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
same Channel issuing from one and the same Fountain especially when you consider that from their said yearly Meetings they never made one Address to his present Majesty nor wrot one Book in favour of the present Government 3. That by both their Addresses a Sample of them you 'll have by and by and by their Books they have joyntly and severally born against the Church of England as with one Shoulder Thus have I briefly shewed what a Writer W. P. hath been and how he has bestowed his parts even against the Protestant Interest the Establish'd Religion and the common cause of Christianity and so I conclude this Head SECTION VII Their horrid Blasphemies their Self-exaltations and vain boastings of their Learning c. GEN. Hist p. 165. About this time came forth a Book call'd a Battle-door for Teachers and Professors to learn singular and plural mark'd in every page with the Form Figure of a peny Horn-book The work was neatly done by John Stubs and Benja Furly but Fox who besides his Engglish Tongue knew none of the Languages therein being Thirty in number as Latin Greek Hebrew Caldee Italick Syriac Arabick c. was so desirous to seem to be the Author of this Book and that what ever it contain'd of Industry and Praise-worthiness had its Original from him that he even here and there subscribed his Name to every page and by him confirmed p. 240. George Fox sent a Letter to John III. King of Poland Written originally in English and sent into Holland and there Translated into the German Tongue This Epistle was so Learnedly done that it looked not like the work of a single Person yet so as that they left it to Fox an ignorant Fellow who Subscribed it only Geo. Fox And hence it is apparent that there is no Mind so humble but is apt to be carried away with the Air of vain Glory yea oftentimes applause is most coveted by those who most condemn it in others c. Now Reader tho' my Learned Author and I differ'd about W. Penn in some Points yet in this we agree in every punctilio touching the Pride vain Glory and Ambition of George Fox who was an ignorant Fellow yet would seem to be Author of a Learned Book containing Thirty Languages as also of a Learned Letter sent to John III. King of Poland in both which as well as in divers cases he gave out that himself was some great learnt Man attributing to himself that which he never had which doubtless was the occasion of a discourse rumour'd about our Country about the Year 1663. or 1664. That George Fox had in one nights time 24 Languages given him by Divine Inspiration and I did believe it and divers others of us for near 20 years I also spake to a Quaker now living and still eminent amongst them who told me he ever did believe it until the late divisions Thus by his counterfeit Miracles his gift of Tongues he still like Simon Magus gave out that he was some great Man for thus he wrot in the Introduction viz. All Languages are to me no more than Dust who was before Languages were c. and towards the end of the Book thus next follow a few words to the whole matter by George Fox who is before confusion and many Languages were c. This together with what I elsewhere have quoted out of his Books and Journals shew that he was willing to be esteemed a great Man an old Man a learned Man a wise Man an Angel one that see the Heavens open as St. Stephen did and much more to this purpose By all which it appears that he was a great Deceiver And thus Quakerism grew and by deceit prevail'd in its progress And since this learned Author hath given such a full proof of Fox's Pride who being an Ignorant Fellow as he stiles him and yet desirous to be taken for the Author of the said Battle-door containing Thirty Languages I will give him a third Instance viz. Anno 1659. George Fox puts forth a Book Entituled A Primmer in contempt of Learning for all the Doctors and Scholars in Europe c. wherein are contained 2434 Queries in this Method viz. What is a Participle what is it in it self and by whom it came and out of what Ground And why are these declined who was the First and Author of it and by whom it came And why is the Word called Adverb and what is an Adverb the word it self and who was its rise And why do you call the word Conjunction and who was its rise and why the word Preposition and who was its rise And who was the Author of the word Interjection and what are these two words in themselves and whether or no these did not come by the Art of Man What is a Vowel in it self and what was the word Vowel And what is the word Diphthong and who was the Author of these and where are they called by such Names in Scripture so who was the Author of these Names in