to be bound together and sold as on the Title Page whereby such as desire further satisfaction into the nature of the Controversy may inform themselves I. De Christianae Libertate in Octavo bound II. The Painted Harlot both stript and whipt c. III. Reason against Raiâ—ing and Truth against Falshood c. IV. Innocency vindicated and Envy rebuked c. V. The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. VI. A Letter to the Quakers shewing their frequent addressing to the late K. J. and their never addressing his present Majesty VII Battering Rams against New Rome c. VIII One Blow more at New Rome c. IX New Rome unmasked and her Foundation shaken c. X. New Rome arraigned and out of her own Mouth condemned XI A Sheet delivered to the Parliament Dec. 93. intituled Something in answer to the Quakers Allegations c. XII Quakerism withering and Christianity reviving c. in Octavo XIII Quakerism anatomized c. being a Chaâ—lenge to R. Ashby XIV A Sheet intituled The Quakers Yearly Meeting impeached c. XV. A Second Summons to the City Abel 2 Sam. 20. by way of metaphor to deliver up Sheba the Son of Bichri i. e. G. Whitehead XVI The Quakers set in their true light ERRATA PAge 2. line 7. for Book read Books l. 28. for Book r. Books p. 5. l. 4. for White r. Whitehead p. 7. l. 26. for ot r. not p. 11. l. 23 and 24. for troop r. trooper p 12. l. 42. for Isays r. Jays p. 21. l. 17. for of him r. of truth FINIS
speedily it being by our Assent Robert Smith Rob. Letchworth Jeremy Rose Joseph Nun Edw. Wingfeild Robert Barber And thus much by way of Introduction Mildenhall Jan. 15. 1695. FRANCIS BUGG Sen. A Brief HISTORY of the Rise Growth and Progress of QUAKERISM SECTION I. THe first rise of Quakerism was in the year 1650. For George Fox coming to Derby and going into the Church to disturb the Minister was by the Justices committed to Prison for that and his other blasphemous principles and to this agree Edw. Burrough's Epistle on the front of Geo. Fox's Great Mist c. And this Justice Bennet was the first that ever call'd them Quakers This I can prove by other Books but you may read it in Geo. Fox's Journal p. 32. to 40. And that it may plainly appear with what principles the Quakers came into the world withal at their first entrance you may read a Copy of the Warrant by which they were justly imprisoned viz. To the Master of the House of Correction in Derby We have here sent you the Bodies of Geo. Fox and John Fretwell brought before us this day and charged with the avowing uttering and broaching divers blasphemous opinions which upon their examination before as they have confessed These are therefore to require you forthwith upon sight hereof to receive them the said G. Fox and J. Fretwell into your Custody and them therein safely to keep during the space of six months without Bail or Mainprize or until they shall find sufficient security to be of the good behaviour or be thence delivered by order from our selves Hereof you are not to fail Given under our Hands and Seals this thirtieth day of October 1650. Ger. Bennet Nath. Barton I was once minded to have set forth more particularly what principles they came into the world withal as I find them even by the Quakers themselves put forth in a Book stiled Saul's Errand to Damascus p 1 2. which tho they have in the same Book pretended to answer the said Petition yet I do positively affirm that their said Answer looks more like a Confession than a sincere Denyal As also the said Petition and their pretended Answer being with other their Time-serving Treacherous principles fully spoken to in that excellent Book lately put forth by a Divine of the Church of England entituled The Snake in the Grass or Satan transformed into an Angel of Light Discovering the deep and unsuspected subtilty couched under the pretended simplicity of the principal Leaders of the Quakers Printed for Charles Brome at the Gun at the West End of St Pauls 1696. containing about 600 pages insomuch that should I write after him to shew their facing about to every power even as the Weather-cock sometimes for the Parliament sometimes for the Rump sometimes for the Committee of Safety sometimes for the Council of State and then for Monarchy and to shew their encouraging Oliver against the Royal party it would be like lighting a candle at noon-day Their temporizing being so excellently set forth in the said Book yet that the World may see with what principles they prest into the world against all Rule Law and Government I may transcribe the said principles because by what follows it may be seen what foundation they went upon which was under pretence of magnifying the Light in themselves to deny Jesus of Nazareth to undervalue his death and sufferings contemn his Laws contained in the holy Scriptures despise his Ordinances revile Magistrates reproach Ministers In a word they not only by these principles hereto annexed but by their whole proceedings have not only verified what I have already said but manifested their principles to be Antiscriptural Antimagistratical Antichristian unreasonable and irreligious An Abstract of the said Petition is as followeth Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 1 2. To the Right Honorable the Council of State the Humble Petition of several Gentlemen Justices of the Peace Ministers of the Gospel and People within the County of Lancaster Humbly sheweth THat Geo. Fox and James Nailer are persons disaffected to Religion and the wholsom Laws of this Nation who have broached opinions tending to the destruction of the Relation of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands Children to their Parents Servants to their Masters Congregations to their Ministers particularly 1. Geo. Fox professed that he was equal with God 2. He professed himself to be the eternal Judge of the World meaning the Light in him 