in that War who disserted the CAUSE before the King's Head was cut off then what are the Quakers who not only approved of what was then done but incited the Army not to leave Root nor Branch of Idolatry Oppression and Tyranny till they had set up their Standard at the Gates of Rome and to avenge the Blood of the Guiltless throughout all the Dominions of the Pope which had the Army obeyed would there not have been many more Garments rolled in the Blood of Kings and People than ever was in England Let the Impartial Judge A Paragraph is omitted here for want of room Vnderstanding this Book was Printing and the two Letters of my Name transposed which are now placedright I writ the following Paper and ordered it to be inserted here J. P. OH Earth Earth Earth hearken and consider Was there ever such a People as G. F. G. W. and their Party that had such Foreheads and Faces of Brass who for about 20 Years have been reviling and recriminating others for those very things they have most highly been guilty of themselves yea and were greatly offended with those that would not go on further with the Work and Cause they were then ingaged in and did not only instigate and press Dliver Richard and the Army to Crumble Nations to dust and to Trample Deceit and Tyrants under c. but also exhorted them not to leave off till they set their Standard on Top of Rome Gates as is before mentioned and yet upon the King 's coming in how did they seek to clear themselves by accusing others as in the little Colum and in another Book of theirs lately come to my hands entitled Truth 's Character of Professors they laid open the Addresses and Applications which others had made to D. C. and R. C. making long Animadversions thereupon not only to defame but also to stir up the Powers against them as in p. 15. viz. Must the Weapons that they have been forming against others be turned into their own Bowels even by such as will have no more pitty in their Hearts towards them than they have had towards the Innocent And what must not Jealousie be stirred up in the Powers of the Earth against them as they have stirred up Jealousie in the Powers of the Earth against others c. And as they have sought to make others ridiculous even so shall they become contemptible in the Eyes of those which they by their Flatteries fawned upon who may for a season suffer them for their own Ends c. But this was not all that was designed by G. F. and his Ministers so early defaming crying out and stirring up the Powers against other Professors but also to blind those then in Power as if themselves had been altogether Innocent and clear touching those Matters And is it not strange that they should call the Presbyterians in the late times Rebels and Traytors for but endeavouring the King's Restauration and yet after he was come in most bitterly and invectively writ against them for being once Opposers of him Are not these the Persons that say Their giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God and that if ever we own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles we must own their Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power And that they have thousands at their Meetings that none of them dare speak a Word but by eternal Motion * A True Account p. 18. And their so speaking i.e. Speaking by the Spirit G. W. saith is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and Greater Ser. Apol. p. 49. What shall we say to these Men I am even struck with Amazement Astonishment and Silence that a People pretending so high should bring forth such wicked and ungodly Fruits and though some may be troubled that these are now come to light yet others will not a little wonder that they have been hid and kept secret so long And doubtless had they not still gone on insinuating by Flatteries with the Government and writing so reflectingly upon Dissenters with their Reproaching and Scandalizing other Sober Persons more Chast and Innocent than themselves These things had never come thus publick and so they reap the Fruit of their own Doings and that very way they thought to secure and strengthen themselves hath helped forward their own Destruction And seeing there is no hopes of their Repentance or Forbearance as to these things all other ways and means which have not been a few that have been used to prevent them proving ineffectual it is now thought meet thus to expose them this year 91. as they for many Years have exposed others that so if possible their Mouths and Pens may be stopt from any such Procedure hereafter and it may be when too late they 'll remember 'T was the Foolish and Clamorous Woman that pulled down her House which is falling a pace with her own Hands Here followeth one of the Forms of their Oaths which Stephen Crisy one of their great Preachers imposed upon one called a Quaker who had Mortgag'd his Land to him and others for a Sum of Money but before he would let him have the said Money notwithstanding he had Signed and Sealed and Delivered according to their Agreement he forced him though with much dissatisfaction to Sign and Seal this following which by their own Definition of an Oath is an absolute Oath Their Definition of an Oath is set down hereafter THE day month I do testifie in the truth of my Heart by these presents that whereas I have Mortgag'd an Estate of mine lying in in the County unto Stephen Crisp Iunior