themselves and of themselves and came they not from the Art of Man yea or nay Why do you call the word Masculine Feminine Neuter and Epicene and what was the ground of these words in themselves What are they and why do they use the word Declension and what is in the word it self and what was its root And why the word Comparative Positive and Superlative and what be these words as they are words of what Author and Root came they from and who gave them these Terms first who was the first Rise and Author of them c. Thus have I taken out six entire Paragraphs as they lye in the said Primmer but I profess I cannot answer these why then should I cite more I cannot tell who spake these words first no more than I can tell who spake the word to first or spake the word and first and who was the first Rise and Author of the word of which to know is as unnecessary as it is ridiculous to query Well take a few more as they lye scattered up and down the said Primmer What is a Major What is a Minor What is Extraction What is Geometry What is Dog-madness What is Badger-madness and what is Wolf madness c. nay what if I add one query what was Fox-madness and folly and whether was not Pride and Ambition the Author of Fox's Madness answer G. W. Having thus far proceeded I shall next recite a few of Fox's words by way of challenge to the Doctors and Scholars viz. These queries are to call you out into the Field let them come out now to little Children little Davids are risen who have the Bags and the Slings and the Stones yea that profess your selves to be Wise and Learned Men and Scholars and are Novices and Fools Answer me draw out your Weapon if you have any and Answer me these things come out of your holes do not hip nor skip from them answer
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
and be perswaded to embrace that old bloody Apostatiz'd Church again with all her Slavish as well as Ridiculous Superstitions is a crime so offensive to God and intollerable to Men as the time hastens that the very Stones of the Street will rise up in Judgment against them p. 38. Question whether in case they could not be conformed unto they would allow a tolleration were they powerful whether in case they should say yes we ought to believe them since it is one of their most Sacred maxims not to keep Faith with Hereticks as was seen in the case of those in the Alpine Valleys J. Hush c. and in that they have in all Ages brought so great a deluge of Blood upon the Europian World Question whether it be the Interest of the English Nation to Subject her self to a Popish Yoke considering the incomparable Bloody Massacres of that sort of Men in several Reigns Thus have I undertook tho' with much brevity an enervation of the Romans Faith at least a detection of their Craft their horrid Couzenage and present way of Insinuation among the People Next see his Book stiled Engl. great Int. in the Choice of this new Parliam c. p 4. by W. P. Pray see that you chuse sincere Protestants Men that don't play the Protestant in design and are indeed disguis'd Papists ready to pull off their Mask when time serves you will know such by their laughing at the Plot disgracing the Evidence admiring the Traytors constancy The contrary are Men that thank God for this discovery and in their conversation zealously direct themselves in an opposition to the Papal Interest which indeed is a Combination against good Sense Reason and Conscience and to introduce a blind obedience without if not against Conviction and that principle which introduces implicit Faith and blind Obedience in Religion will also introduce implicit Faith and blind Obedience in Government so that it is no more the Law in the one than the other but the Will and Power of the Superior that shall be the Rule and Bound of our Subjection This is that fatal mischief Popery brings with it to civil Society and for which such Societies ought to be aware of it One Project for the Good of England c. by W. Penn p. 10. The New Test I. A. B. do solemnly and in good Conscience in the sight of God and Men declare that King Charles the 2d is Lawful King of this Realm and all the Dominions thereun to belonging and that neither the Pope nor the See of Rome nor any else by their Authority have Right in any Case to depose the King or dispose of his Kingdom or upon any score whatever to absolve his Subjects of their Obedience or to give leave to any of them to Plot or Conspire the hurt of the King's Person his State or People and that all such Pretences and Power are False Pernicious and Damnable And I do further sincerely profess and in good Conscience declare that I do not believe that the Pope is Christ's Vicar or Peter's