3. He said he was the Judge of the World still with the same Inuendo I suppose 4. He said he was the Christ the Way the Truth and the Life still meaning the Light This I can prove from his Writings extant amongst the Quakers 5. He said that whoever took a place of Scripture and preached from it was a Conjurer and his preaching Conjuration this is frequent in the Quakers Books yea an approved piece of Doctrine 6. He said the Scripture was Carnal yea Death Dust Serpents meat Beastly ware the Husk this G. Whitehead hath vindicated Thus much respecting Geo. Fox what is relating to Ja. Nailer is spoken to in the recited Book The Snake c. But G. Fox being their great Apostle and the founder of Quakerism I was willing to set down the principles upon which he set up and for which he was imprisoned as you see And the rather because Geo. Whitehead and his followers have published a Journal of his Noble and Ignoble acts of his disturbing Ministers of magnifying himself of his pretended Miracles and other deluding Charms on purpose to bewitch the people like Simon Magus his Predecessor Wherefore in this contest there can be no Neuters if God be God serve him if Baal serve him who can have patience to see the Name of God thus openly Blasphemed he that can is no Christian he has not zeal for God nor love to the souls of men The Papists will not have the Pope called Antichrist nor spoken disrespectfully of the Turk will not hear Mahomet blasphemed as we are Christians let us stand for Christ and the Christian Religion I have read how dangerous it is to foster Hereticks and shall England now become a nursery of Quakerism which spread itself like a Leprosie far and near even to Nations beyond the Seas And therefore since G. Whitehead c. have printed the Acts and Monuments of Geo. Fox which the poor silly ignorant Quakers run a whoring after as the Idolatrous Israelites did after the Golden Calf I am zealously concerned to unmask the head of this Foxonian Tribe of Quakers i. e. G. Fox and in a remembrance of what I was once my self and that for many years I can do no less And in this short Treatise I shall shew how Geo. Fox resembleth Simon Magus and Ignatius Loyola for the tree is known of the fruit SECTION II. SImon Magus lived in the Apostles time as saith S. Luke Acts 8.9 10. There was a certain man called Simon which in fore
that he who is not infallible in his judgment council and advice is no Minister of Christ that the Quakers are the only Ministers of Christ And as a further proof that G. Fox and his followers are Ignatius his dear Children read the Works following and a hundred more of their Books and you shall not find one passage wherein they make confession of their sins to God and beg pardon for Christs sake according to the example of the Prophets Apostles Saints and Martyrs in all ages neither if you go to 1000 Meetings shall you hear one of their Preachers have such an expression in their mouths viz. as confessing their sins and begging pardon for Jesus Christs sake And for example I have read great part of these Books following and cannot find such a passage I was also a Quaker 25. years and in all that time I do not remember such a passage If any think I wrong the Quakers let them read and search as I have done and shew me such a passage if they can The Books by me most examined are thâ—s Edw. Burroughs in folio containing pages 896 Sam. Fishers Works in folio pages 954 Read Qua. detected p. 8. to 12. and New R. unmaskt p. 18. Fr. Howgillt Works in folio 709 Geo. Fox his Journal in folio 632 Geo. Fox his Great Myst in folio 407 Will. Smiths Works in folio 565 W. Pens and Geo. Whiteheads Christ Qua. in folio 555 W. Baylys Works in quarto 774 Rich. Hubberthorps Works in quarto 374 W. Pens Invalidity in quarto 451 Â 6317 Thus I have given you a sample of their Books and read as many of them as you please and if thou art a Quaker and has but a spark of Christianity left in thee I admonish thee and that for thy own Souls sake read these Scriptures Luke 11.4 1 Joh. 1.8 9. Cap. 2. v. 5. Psal 38.18 51.1 2 3. Isa 64.6 Lam. 3.41 42. Job 7.20 Dan. 9.4 5 20. Jer. 10.25 Luke 18.10 11. 1 Kings 8.47 Prov. 20.9 Eccles 7.20 1 Tim. 1.15 And then compare the practice of the Saints of old to the practice of the Quakers and they do no more resemble each other than black does white Here you will see that Moses that meek and good man David a man after Gods own heart Isaiah Jeremiah John Job Nay so far are they from this practice that one of their Preachers In the Book A Musick Lect. c. says p. 22 I do affirm that if John the Apostle had said he had been a sinner he had Lyed c. Oh Impudence Daniel the beloved of the Lord Paul the great Apostle they all acknowledge themselves sinners they begg'd pardon for Christs sake But you can never hear that G. Fox Sam. Fisher Ed. Burrows W. Pen G. Whitehead W. Smith Fra. Hawgil Wm. Bayly nor Richard Hubberthorn in all these 6317 pages that they make the least confession of sin and that they ever beg pardon for the same And this I take and have done for many years to be an Argument that they are of a different faith and practice to the Apostles the Prophets the Martyrs and all true Christians to this day And if any be desirous to be further satisfied read my book The Quakers detected c. p. 8 to 12. New Rome unmasked c. p. 16 to 20 where I have largely treated on this head I also recommend an ingenious piece called The Quakers Quibbles which to this day they have not been able to answer SECT VIII THe Invalidity of John Faldo's Vindication c. part 1. page 103. cap. 5. I find William Pen making a piteous moan against John Faldo And begging like a poor Fryer of his Reader to do a poor people right for once viz. Reader I beseech thee for truths sake on whose side soever thou shalt find it to be to examine with all impartiality his Charge