c. as by Deeds and Writings this day bearing date doth appear I say I do hereby testifie in the truth of my Heart and in the Presence of HIM that knoweth all things and in the presence of these faithful Witnesses that I have not before this Contract aforesaid contracted bargain'd sold or engag'd the said Estate to or with any Person or Persons whatsoever either directly or indirectly c. but that it was freely and absolutely both before and at the Sealing and Delivery of the said Mortgage above-mentioned in my power to sell c. Witness at Signing and Sealing Samuel Newton John Bolton two of their Preachers Now see their Definition of an Oath in their Answer to one J. S. who asserted that to say God is my Witness I say the Truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience bearing me Witness in the Holy Ghost I call God to Record on my Soul The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knows that I lye not And that Jacob and Laban are said to Swear in these Form of Words So God is Witness between me and thee were Oaths Obs Any of which without laying the Hand on the Book or other Ceremony or more saying is not only an Oath but if Authorized by Act of Parliament is as
to leave off until they had set up their STANDARD at the Gates of Rome as may be seen in their own Writings here following And yet for them to upbraid others with that which themselves for many years were so deeply concerned and engaged in is such a piece of Wickedness as can hardly be parallel'd by any sort of People professing Christianity This this their Baseness I have in secret acquainted them withal but no Ear or Heed would they give to what I said but still went on in their accustomed manner to Defame such as had not been more engaged if so much as themselves in the late Wars yea and that in the most revengeful and highest aggravating Terms that 't was possible for their Penn to express witness those Words to the Nonconforming Ministers in Answer to Mr. Faldo viz. But why poor Nonconformists after all their Preach'd up Battels Spoils Plunders Sacrileges Decimations c. Again They are true Gospel-ministers whose Gospel is Peace on Earth and Good Will towards Men and not Garments rolled in the Blood of Kings and Princes Rulers and People No Worldly Armies Battles Victories Trophies Spoils Sequestrations Decimations and the like Blood-thirsty and Tyrannical Projects in which John Faldo and his poor Non-conforming Ministers have had their Hands almost over Head and Ears till they had well nigh lost their Ears and their Heads too Much more of this Nature may be seen towards to the latter end of the lesser Column of this Book What People setting these aside could have had the Face and Confidence to have writ such Language as this Certainly not any especially when they themselves had been engaged in the same Cause and Quarrel with those whom they now so much Reproach and Vilifie The Consideration of these things with their pretending themselves to be the Only People of the LORD and of their being the Only Embassadors and Ministers of Christ with the Discharge of my own Conscience put me upon gathering these their Writings together and having them so placed that those of the meanest Capacity may easily discern and see them to be as great Dissemblers Deceivers and Deluders of the People as have appear'd in this our Age. Reader THE first Column is what they writ before the King came in the other is what they writ since his Return and as for the Quotations I have endeavoured faithfulness therein and have cited both Book and Page where their Words may be found but they have left out many Passages and altered several Words that suited not with their Interests and Designs both of E. B's and F. H's in the Re-print of their Works which thou wilt have notice of as thou readest And where I have abbreviated any of their Writings or lest out any of their Words which were not so material to be put in or too large to insert thou wilt find a little stroke thus but have not in the least either wronged the Matter or Sense thereby as thou mayest see if thou peruse the Books I have quoted But before thou proceedest to read farther I am willing thou shouldst hear the Testimony they give of their own Writings viz. If ther you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles you will own oue Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and power See G. F's Answ to the Westmoreland Petition p. 30. You might as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries Our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God You are now Answered from the Mouth of the Lord. See G. F. and R. H. Truth 's Defence c. p. 2 104 107. Now if this their Testimony be true then their Writings are to be had in as great and as venerable esteem as the Scriptures or any holy Man's Words are but if it be otherwise then are they Lyars and false Prophets and to be avoided and witnessed against Let these following Collections manifest the Truth thereof And now the time is come that as they have laid open the Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie of other Professors that went before them even so must their Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie be also laid open For the LORD whom I no Respecter of Persons But who shall live when GOD doth this J. P. Geo Fox's Judgment CONCERNING KINGLY GOVERNMENT Taken out of