Lawful Successor or that he or the See of Rome joyntly or severally are the Rule of Faith or Judge of Controversies or that they can Absolve Sins nor do I believe there is a Purgatory after Death or that Saints should be Prayed too or Images in any sense to be Worshiped Nor do I believe that there is any Transubstantiation in the Lord's Supper or Elements of Bread and Wine at or after the Consecration thereof by any Person whatsoever But I do firmly believe that the present Communion of the Roman-Catholick-Church is both Superstitious and Idolatrous And all this I do Acknowledge Intend Profess and Declare without any Equivocation or reservation or other sense than the plain and usual signification of these Words according to the real intention of the Law maker and the common Acception of all true Protestants c. This is the Test I offer large in Matter because comprehensive of Oaths and Test too yet brief in Words The Abuse of this Discrimination should be very Penal for 't is a great Lye upon a Man 's own Conscience and a Cheat put upon the Government Your Wisdoms i. e. Parliament can best proportion and direct the Punishment but it can scarcely be too severe as our Case stands Reader There is a Proverb that a treble Cord is not soon broken but W. Penn break all these and as many more on the same Subject and yet that is not the worst on 't but led many thousands into the same Snare peculiarly the Quakers as anon will appear And thereby notwithstanding his Wit and Parts became an ill Instrument and the greatest Enemy the Church of England then had But in regard his Writing Pro and Con say so much and give such a Demonstration I shall say the less not being willing to stay too long on this Head Good Advice to the Church of England Roman Catholick and Protestant Dissenters to Abolish the Penal Laws and Tests c. p. 39. 42. It happens now that God and Cesar are both of a mind which perhaps does not always fall out at least about the Point in hand Edward the 6th succeeded a Prince that promised Vertues that might more than ballance the Excesses of his Father and yet by Archbishop Cranmer was compelled to Sign a Warrant to burn poor Joan of Kent a Famous Woman but counted an Enthusiast thus even Protestants begun with Blood and taught the Romanists in succeeding Times how to deal with them I hope I may conclude that the Penal Laws have been a make-bate in the great Family of the Kingdom setting the Father against the Children and Brethren against Brethren and for this the Church of England has paid a severe Reckoning if she hope by her aversion to a general ease to set up for a Bulwork against Popery One Year will show the trick and mightily deceive her and the Opportunity will be lost and another Bargain driven I dare assure her mightily to her disadvantage Violence and Tyranny are no natural Consequencies of Popery c. 2. A Reply to the Answer of the Man of no Name c. p. 22. 2. And one thing I must say Roman Catholicks have been Loyal in England and Holland so that it is not necessarily true The Gentlemen that tore the Kings Declaration of the Indulgence from him were high Churchmen and they oppos'd his Political Capacity to his Natural on purpose to overthrow that Act of Grace by which Destination the late Civil War was made so that 41 overtook 73 or that returned to 41 and who knows not that they were such as hardly knew how to Pray but out of our Liturgy that attempted to Exclude the Presumptive Heir to the Crown upon the score of Religion A Defence of the Duke of Buckingham 's Book c. p. 12. Now tho' this Man would think it imprudent in me and I that it is none of my business to vindicate
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
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
must have a clause put in to bind us to pay Tythes and this will go down but ruggedly with the Friends What shall I say or how shall I come off If I accept of it on these Terms I shall displease many if I loose the Bill and with it our Money spent to obtain it tho' when all is done 't is no less nor more an Oath then I took my self in the Lord Mayor's Court upon a Bill exhibited against me by Thomas Daniel and Elizabeth his Wife April 9th 1695. I shall displease others what shall I do I am beset round on every side without are fears within are doubts one sort of Friends will blame me for accepting of it thus I A. B. do declare in the presence of Almighty God the witness of the Truth of what I say which the World's people will say 't is equivalent to an Oath and at the end of it there is such Rider as enjoyns us to pay Tythes c. and yet this will not do neither unless we sign our Association and mention King William these things