our Answer his Reply and our Rejoynder if his Honesty Reason and Justice hold any proportion to his great Confidence we yield But if upon an impartial consideration he shall be found to clip and pervert our matter and to shuffle with us in his own once do a poor people Right William I have read both sides and do say that he hath contracted yours fairly and taken in the sense fully and what you add to it is but your gloss Edward Burroughs Doctrine is plain and positive which teach That is no command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the command to themselves I challenge to find an example for it they obeyed every one the command to themselves c. See his works p. 47. And Mr. Faldo repeats so much of your Answer as carries the strength of your Argument which is this viz. No Command in Scripture is any further obliging upon any man than as he finds a conviction upon his Conscience otherwise men should be engaged without if not a-against Conviction a thing unreasonable in men Thus far Pen. Observation The Observation I make is this that your Friend Burroughs Doctrine is perfect Ranterism and that by the Doctrine of William Pen too A brief examination of Lib. Spiritual c. per W. P. p. 3. For it is a dangerous principle and pernicious to the true Religion and which is worse 't is the root of Ranterism to assert that nothing is a duty incumbent upon thee but what thou art perswaded or convinced is thy duty Again p. 11. The enemy is at work to scatter the minds of friends by that Loose Plea what hast thou to do with me leave me to my freedom and to the Grace of God in my self this is a deviation from and a pervertion of the antient principle of truth if any one shall say I see no evil in paying Tythes I see no evil in marrying by a Priest I see no evil in keeping my Shop shut upon the worlds holy days and Christmas days and fast days which is confusion it self c. I say my Observation is this the Quakers will impose as an indispensable duty an absolute conformity to their orders to their laws to their canons and decrees and if any plead to stay till they be convinced of the reasonableness of their commands this is Ranterism yea downright Ranterism altho it be to pay Tythes which the Law commands to observe such days commanded by Authority and which as such the Scriptures enjoyn which say be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake c. But to obey the Scripture commands as such that 's no obligation by Wm. Pens doctrine unless a man be convinced thereof or unless he have the command anew and as immediately as the inspired Apostles and Prophets had see my Book de Christiana Libertate c. p. 30 to 45. where the Quakers imposition about things of indifferency are at large handled But Mr. Faldo
tells the Quakers and I think not without good reason that this Doctrine of the Quakers springs from such a pernitious principle as carry all iniquity in the womb of it c. But as W. Pen desires beseeches and begs that I should for once do a poor deluded people right so I will answer his request and the way to do it is to set down Burroughs Doctrine and W. Pens Answer at least so much of it as carry the strength of his argument viz. Burrows Works p. 47. That is no command from God to me what he commands to another diâ— any of the Saints which we read of in scripture act by the command which was to another not having the command to themselves Whereas from the recited Doctrine of Burroughs Mr. Faldo charges the Quakers to teach that no commands in Scripture as such are binding to us which he accounted as such a pernicious principle as carried all iniquity in the womb of it c. to salve which pray hear Mr. Pens answer To this saith he I answer briefly and plainly no commands in scripture are any further obliging upon any man than as he finds a conviction upon his conscience otherwise men should be ingaged without if not against conviction a thing unreasonable in a man Now I cannot see how W. Pens argument can answer the end proposed since 't is very hard for the Quakers nay impossible to be convinced of the reasonableness of their obedience to Scripture commands as such if they adhere to the Quakers Doctrine and names of contempt they frequently cast upon it First for names viz. Beastly ware carnal letter the husk dust death serpents meat some of it spoke by the grand Impostor some by wicked Men some by true Prophets yet false some by wise and good Men yet either ill applied or ill expressed And that whether Moses or Hermes was the first Penman remains a question c. I say here is no ground to hope that these Teachers will ever convince their Hearers of their duty of obedience to Scripture commands as such Again that the people may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Again If ever you own Christs and the Apostles you will ever own our Writings say the Quakers which are given forth by the power and spirit of God Again What is spoken from the spirit of him in any is of as great authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater and very much to this effect as in this Treatise as also in New Rome Arraigned is plainly proved from the Books of their Teachers of greatest note Insomuch that there seems no possibility for the conviction of their followers who adhere and believe such doctrine of their duty of obedience to Scripture commands as also may appear from their practice as for example Christ said go teach all nations baptiâ—ing c. do this in remembrance oâ— me c. here is two positive commands which the Quakers have quite thrown off upon their principle that no commands of God which he commanded to others are binding now unless they have a command from God as the Apostles had at least until as Pen saith they are convinced 't is their duty to obey which is impossible if they tell them 't is Conjuration to preach out of