a Paper of his written to the Presbyterians and Others before the KING was Restored TO all you that desire an Earthly King in England Who profess your selves to be Christians whether Presbyterians or Others Do not the Priests Presbyterians and many of the Rulers cry for an Earthly King And is not this the same Nature the Jews were in And do not they in This Crucifie Jesus Are not all these Elders Christians that will doat so much of an Earthly King Traytors against Christ Now Elders if you say Peter said Honour the King This doth not hold forth that Peter bid them set up an Earthly King over them neither do you read that there were any Earthly Kings since the days of the Apostles but among the Apostate Christians c. And all these Antichrists and Presbyterians imitated Elders over them all Will Christ Reign and these Kings that have been made For Christ is King alone and makes his Disciples Kings to Reign upon the Earth These are true Christians and will these have any more Kings among them but Christ who are Redeemed from the Earth and earthly Kings I say That is the false Church that doth not live upon the Heads of these Kings Such as have the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Words the Sheeps Cloathing but out of the Life and Power that makes such work for an Earthly King Herod the King was Mad at the Child Jesus and sought to slay all the Children in Bethlehem of Judea There is ehe fruits of Earthly Kings and such a King would our false Christians and Elders have The Children of Israel when they grew would have Kings like other Nations that when People were gon from the Lord God then they set up Kings and when the Children of Israel served not the Lord God but went after other gods they desired a King which the Lord gave them in his Wrath Sam. 8. And in this manner Should a King Reign over them the King shall take your Sons and appoint them for his Chariots c. this is the fruit of your Kings The King will take your Fields your Vineyards your best Olive Trees and give them to his Servants this is the Fruit of your Kings c. Ignorant and foolish People that would have a King and Kings since the days of the Apostles The People will not hear when all these Fruits of these Kings are laid down to them But says Christians and false Elders there shall be a King over us and we also will be like other Nations So the Christians go out from Christ and set up Kings like Heathens Hos 13.11 You ignorant and foolish that is
fighting with Oliver's Sword against God's Enemies I think here is Justification sufficient of the late Wars enough to make George Whitehead and therest ashamed Hear again E. Burrough and F. Howgil pleading the Quakers Faithfulness to the Common-Wealth's Interest and bringing to Mind the utter Destruction of the Bishop's and King's Power as of a stone sunk into the Sea which riseth not again To Henry Cromwel and his Council The Visuation of Ireland c. p. 21 22. YOU have endeavoured to give sentence of Banishment of us out of your Nation who are free-born English-Men and have always been faithful and true to the Common-Wealths Interest from first to last even until now What became of all the Perseccutors of old What became of the Bishops What became of that Power that held them up are they not all sunk as a Stone into the Sea and become a Reproach Again E. B. to the Heads Judges c. p. 19. If such you uphold by a Law which act those things the Scripture speaks against God will lay your Honour in the dust and cast you out of the Seat of Judgment as he hath done the Power of the King and Bishops before you Note All the Lines in black Leter are left out in his Works p. 84 85 86. Let us now hear News out of the North c. A Book set out by G. F. and written as he saith from the Mouth of the Lord. 1655. DReadful is the Lord and Powerful who is coming in his Power to execute true Judgment upon all you Judges and to change all your Laws ye Kings All you Rulers must down and cease You must be cut down with the same Power that cut down the King who reigned over the Nation in whose Family was a Nurse for Papists and for Bishops Judges and Justices Beast and False Prophet the Lord God will pour out his Plagues upon you the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it and except you repent you shall all likewise perish and be consumed as the King was and perish with the same Power The Lord God hath sent his Prophets oft to tell you so p. 18 19 The World knows me not but I testifie the Truth c. G. Fox Obs What Man could have wrote more against a King and King ly Government than this G. Fox hath done and that in the Name and Authority of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings as he saith and yet no sooner was the King invested in his Fathers Throne but the said G. Fox through Deceit Fear and Flattery writes a quite contrary Language See the other Column p. 1 2 c. Again hear also what G. Fox and other Quakers tell us in the West answering to the North Writ 1656 the next year after News out of the North c. One Ier. Ives taking notice of their frequent Abuses to others about the late War cites a Paessage of theirs out of E. B's Works in Justification of the late Wars and further saith The Book in The West answering to the North p. 79 89 94 95 96 97. hath much to the same purpose which saith he I am unwilling to write out because I am not willing to expose you