are hard yet we will submit to Parliaments for once c. Reader this is the case their first Paper dated March 3 1695 6 not signed nor King W. named was thrown out and poor G W. and his Associates signed another dated the 3 d day of April 1696. A Copy thereof a Person of Quality sent me which Paper was signed and the King's Name at large in it that part of it which answers to the other part already recited I will set down viz. And we believe that the timely discovery and prevention of the late barbarous Design and mischievous Plot against King William and the Government and the sad Effects it might have had is an eminent Mercy from Almighty God c. At a Meeting of the said People the 3d of April 96. Signed by many of us on behalf of our selves and the rest of our Friends c. Note Reader that this Paper presented to the King April 8. 1696. dated April 3. 96. was never dispersed among the Quakers but kept private But that Paper dated March 3. 1695 6. wherein the King is not named and which therefore the Lords threw out that Paper was dispersed far and near so the poor Quakers still may be to seek what King their Teachers mean c. Reader I have already put down the Form of the Quakers Oath I A. B. c. I shall now add another clause in the said Act which will prevent them from coming into any share of the Government which they have long waited for but thanks be to God Quakerism has by this Act got such a blow as they will not easily rub off viz. Provided and be it Enacted that no Quaker or reputed Quaker shall by vertue of this Act be qualify'd or permitted to give evidence in any Criminal Causes to serve on any Juries or bear any Office or place of Trust or Profit in the Government any thing in this Act contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And having thus far shewed Mr. Croese his mistake of the Quakers loving King William as their effectual Defender as well as in some other things in his General History I am about leaving him until the next opportunity hoping when he considers and sees how Quakerism first rose and how it has grown and by what means and methods it has had its progress that he will not blame me for dealing plainly with them especially when he sees and considers the scurrilous Names and ignominious Terms they have cast upon the Learned Clergy of this British Nation as Robbers Thieves Witches Devils Antichrists Bloodhounds the Sir Simons of the Age Monsters Baal's Priests Sodomites and what not which might render them and their function odious to the People as also their Pamphlets to the Parliaments to leave and forsake them and so I take my leave of this learned Historian and bid him farewel By this time some may say you seem to know the distemper of this corrupted Body of Quakerism pray let us know a Remedy to stop the gangreen for many wise and learned Men have endeavoured to apply a Remedy but have hitherto missed yea sometimes by Corrasives which have been too severe to stop the running thereof and sometimes by Lenetives which have taken no place at all Ans I do acknowledge and experience teacheth us that sometimes the ablest Physitian for want of knowing the Disease has missed when one not so noted has with the help of Herbs and what is common wrought a Cure First then the most proper way to Cure this Distemper which lies in the Brain and affects the Heart also is to let George W. and some few of the most eminent Teachers and Writers amongst the Quakers be summoned by Authority and by the same examined whether these Books quoted as theirs be really so or no. Next if proved upon them let them either justifie or retract them Secondly after this is done let them set forth certain Articles of their Faith and if it be agreeable to the Christian Religion then let them condemn all their Books which teach the contrary This was the way of the French Protestants and when so done let each Congregation of Quakers have their Teacher and each Teacher have their Congregation and take care of the same that so the Generation of Youth be not corrupted and poysoned by sucking in false Notions and imbibing false Principles in their young years This is what pleases all Protestant Dissenters both Presbyterians Independants and Baptists and for which they are very thankful to the Government and in their Meetings pray heartily for the preservation thereof as I have heard in all their Societies And if nothing less then Anniversary Synods and General Councels will please these aspiring Quakers before they have them let them ask leave of the Government to hold them and how long to continue the sitting thereof and if the Government think good to bestow that Favour of them it would be very proper that there should