the Scriptures that they are beastly ware serpents meat dust and deaths c. Again hear what one of their most noted Teachers says A Musick Lecture c. p. 35. Where they the worlds people are I was in performances in ordinances in hearing in reading in prayers and fasting but when I came to bend my mind to that of God in me viz. Quakerism I durst not give God thanks for the Victuals set before me c. And the reason is plain he not having the same command the Apostles had for if Scripture precept had been binding he had not only the command but example of Christ and his Apostles and the like may be urged for their disobedience to the Laws of the Land particularly about Tythes which W. Pen and the Quakers make criminal in their hearers to pay as likewise to shut up their Shop-windows on Fast days commanded by Authority these are made capital sins in the hearers But for non-submission to their own humane inventions they charge them with Ranterism thus have they like their Predecessors the Pharisees who strained at a Gnat and swallowed a Camel made void the commandments of God and precepts of the Gospel of none effect by their tradition Thus 't is apparent that this Doctrine That no commands of God in Scripture are any further obliging upon any man than he finds a conviction upon his conscience is so pernitious that it carries all iniquity in the womb of it And that this position opens the Flood-gates to all error atheism impiety and wickedness for if conviction be all the ground of obedience to the commands of Scripture and that no man until he is convinced that he is obliged to obey the commands of God laid down in the Scripture then all rational Laws Orders and Governments both divine and humane are overturned and from the date of this position a stop is put so far as 't is received and imbraced to all Religion and Piety towards God and upon this bottom as their principal foundation and corner stone the Quakers first rose in the North breaking all Law Order and Government disturbing the Ministers in their Churches and all other Societies for they were not convinced that they ought to obey Magistrates nor their Laws and how far they still retain this principle this Treatise will shew tho I grant for self-ends they are somewhat reformed and to maintain their Grandeur their Trade and to get into the favour of the Government that in time they may come to be Justices of Peace For it is certain that this position together with their other doctrine take away and rob the Scriptures of their divine Authority leaving all loose and uncertain and where this doctrine will end were it generally embraced God only knows for the Quakers conscience being hardened by the Doctrine of their Teachers against the Ordinances of Jesus Christ Obedience to the Laws of the Land the Papists the Jesuits the Turks the Arians the Socinians the Antitrinitarians all may as well plead to be left whether to obey Scripture commands as the Quakers and the Hearers of them all in all probability as like to be convinced by their Teachers as the Quakers c. who yet at the same time injoyn their Hearers not to pay Tythes not to marry unless they publish their intention before their Womans Meeting not to marry by a Priest not to shut up their Shop on a Fast day but to keep it open in Testimony against the command of the Magistrate and his Authority and a hundred things more and for non-submission to these injunctions there must be no plea nor liberty given nor forbearance until conviction but the Scripture commands
Meeting held in London the v. vi vii and viii â—â—ys of the 4th month 1693. p. 2. Several other Epistles from forâ—ign parts as Barbadoes Maryland Pensilvania Virginia Scotland and Holland were read an Epistle from Amsterdam in Holland Ja. Dickinson and Tho. Wilson at this Meeting gave an account of their Travels in Barbadoes East and West Jersey Pensilvania Maryland Virginia New England North Carolina Rhoad Island Long Island Antego Nevis c. Four Epistles from Ireland one from the last year Meeting in Dublin another from Ulster Province another from Munster Province the fourth from Conought Province Meeting An account was given of Dantzick friends A Letter also from Jamaica that there are a People rais'd up and increased in Germany from among the Lutherans called Pietists by some called Quakâ—râ— persecuted by the Duke of Saxony and the Priests several of our Friends Books have been spread amongst them Again p. 3. Friends appointed to view the â—ccounts report that they find they are truly stated and right kept and friends are again advised to bring up with them the tâ—tal sum of each Counties Collection Query did Wm. Crouch not forget the 5 l. he disbursed Again p. 4. the six friends of the City appointed and intrusted this Year with the accounts are William Crouch John Staploe William Macket William Chandler William Beech Nathaniel Marks Observation Reader A small Remark will serve 1st 'T is plain they hold a Correspondency with and receive Letters from Foreigners return Answers spread their Books into foreign parts pretending to spread truth as if the Scriptures were deficient 'T is also plain that they have a Fund or Bank and a yearly Tax collected to maintain their Teachers Travellers and Spies both at home and abroad see my Books Battering Rams against New Rome c. p. 14. New Rome unm p. 60. 