G. Whitchead replies thus in his Serious Search p. 37. I cannot but observe the Man's Dissimulation and base Insinuation in this implicite kind of accusing us hereby to render us more suspicious and obnoxious than if he had dealt plainly meaning than if he had printed those Passages some of which here follow by which the Reader may see somewhat of G. W's Disingenuity and Serpentine Nature TO what purpose have been the hangings by the Neck and other exemplary punishments executed on Judges Justices and Ministers of State for Arbitrary acting Why was Strafford's Head cut off and Canterbury's and Charles Stewart's as Traytors for endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws c. p. 78. Charles Stewart and his Lords committed Men as Canterbury aforesaid and early he heard of it in Parliament and for his other Arbitrary Actions and what followed thereupon and befel him in particular needs not be mentioned being recorded every where in the Blood and Misery of the late Wars and the Destruction of Him and his Family the dreadful and sad Examples of His Righteous Iudgments who reuders to every one according to his Deeds p. 79. Obs Because some of their Friends were committed and in the Warrant no mention made of the Protector or his Authority they farther write thus Doth not here appear from the Grave the Spirit that was in Christopher Love and his Fellow Traytors who being within the Jurisdiction of this Common-wealth took upon them to Commissionate divers Men to treat with Charles Stewart the proclaimed Traytor of the Government p. 89. Call to mind the former days and let the things that are past come into your Remembrance even what this Generation would have done their Synod and Accomplices to Conscience and to whom this Generation joyned in the years 1648. and 50. and so forwards even with the Common Enemy Charles Stewart c. p. 94. And forget not the wonderful Deliverances from them all which the Right Hand of the Lord effected c. p. 95. Multitudes of People flock'd out of the City to Westminster to complain of their sufferings which Charles Stewart called Tumults and by the Guard one of them was slain at the place of the shedding of whose Blood was Charles Stewart's Head struck off and his Blood poured forth on the ground A remarkable Record of the Righteous Iudgments of God p. 96 97. And this his Law Judge Nicholas standing in his own Will is less to be endured than in any of the Judges and Chief Justices that have gone before him whom Justice hath cut off for Arbitrariness or in Strafford Canterbury Charles Stewart or any of these latter Generations And the Legislative Authority that made him a Judge and the Righteous Ends of the Wars for Liberty and Law in which he appeared and these Innocent Servants of the Lord who have been all of them always faithful to the honest Interest of the Nation and many of them for it have drawn the Sword and fought in the Field from first to last p. 102. Obs Here that what they say concerning the King is said not only as the Opinion of others but as what they also approve saying That those things were remarkable Records of the Righteous Judgments of God With what strange kind of Confidence did G. W. write when he said that if I. Ives had printed the foregoing Passages they would not have rendred them so Suspicious and Obnoxious as his barely mentioning the Book and Pages did And though he may delude and blind their Proselites with such deceitful and Fig leaf covers yet certainly he will not dare to do so before Authority but rather down upon his Knees and beg Pardon for his Audaciousness and Insolence in speaking so slightingly of such strange and prodigious Sayings as are before cited
otherwise we shall rejoyce therein and add our help thereunto that it may prosper for the Establishing of Righteousness in the Earth our all is not dear unto us though hitherto we have been silent and not meddling with this Party or the other c. p. 14. Note 1. This was published in the Name of the Quakers and subscribed by J. P. and many others Note 2. All the Lines in Black Letter are left out in E. B's Works Printed 1672. p. 603. Their design therein is plain they having writ contrary thereto upon the turn of times and the words and our help thereunto are altered as may be seen p. 606. and in p. 662. These words Tyrants shall not have Power over you are left out And p. 600. Thy Kings And p. 605. With Kings are left out Obs He says He the Son of God might command Thousands and ten Thousands of his Saints at this day to fight but we cannot yet believe that He will make use of us in that way but for the present we are given up to bear and suffer c. So that they were not then of that Mind that the Spirit would never move them to fight And having heard of their Preaching up Armies Victories Spoils c. Let us hear a little farther of G. F's advising the Parliament to Sequestrations c. G. F. To the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England LEt all those Abby-lands Gleab lands that is given to the Priests be given to the Poor of the Nation and let all the great Houses Abbies Steeple-houses and Whitehall be for Alms-houses or some other use for all the Blind and Lame to be there Again Let all those Fines that belong to Lords of Mannors be given to poor People for Lords have enough p. 8. 