be a Commissioner or two Ordered and Commissioned by His Majesty to reside in their Councel the doors being open and free ingress for their Deputies and liberty for them to speak freely and their Acts put into Writing for preventing confusion and when this is done it will be proper to limit and set them bounds who of themselves are boundless and to restrain them from these things following 1. That all their Ministers who are not natural born Subjects but Foreigners whose coming may be to spy out the weaknesses of our Country to alienate the King's Subjects from their obedience to their Sovereign may be excluded out of their Synod and have neither place nor voice in their general Counsel 2. And that during the time granted them by Authority to hold their Synod they may have no communication with Forreigners or other suspected Persons as Jesuits c. 3. And forasmuch as the Quakers are not
answered yet it will not be amiss to say something to invalidate it if you can c. Ans I have always stood ready to maintain what I write and have been enabled to confute my Adversaries and to make this appear as I already have so I shall still give 2 or 3 demonstrations thereof And First of Sam Cater's not owning his said Narrative attested by credible witnesses one whereof is still alive viz. 1. Demon. Memorandum that Sept. 30. 1683. Fra. Bugg went to Samuel Cater and shewed him his Narrative stil'd The Lib. of an Apost cons c. and asked him if he would own it Sam. reply'd what he had wrote he had wrote still Fra. Bugg pressed him whether he would own it shewing him his Name to it Well said he if my Name be to it none will question but I wrot it But still Fra. Bugg pressed whether he would own the printing and publishing of it but Sam. would not confess to that Then Fra. Bugg offered on the penalty of 100 l. to prove his said Narrative false if he would come to the Test that also he evaded to this we subscribe our Names Gab. Ellington Philip Craniss Reader bear with me insisting so long on this Head for when Sam. Cater dies possibly his Works may be re-printed and then his Narrative may come forth anew and therefore 't is proper to invalidate it 2. Demon. F. B. 's Proposition Whereas there is a Book published by S. C. and others Entituled The Lib. of an Apost conf c. These are therefore to signifie that I Fra. Bugg offer to prove the said Book false in Fact on the penalty of 100 l. on condition nevertheless that if I do make evident proof thereof that he the said Sam. be recorded out of the Unity F. Bugg Sept. 23. 1683. This I gave to Jos Banks and others of his Creatures and not long after Friends belonging to our own Meeting in Mildenhal gave me the following Certificate who knew both of us and the Nature of the controversy depending viz. At a publick Meeting at Mildenhal the 21 of October 1683. Whereas there is a Book put forth by Sa. Cater and others wherein our ancient Friend Fra. Bugg is called and often termed Informer and we knowing what an Informer is according to common acceptation and that he is clear of their practice and not only so but one of the greatest Sufferers by Informers in all these parts and also in Remembrance of his labor of love and great exercises for the Truth 's sake We can do no less than signifie our dislike thereunto and testify against the said treatment as not being of a Christian tendency And whereas 't is in the said Book signified that F. Bugg is not fit to treat on Christian Liberty this we do say that hitherto we have look'd upon him a Man as fitly qualifyed to treat with any Magistrate on that Point as any Man belonging to our Meeting and his endeavors have proved as successful and to this day tho' much is said yet we cannot see any thing proved to the contrary and this we signify not to promote controversy subscribed by us Thomas Bird Sarah Bird John Thrift Elizabeth Thrift William Rolf Eliz. Rolf Jos Ellington Rach. Ellington Will. Belslam Marg. Belslam Rob. Suckerman Frances Suckerman Will. Hawkins John Kitson John Harvy John Poel Will. Tayler Margaret Huttly Anne Hible Ka. Hanslip Frances Folks Dorcas Abbott Eliz. Root Sarah Bird Joseph Mason Jane Mason Sarah Holton Jos Testall But these Testimonies proved so fatal to the design of the Quakers which was to lay wast my Reputation both as a Man and Christian that it made them rage and fret and call me Beast Dog Wolf Enemy of all Righteousness Child of the Devil Devil Incarnate Apostate and what not which made me conclude the Painted Harlot with this motto To the Painted Harlot I smile to see thee storm thy rage A speedy downfal doth presage The day is come that will discover Thy nakedness to every Lover Thy pious Frauds thy curious Trade Of