'T is also plain that they have Common Bankers with whom the keeping of the Exchequer is intrusted their Names are W. Crouch J. Staploe W. Macket W. Chandler W. Beech Nath. Marks See W. R.'s Second Scourge for G. Whitehead c. on this Head SECT XIV French King YOu are not to meddle with State Affairs or matters of Justice Protest Nor will we debate about State Affairs or make any orders in relation to them The King and Parl. of England An Act of Parliament made the first year Gulielmi Mariae intituled An Act for exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Laws c. Numb 308. Provided always that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt any of the persâ—ns aforesaid from paying of Tythes or other parochial duties or any other duty to the Church or Minister nor from any prosecution in any Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for the same Quakers Yearly Epist p. 1. And therefore that all due and godly care be taken against the Grand Oppression and antichristian Yoak of Tythes that our Testimony born and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all respects and against Steeple-house Rates as also against the burden and imposition of Oaths that Friends at all their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings be reminded to call for the Records of Friends Sufferings to see that they be duly gathered truly entered and kept and accordingly sent up to London as hath been often advised both of what Tythes are pretended to be due and for how long a time and the time when taken and by and for whom and what goods are taken by distress for non-payment and the value thereof as well of those not exceeding as those exceeding the sums or quantities of Tythes demanded it being a suffering in both for Truths sake They the said Monthly and Quarterly Meetings being in these particulars found defective and imperfect in divers Counties which is an obstruction to the General Records of Friends Sufferings and therefore the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings are desired to take more care for the future that all Friends Sufferings for truths sake may be brought up to London as full and compleat in all Respects as possibly may be A complaint being made that some that profess truth carry Guns in their Ships 't is therefore recommended to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings to deal with them c. Observations Reader the disparity between the Quakers and the Christians in their practice behaviour gratitude and duty is obvious 1st The French King commands his Subjects not to meddle with State Affairs the Protestants with all complacency answer him no they do not desire it neither will they so much as make orders about State matters as not being their present station being Dissenters from the Religion by Law established Thus you see the harmony of the French King and his Subjects and so much for that next you see in the first year of his present Majesty he with the advice and consent of his Parliament indulged the Quakers the free exercise of their perswasion from the penalty of poenal Statutes but in the same Act for their Indulgence there is a clause as above told which ratifies and confirms the payment of Tythes and all Church dues as firm as ever In the next place you see what the Quakers say of it They tell you That Tythes are a grand oppression and not only so but which is worse an Antichristian Yoak yea such a yoak as that whoever receives or pays Tythes does therein deny Christ to be come in the Flesh by their doctrine And thereupon by this Epistle which is to go through England and Wales and elsewhere they warn their Disciples to maintain their Testimony against the payment of Tythes in all respects the like against Church-wardens Rates and withal stoutly to oppose the Imposition of Oaths Nay this is not all yet but being sat in state to hear the grievances of the Nation there is a Complaint come up to the yearly Meeting that some who profess truth as if there were none who profess truth but the Quakers carry Guns in their Ships Well they hear this Complaint but refer that business to the Country Sessions I mean their Quarterly Meetings for they have business of great moment and thus instead of thankfully enjoying the Governments kindness they are privately undermining it by alienating the Kings Subjects from their active obedience to the known Laws of the Land for this Epistle alias Edict is to go through England and Wales and elsewhere this elsewhere is through the world for as Rome is the Papists Metropolis whose Decrees reach to the ends of the earth where Papists live so is this yearly Meeting in London the Quakers Metropolis and from thence goes forth their Law which is obliging and binding as far as there are any Quakers And if any desire to stay until they be convinced Oh no! says W. Pen away with this loose plea for it is a dangerous principle and pernicious to the true Religion And which is worse The Examin
of receiving them and their Testimony you have caused them * Here Sam. thinks to blind the poor Quakers and make them believe he was a 20 l. sufferer when he lost not a groat to suffer And them also that did receive them and their Testimony The Lord forgive you is the desire of him that chuses rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God than to live in the pleasures of this world Sam. Cater I have laid a snare for thee and thou art taken O Babylon and thou wast not aware thou art found and also caught put your selves in array against Babylon round about all you that bend the Bow shoot at her spare no Arrows for the Lord hath opened his Armoury and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation for this is the work of the Lord God of Hosts Jer. 50.14 24 25. SECT XVI Fr. King WE do forbid you to print any Books in any place whatsoever concerning Religion which are not Attested i. e. Licensed by two Manual Certificates at least under pain of losing the whole Impression Prot. Nor as his Majesty hath demanded of us will we suffer thâ—se Canons of our National Synod concerning the Approbation i. e. Licensing of Books that shall be pâ—inâ—â—d on matters of Religion to be violated it being our sincere and most fixed Resolution to obâ—erve in the precisest and strictest manner their Majesties Edicts and under the benefit of them