1659. And in their Papers sent to the Parliament about Tythes 1659. p. 65 63. IF you Query how shall the Impropriators be satisfied who bought the Tithes of the King have you not his Parks and his Rents have you not his Houses to sell and make up their Money and give them again c. You should have sold all the Gleab lands and sold all the Bells saving only one in a Town and Colleges and their Lands and given them all to the Poor of the Nation c. If you Query How you should do with the Impropriators sell all the Gleab lands and the Bells except one in a Town or two in a City to give notice of Fire and all the late King's Parks and his Rents that had Tenths and sold the Tythes to make up these to give to the Impropriators that have bought Tythes and the Abbies and the Monasteries which much of the Tythes were given to if you do intend to satisfie the Nation and deny your selves of his Parks Houses and Rents so let them be sold and the Colleges sold and all the Tythes that belong to them thrown down c. P. 59. And you may sell all the Gleab lands Abby-lands and Monasteries and Nunneries and Kings Rents and his Houses and the Bells to pay the Impropriators who have bought the Tythes of Kings let their Rents and Parks be sold to pay them again and let the Earth be restored again to its place and they that have bought them of Colleges let the Gleab-lands be sold to pay them So let the Earth be Redeemed G Fox HIS JUDGMENT Concerning Kingly Government since the King was Restored Declar. P. 3 4. AND now because several of you who are most concerned in this Government are not acquainted with our Principles and Practices neither have known our Innocency and Sufferings and that no Prejudice were let into your Minds from others Words which proceed from secret Envy Malice and Hatred and not from any just Ground they have against us We do therefore Declare to take off all Jealousies Fears and Suspicions of our Truth and Fidelity to the King and these present Governors That our Intentions and Endeavours are and shall be Good True Honest and Peaceable towards them and that we do Love Own and Honour the King and the present Governours Observe It is to be noted That this Declaration of G. For 's c. was delivered to the King the very next Month after he came in so early were they in their Temporizing that at the first reading of this among the Quakers they had writ That they were his Loyal Subjects and they had suffered much as himself had done Which Words were highly opposed by one of the Assembly who told them That if they put it out in the Name of the Quakers he would Print against it Whereupon those Words were left out and the Book put forth in the Name of G. F. and Others that subscribed it in behalf of themselves and those in the Same Vnity with them How cunning was this Subscription For who would have thought that by those in the Same Vnity was not meant every Quaker And yet they meant only those that were of the same Mind with the Subscribers which many were not II. Observe Behold here the Man who before the King's Restauration declared them Traytours against Christ who cryed for an Earthly King and the true Christians will not have any more Kings among them but Christ Are they not in their own Judgment become Apostates for now they say They love own and honour an Earthly King And in their Visit to the King p. 7. say to him IF thou take some speedy course for the repealing and making void those Cruel Laws haply thou mayst be as Moses to stand in the gap'twixt God and thy People Did the Quakers verily think that K. C. was like to be asecond Moses or did they say so only to daub and flatter him Again in the Tryal of G Fox in 1664. p. 8. 10. he saith the Oath of Allegiance being tendred to him That if he could take any Oath at all upon any occasion he should take that Oath And also said He honoured all Men much more the King Oh Gross Dissimulation What temporizing is this What unheard of Hypocrisie is here Will this Fig-leaf Garment cover the deceit of this Guide 's Falseness and Perfidiousness from thy Discerning and Censure I suppose not However more of this thou mayst see in what follows G. F. G. W. and their Party's Declaration in the Year 1660. after the King came in p. 2. ALL Bloody Principles and Prastices we as to our own particular do utterly deny with all Outward Wars and Strife and Fightings with Outward Weapons for any End or under any pretence whatsoever Observe Notwithstanding this G. F. and E. Burrough undertake to direct and principle Oliver and Richard and the Officers and Soldiers what to do and how viz. That they should go forth with a free willing Heart and not stop till they come at Rome and blames them for turning and charges them not to turn Sober Men and True Hearts out of the Army and to require the Blood that hath been shed in