merchandizing Souls doth fade The mountain Stone hath broke thy Toes Thy vitals now must feel its blows Thy Georges both must be brought down And to the Truth must vail their Crowns For they have long abused Men By Tongue by Writing and by Pen. But now their day of Troubles come And they must reap what they have sown Even so let all Imposers fall Who Brethrens Consciences would enthral What 's writ for Conscience Liberty Confounds all sorts of Popery May skilful Archers every hour Shoot Truth 's Arrows from their Tower Against thy persecuting Power Gen. Hist As for their Ministers maintenance this is their method they order Stipends to be taken c. Here the Author of the Gen. Hist and I meet again and both agree in opinion yet some amongst them and of the honester sort complain of this private method and of their Bank and their Pursemongers and some again have the Impudence to deny what the Historian says pretending they take no Money for Preaching and on that Foot Banter the National Ministry as Hirelings c. But to confirm what the said Historian suggests I may recite some Proofs one is a Letter which I received from one still eminent amongst them viz. Dear Friend I understand that there is a new controversie lately risen about the Money thou once told me was gathered amongst Friends for the Relief of J. C. Friends here are much concerned about it knowing that Friends gave it freely expecting nothing again I suppose they did not make the Common Bankers their Executors The Doners will must be fulfilled in all things and not the common Pursemongers some Friends have a Testimony against Common Bankers I have been examined by the Law Professors whether we had a Common Purse or Bank I answered we had none this * * This a Lye gave so much satisfaction that Friends in this Town have been quiet ever since The Magistrates look upon Common Bankers to be as bad as those that hoard up Arms and Ammunition ††And well they may and not without Reason for Money Answers all things If Friends would put away this Dagon and take Money only for their present necessities things would soon be better with them God will not bless those that break his Commandments by hoarding up Common Banks and quarrelling with those that do not bring in Money fast enough * * To furnish S. Cat. and other Rich Preachers with 10 l. at a time to them I have observed that it hath been frequent with some to reckon those that brought in most Money into their Common Bank to be the best Christians I have heard something concerning this controversy now on foot about a Maid that was chusing a Husband for her self and also 't is expected she should give up her concerns in that affair to some of our Preachers which was never practiced until of late amongst any that
because the Parliament do not know them no more than Constantius knew the Hypocrisy of the Arrians who at length thro' their subtle delusions and fair pretences prevail'd and got the Pulpit and the Orthodox banished and I have heard some fear the like consequence respecting the Quakers But let such be satisfied that Quakerism is at the heighth and begins to tumble and our Governours both of Church and State begin to see them I remember that in 1693. They were very fair to obtain a Bill for their solemn Affirmation to go for an Oath but when I deliver'd in my sheet shewing their Principles in two hours time it was thrown out and as Col. Goldwell told me there was not a Man appeared for them and when I came to London March 1696. some worthy Members of the Commons House chid me for not coming sooner saying they wanted matter of Fact adding that the Quakers frequent and unwearied Sollicitation prevail'd with too many worthy Gentlemen who understand not their undermining Principles However much good may their obtained Bill do 'em since the 10 l. clause is in and they barr'd from any place of Trust so much as of being Constable And whereas their judgment is whatever is more than yea yea and nay nay cometh of evil and is Swearing yet now they must call God to witness c. which is indeed not less nor more than an Oath and this pleases some of them that could Swear before but some it displeases who say the Act do them no good for whatever is more than yea yea nay nay is swearing Well but may some say have not the Quakers Merrited the favour bestowed on them yea by the rule of contraries for the Quakers have Recogniz'd the Parliament Antichrists the Beast that carry the Whore and that it 's as commendable to give Liberty of Conscience to the Papists nay to a People that worship false Gods graven Images c. as to tollerate Episcopacy the false Church whose Bowels they have ripped up adding that the Common Prayer Book is