to lâ—ad a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Quak. Epist ibid. p. 3. It 's desired that the monthly and quarterly meetings respectively takes notice of all Friends Books that are or may be sent to them according to former agreement and take care for the dispersing the same for the service of Truth c. and take care to advise the Correspondents for the Counties to write only to your Correspondents in London about their sufferings lest their suffering case be delayed Renewed advice to the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and for the preserving and spreading Friends Books for Truths service Dear Friends THese are to let you understand that our Friends have at several yearly Meetings had under their serious consideration hw all those Books that are printed for the service of Truth and the unity of Friends might most effectually be spread for a general service to Truth and Information unto Friends and others And at the last yearly Meeting it was left unto this meeting who have settled as followeth viz. That those that print friends books shall the first opportunity after printed within one month at most send to one of the Correspondents in the several Counties viz. For each Monthly Meeting two Books of a sort if under Sixpence and one of a sort if above Sixpence for these reasons 1. For Friends to have general notice of what Books are printed 2. That they may send for what other quantities they may see a service for 3. That the Printer may be encouraged in printing for friends 4. That one Book at least of a sort that shall be printed except Collections may be kept in each Monthly and Quarterly Meeting for the service of Friends and Truth as there shall be â—ccasion for the future 5. It 's agreed that the Printer will allow two pence in the shilling for all such Books 6. It 's Agreed That some here shall be appointed to examine the Printer to see that they send no Books but such as are appointed by Friends 7. It 's Agreed and Advised that the Printers account be fully cleared once a year at least by those Friends the Country shall send up to the yearly Meeting 8. It 's Agreed That the name of the Printer imployed by Friends should be sent with directions how to write to him Dear Friends and Brethren it 's tenderly advised and recommended to you that you be careful and diligent in the spreading of all such Books that are printed for the service of Truth and are written either in defence of it or Christian Doctrine or Holy profession or by way of Epistle Warning Caution Exhortation or Prophecy that so we may not be remiss or negligent in promoting the holy truth that nothing may be wanting on our parts to promote it and the spreading of it that the Nations may be informed and brought into the knowledge of it that in the end we may give an account with joy An ancient friend the Printers name is as follows to whom direct thus For Andrew Soale at the Crooked Billet in Holy-well-lane in Shoreditch London Or to Thomas Northcoat at his Shop in George-yard in Lombard-street London And this we think needful you should record in your Quarterly Books and sometimes read it for remâ—mbrance and notice Signed in the behalf of the Meeting the 18th of the â—â—th mâ—nth 1693. by Benjamin Bealing The yearly Meeting Epistle the 27th of the 3d month 1675. It is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and the authority of his Power and Sprit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible names and expressions as calling men and womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burthensome And that faithful Friends Papers which we Testifie have been given forth by the Power and Spirit of God are mens Edicts or Canons or embracing them bowing to men Elders in the service of Truth Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them But let Gods power be set upon the top of that unsavoury Spirit and them that use it Signed by George Whitehead William Pen and others I am the larger in this Citation to convince the world that the Quakers prefer their own Books before and above the Scripture contrary to their pretence in their sheet they delivered to the Parliament as also to shew the impudence of some amongst them that tell people they have no Epistles read amongst them as Francis Bugg sets forth which I know they can no more be ignorant of than of the Suns shining at noon-day And in order to a further discovery thereof I shall recite the Titles of some of their Epistles as I did in New Rome Arraigned p. 41. which to this day they have not denyed c. 1. Two General Epistles to the Flock of God where-ever they are dispersed by M. Fell and J. Park printed 1664. 2. To Friends in England Ireland Scotland Holland New England Barbadoes or any where else where the Lord shall order this to come c. 3. A General Epistle to be read in the fear of God in the Assembly of his people by W. D. 4. The word of the Lord to Syon the New Jerusalem the Bride the Lambs Wife the excellency of all the Glory that is amongst the people by W. D. printed 1664. 5. An Epistle to Friends every where to be read distinctly in their Meetings by K. W. printed 1681. 6. All Friends every