the Inquisition of Spain and Rome and that the Quakers were some of those True learts appears by those other words of G. F's expostulating Why such as feared God and trembled at his Word should be put out of the Army which might have been a Blessing to the Lord in their Generation And in page 3. of the same Declaration they say thus So those that use any Weapon to fight for Christ or for the Establishing of his Kingdom or Government both the Spirit Principle and Practice in that we deny Yet these same Men viz. G. F. and E. B. would that the Officers and Souldiers should have set up their Standard a Top of Rome and have sent for the Turks Idol plucked up Idolatry and cryed up Christ the only King Oh wonderful Again see the Quakers Plea 1661. How peaceable the Quakers are and have always been p 7. NO better Testimony can be given of us and of our peaceableness and that we shall not Plot nor Rebel against the King than Experience it self Experience is the best Witness that we are peaceable and free from Plotting and Rebellion for we have always been so since we were a People both before and since the King came in Obs These peaceable Men not only approve of what the Army did against the King and his Party but would have them to continue Quakers in the Army and to enterprise the Subduing of Spain and the Pope and the Turk in their Spirit and to invite all that are against the Pope to take part with them and they promise the Protector that if he would own them they would own him in the Face of all his Enemies Counsel and Advice p. 7. And Francis Howgil says It was a good thing that the Parliament overthrew the late King and that it is no Rebellion to call away by which he means to Depose those in Power that perform not their Trust for the Good of the People See more of this hereafter Hear farther what G. F. c. say to the King and Council after the rising of the Fifth Monarchy Men p. 2. AND now that we should be reckoned amongst a People whose Principle is to Fight and avenge themselves which astonishes all them which know it I believe your own Consciences tell you that we are harmless and would do you no harm but wish your Good c. It 's known that those you have numbred us amongst never denyed the bearing of Sword nor Outward Weapons but whose Principle is to avenge themselves Obs Could any People declare themselves more for fighting than they did How should Oliver keep his Crown but by fighting How did he get it but by fighting How should the Army set up their Standard a top of Rome but by fighting How require the Blood that has been shed in the Inquisition but by fighting In short What should Men do with Swords but to fight and yet they were not only to wear their Swords but to cut down Idolaters with them and their Sword was to be the Sword of the Lord in their Hand And E. Burrough in express for Avenging the Blood of the Guiltless through all the Dominions of the Pope and exhorts the Army to do this going forth in their the Quakers Spirit How dare these Men appeal to the King and Council 's Consciences that they are harmless and would do them no harm when they not only approve of what was done in the late War but offered their Service to Oliver to own him if he would own them against all his Enemies and some of them gave Intelligence to the Army against Sir George Booth whorose to bring in the King See p. 13. of this Book And notwithstanding all that E. B. and others have written in Justification of the Parliament's Cause against the King yet at the King 's coming in that is in the middle of May 1660. then E. B. writes In his Book called A Visitation c. p. 12. IN the beginning there were but one sort of People that were in capacity to raise and prosecute War against the King and upon such there is Guilt to be charged in the Sight of God who have foregone their Principles and been deceitful both to God and Men. And as for us who are called Quakers we are clear from the Guilt of all his Sufferings c. How often do they blame the Protector and others for putting of honest and godly Men out of the Army It may be because they cannot put off their Hats c. and yet tell the King They have suffered all along because they would not take up Carnal Weapons to fight withal against any and are thus made a Prey upon because say they we are the Innocent Lambs of Christ and cannot avenge our selves Declaration p 6. given forth under our Names and in behalf of the whole Body of the Elect People of God who are called Quakers G. For R. Hubberthorn I. Stubs F. Howgil G. Roberts L. Fell S. Fisher H. Fell and others Farther in the Postscript thus And all Wars and Fightings with Carnal Weapons we do deny who have the Sword of the Spirit This the People called Quakers do witness to all the World Again in P. 4. And this is both our Principle and Practice and hath been from the Beginning so that if we suffer as suspected to take up Arms or make War against any it is without any ground from us for it neither is nor ever was in our hearts since we owned the Truth of God neither shall we ever do it because it is contrary to the Spirit of Christ his Doctrine and the Practice of his Apostles These words of theirs may serve for a Reply to an Answer they make to an Objection that many of them have been in the Army against the King and Kingly Authority to which they say Quakers Plea p. 4. Though some that are now called Quakers were once in the Army under the Powers against the King when their Knowledge and Judgments were not otherwise framed but were of that Principle and Practice that Fighting and going to War in it self was lawful c. yet being now altered and turned in their Judgments to the contrary and that it is not lawful in the Administration of the Gospel to fight against or go to War with Carnal Weapons in any wise there is now no danger of Vs and now We are all of that Mind and Heart that it is on all Occasions whatsoever unlawful to go to War and Fight This pretended change of Judgment in G. Fox and his Preachers is not to be taken for a change of their Judgment for they say it neither is nor ever was in our Hearts since we own'd the Truth of God to take up Arms which is a Contradiction to their giving directions and charges to the Protector Officers and Souldiers concerning Fighting exhorting them thereunto and to go forth as an Army in their Spirit and blamed them for putting honest sober Men and those