Popery and from the Loyns of the Pope receiv'd its Strength c. And the Parliament have as they pretend and often boast Recogniz'd them Protestant Dissenters give them their Liberty without any restraint but how not knowing them nor their Principles but as Constantius was are mistaken in them whose Books and Carriages are of two sorts I remember the last Whitsuntide in Northcoat's Shop in George-yard Lombard-street W. Mead the great Quaker asked me if I broke Bread with the Church of England I said yea what said he dost thou lick up thy old Vomit I 'll warrant you he said no such word to the Worthy Members of the House of Commons nor to the Bishops of the Church no no as their Books carry two different Faces so do their Carrage and if it be Criminal to conceal Treason against my natural Prince what is it to conceal these Impostors who undervalue the Death and Sufferings of Christ condemn his Laws despise his Ordinances revile his Magistrates and reproach his Ministers which I hope this Book fully sets forth and which I stand ready to prove out of their Books upon G. W.'s Proposition to the Parliament as cited by me in the First Part p. 123. And until they do so meet and if proved upon them then Retract them they are not to be believed tho' in their Meetings they like the Magitians in Moses's time may make the likeness of the same Confession and Profession that G Keith and others do as well as in their late Books yet while their other Books which teach the contrary stand uncondemned the Quakers are Quakers still and their Principles diametrically opposite to all Christians Saints and Martyrs in all Ages and they ought to be guarded against as Enemies to Church and State May 5. 97. F. E. A Short Map of Quakerism Reader HAving since the foregoing was Printed off seen a Book Entituled Some Seasonable Reflections upon the Quakers Protestation against the Proceedings at Turners-hall April 29. 1697. c. Wrote by an Ingenious Hand Wherein the said Author marvels as well he may that the Quakers should Accuse G. Keith for Invading of Property who themselves hold it no Sin to Invade the Properties of others as in the Case of Tyth's which are as much the Property 's of the Clergy Confirmed by Act of Parliament as any Man's Estate in England nay not only so but as the Author well observes in other things from several Particulars which G. Fox c. sent to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Printed 1659. p. 8. 32. Particular viz. Let all those Fines that belong to Lords of Mannors be given to the Poor for Lords have enough Particular 29. Let all those Abby-lands Gleab-lands that is given to the Priests be given to the Poor of the Nation let all the Abby's Steeple-houses and Whitehall be for Alms-houses for the Blind and the Lame to be there And in the fore mentioned Address to the Parliament 1659. Subscribed by above 7000 Quakers p. 59. 63 and 65. They require that the Late King as these Rebels Stil'd him his Rents Parks and Houses should be Sold and all the Colledges and Lands and the very Bells out of the Churches except one in a Town to give notice of Fire c. This was no Invading of Property in them but for G. Keith or any others to Detect their Errors this is Incroaching upon their Properties as English-men yea forsooth Persecution But say's Edward Burrough in his Word of Advice to the Souldiers p. 2. Give the Priests Blood to drink for they are worthy Slay Baal turn the Hirelings out of the Kingdom c. Here was no design of Persecution or hurting any Man's Property or of Reviling and Blemishing the Reputation of Free-born English-men and exposing them to the Fury of the Mob to the Scorn Contempt and Rage of the mixt Multitude who are Unmeet to Judge of Religious Controversies as these Meek Lambs the Quakers urge against G. Keith in their Protestation c. And that they are not chang'd see their last Yearly Epistle 1696. Wherein they Exhort their Disciples not to be mov'd at the Objections against their Doctors But to hold up the Holy Testimony of Truth which hath made us say they a People to God and Preserved us unto this Day And that in all the parts of it for Truth is one and changes not and what it convinc'd us of to be Evil in the beginning it Reproves still c. i. e. The Church of England and all the Magistrates Kings Lords and Commons to be Serpents Devils and Scarlet-coloured Beasts c. For Truth is one say they and changes not i. e. Quak. who are and always have been in the Truth have not chang'd at all since the beginning So that 't is plain that as they are the same still so have they made themselves answerable for all that have been said by them since their
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