in the unity of Essence Refuted The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your carnal Christ is utterly denied and testified against by the light to say that Christ is God and Man in one person is a Lye A Question to Professors c. p. 20 27 33. To whom do the Names Jesus and Christ chiefly and in the first place belong do they belong to the body which was took by him or to him who took the body Is not the Suâ—stance the Life the Anointing called Christ whereâ—ver it is found doth not the Name Christ belong to the whole body and every member in the body as well as to the dead Now the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which he wore between him that came and the body in which he came between the substance which was vailed and the vail that vailed it Lo I come a body hast thou prepared me there is plainly he and the body in which he came there is the outward vessâ—l and the inward life this we certainly know and can be â—er call the bodiâ—y â—arment Christ but that which appeared and dwelt in the body c. Thus do they deny Christ which the Apostles preached saying Acts 5.30 35. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ c. The Christians Faith WE believe and confess there is but one God only whose being only is simple spiritual eternal invisible immutable infinite and incomprehensible And that the Holy Scripture teacheth us that in that one simple divine being there be three persons subsisting the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost the Father to wit the first cause in order and the beginning of all things the Son his everlasting word the Holy Ghost his vertue power and efficacy the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost from everlasting proceeding from the Father and the Son these 3 persons are not confounded but distinct and yet not divided but of one and the same essence eternity power and equality and to conclude we allow of that which those four ancient Councils have determined and we detest all other Sects and Heresies condemned by those holy Doctors St. Athanasius St. Hillary St. Cyril and St. Ambrose Now if the Light only be Christ and as they say they can never call the Body Christ then are the Apostles found false Witnesses and the Quakers acquit Judas and the Jews for they never did hang the Light or Spirit upon a Tree they never Crucified the Light see Quakerism withering and Christianity reviving c. p. 15 to 30 for more of this Will. Bayley's Works p. 300 307. He being asked What Body Christ hath and where is it seeing its said to be at the Right hand of God he replies saying A Body hast thou prepared me mark the distinction thou me and a body This me that spake in the body was the Christ Again p. 307. For they his Disciples loved his person for the sake of the frame and quality of the Spir t that dwelt in him or else what was his person to them mâ—re than another person but for the sake of that which dwelt in him they loved him The Christ Qua. and his Dev. Test p. 98. The Se-pent is a Spirit now nothing can bruise the head of the Serpent but something that is Spiritual as the Serpent is but if that body of Christ were the seed then could he not bruise the Serpents head in all because the body of Christ is not so much as in any one And consequently the seed of the promise is an holy principle of Light and Life that being received into the heart bruiseth the Serpents head And because the Seed which cannot be that body is the Câ—â—ist as saith the Scripture the Séed is one and that Séed is Christ Touching the Scriptures Geo. Whitehead's Serious Apology p. 46. That which is spoken from the spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater G. W. s Ishmael p. 10. That which is written is the Letter which is death and killeth Saul's Errand to Dam. c. p. 7. All that do study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers the Letter of the Scripture is death and killeth Several Petitions answered p. 30. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same power and spirit Truths Defence p. 2 102. You might have as well condemned the Scriptures to the fire as our Writings for our giving forth Papers and Printed Books it is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 17. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes or whether both these are not one or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether some words were not spoken by the Grand Impostor some by wicked men some by wise men ill applied some by good men ill expressed some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false c. Davids Enemies discovered c. per G. Whitehead and Christopher Atkinson p. 7. And these the Apostles do not call the Letter the Rule and the four Books Matthew Mark Luke and John the New Testament and Gospel as thou and thy generation the Priests do and thy Ministry is in the Letter which killeth News coming up c. per G. Fox p. 14. Your Original is carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and your word is carnal the letter and the light is carnal the letter and your Baptism is carnal and your Sacrament is carnal and their Communion is carnal A little Bread and Wine so dust is the Serpents meat their original is but dust which is but the letter which is death their Church is dust so the Serpent feed upon dust and their Gospel is dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is but the letter Touching Ordinances P. 34. A voice and a word to all you Deceivers who deceive the people and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemy and Hypocrisy that tell people of a Sacrament and tell them it is the Ordinance of God blush blush and tremble before the Lord God Almighty you who live in the Witchery and bewitch the people c. Burroughs Works about Water Baptism p. 518. We do utterly deny and do say it is no Ordinance of God but it is an Institution of the Whore of Rome and England received it by a popish Institution
and your practice of it is Idolatry and no part of the Worship of God p. 51. have you been bewitched from the obâ—dience of the truth within to obey the Letter without Will. Smiths Primmer c. p. 36. Quest How is it concerning these things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine Answ As to those things they arose from the Popâ—s Invention who hath had power in the night of Apostacy and hath set up his dâ—viâ—es which are yet continued in England tho he seemingly is denied and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their Institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ Quest How may I know when Christ is truly preached Answ They that are false Ministers preach Christ without and bid people believe in him as he is in heav n abâ—ve but they that are Christs Ministers preach Christ within See my Sheet to the Parliament p. 5. A Musick Lecture c. p. 25. For where they are I was in Performances in Ordinances in Family Duties in Hearing in Reading in Fasting but when I came to bâ—nd my mind to that of God in me then I began to learn to be a Fool insomuch that I durst not give thanks for the victuals that were set before me Concerning Election and Reprobation Truths Defence c. p. 92. We Quakers are elected to Salvation we have the witness within us praised be God who hath elected and chosen us before the foundation of the world but thou the Priest art ordained of old for Condemnation and for Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates Christ and art blind Reader I have at large proved out of their Books that all Ministers that sprinkle Children with Water all that preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above at the right hand of God all that take a Text and preach out of the Scriptures all that either receive or pay Tythes as at large in my Second Summons c. p. 7 8. And now I am willing to give you the Quakers Faith and Perswasion concerning them as in their Book A brief Discovery of a threefold Estate c. p. 7 8. with the same Title set thus over their heads viz. Of the false Ministry The Priests of the world are 1. Conjurers raising dead Doctrine 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 for their heathenish ways and beastial worships 4. Witches blind Guides 5. Devils the Serpent is head in them 6. Liers the Commission and Call of Baals Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge A poysonous-fountain the Sir Symons of the age run to Oxford and Cambridge they run with Simon These are not Ministers of Christ but Stewards of the Devils Magazines Dissemblers and Liers 7. A viperous and serpentine generation going about to murder the Child Jesus hâ—lding a worm-eaten beastly form 8. Blasphemers yea of the Devil fearful Blasphemers 9. Scarlet coloured Beasts a Harlot full of abomination and filthiness 10. Babilons Merchants selling beastly ware for a large price the Letter which is dâ—st and death the day is coming when these Idol Merchants these costly Sermon-makers shall cry c. 11. Whited Walls prosessing nothing but poysonous stuff 12. Ravenous Wolves 13. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood Hounds still hunting and gasping after their prey like the mouth of Hell barking and raging like Sodomites 14. Eminent and ambitious Pharisees of the Devil wo wâ— wo was the portion of those Pharisees then and wo wo wâ— is the portion of these Pharisees now and wo and misery is the portion of the Upholders whether King or Parliament of that treacherous and decâ—itful generation The Guide mistaken c. per W. Pen p. 18 And whilst the idle germundizing Priests of England run away with 1500000l a year under presence of being Gods Ministers and that no sort of people have been so uâ—iversally thrâ—ugh ages the banc of soul â—nd body of the Universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of Gods mâ—st dreadful vengeance is reservâ—d to act their eternal Tragedies â—pon c. About Goâ—ernors and Government Burrows Works c. p. 442. We believe that all Governors and Rulers ought to be accountable to the people and to the next succeeding Rulers for all their actions which may be inquired into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the people p. 507. But as for this people the Quakers they are raised of the Lord and established by him even contrary to all men and they have given their power only to God and they cannot give their power to any mortal men to stand or fall to any outward Authority and to that they cannot seek p. 501. We stand Witnesses against Parliaments Councels Judges and Justices who make and execute Laws in their wills ever the consciences of men to punish for conscience sake to such Laws Customs Courts or arbitrary usurped Dominion â— cannot yeild obedience p. 621. Nay their the Quakers Kingdom is from above and they reject the countenance of the Beasts authority and they reject any confidence that the Dragon and unjust power can repose in them p. 53. For we say the Quakers are gathered up into the life which the holy men of God lived in and are faln from the world and its ways and nature p. 50. for even the Father bears witness of us and therefore our witness is true p. 52. A running to the powers of the earth what have your Ministers lost the Lord to be your strength that you must flee for help to men must they mâ—ke â—aws to estaâ—lish you and set you up is not this the Where that rode upon the Beast and that the Beast carried And p. 524. to the Parliament thus viz. You do but cause people to drink of the Whores Cup and you are but them which carry the Whore viz. the false Church and this is plain dealing to tell you the truth c. reprinted by the order and approbation of G. Whitehead and others Anno 1672. For more of this see Geo. Fox to the Councel of Officers p. 7. Oh what a sincerity was once in the Nation what a dirty unto thing it would have been to have heard talk of a Hoâ—se of Lords Edw. Burroughs Advice to the Parliament c. It was through Ignorance that the people subjected themselves to hereditary Government or to the Government standing in a single person successively and our Nation hath been under the bonds of slavery in this respest c. See Fox's Papers to the Presbyterians p. 8 9. All Kings and Emperors have sprung up in the night since the days of the Apostles among the Antichrists There was no King owned among the true Christians but only among the Apostates since Christs