that trembled at the Word of God out of the Army and advising them to take such in again For G. F. and his Preachers can no more change their Judgments than the Pope can change his Decrees without forfeiting his Infallibility That they formerly exhorted Men to fight and would fight themselves and now deny all Fighting on any pretence is to be imputed to their Temporizing and Deceit For in the Book entituled Counseland Advice c. p. 44. G. F. and E. B. tell Richard Protector That if he would walk with the Lord and preserve his People meaning the Quakers then say they Thy Name shall be greater than was thy Father's and the numberless number of this now distressed People will be unto thee a Strength and stand by thee in the day of trouble and defend thee and thy Just Government and their Hearts snall cleave to thee and thou shalt prosper for their sakes and none of thy Enemies shall have Power over thee to destroy thee And in p. 4â— they say Friend live in God's Wisdom if thou wilt reign in his Power and Strength then none shall touch thee and all them that fear God will be on thy side and take thy part and be one with thee in all thy Sufferings yea till death But see how the ease was altered in 1662. for then they tell the King and Parliament thus And our Allegiance to the King our Lives have and shall manifest to him and you and all Men. Subscribed by G. For E. Burrough F. Howgil S. Fisher R. Hubberthorn G. Whitehead S. Thornton L. Fell and 20 more And notwithstanding that no People declared themselves more fully for the Long Parliament Protectors and Army than they on condition they would own and protect the Quakers yet how shamefully do they reflect on others and proclaim their own Innocency See their Paper to the King and Council 1660. p. 5. OH King we would have thee do nothing against thy Prosperity and Nobility Oh! hath the like ever been done as is done to us who are an Innocent People and thy Friends and not thy Enemies among all the Princes in Christendom to mingle the Innocent among the Transgressors Again p 6. Oh that we should find such things among you that have been Sufferers by the Same as we have suffered before you Obs What Hypocrisie is here when they pretend that themselves suffered for Righteousness and the King and his Party for wickedness and Tyranny With like Deceit they say in their Declaration given the King Jan. 1660. subscribed by twelve of their Grandees p. 6. In the days of the Parliament and Committee of Safety we were looked upon as Plotters to bring in King Charles So G. Fox and I. Stubs in G. Whiteheads Book The Divinity c. tell the Presbyterians and Independents that when the People of God called Quakers were gathered together in divers places to Worship God then say they you said they were Plotting together against Oliver to bring in King Charles Again Touching Fighting they have taken care to record what one of their Ministry saith We directed all People to the Spirit of the Lord God in them and if that led them to fight I had nothing against it fol. 4. Recorded in their Book of Outland Letters and was spoken before a Court at Barbadoes where he was questioned touching their Principle in that case But in their Declaration to the King 1660. They say p. 2. We certainly know and so testifie to the World that the Spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to sight and war against any Man with Outward Weapons neither for the Kingdom of Christ nor for the Kingdoms of this World In the former Passage they suppose the Spirit of the Lord might lead to fight here they are positive that it never will And in their Testimony to the Magistrates c. subscribed by G. For and 11 more They say all Plots Conspiracies Alders Assisters or Conspirers thereunto against the King we always did and do utterly deny to be any of us And presently after the Execution of that worthy Patriot the Lord Russel they present their fawning Address which G. Whitehead Francis Camfield and Gilbert Layty carried to Windsor to K. Charles 2. Insinuating that the Lord R. and his Companions were Guilty and they Innocent and that they did not desire the least hurt either to the King's Person or Government or to the Person of his Brother the Duke of York and that they were clear from all Hellish Plots and Trayterous Conspiracies c. being Works of the Devil and Darkness c. But what 's the reason the Quakers do not now declare against the late Hellish Conspiracy c. seeing one of the chief of them is accused of it by open Proclamation And in their Paper to King and Council p. 7. they say We are against Violence and Plots and Wars and Fightings they are below in the Fall from God And this we say which is more to us than an Oath See now what Credit is to be given to G. F. and his Ministers in their most solemn Professions such as Oaths are amongst consciencious honest Men For it is well known that many Officers and Soldiers turning Quakers whilst in Arms continued so till they were thrust out and they that put them out are much blamed by G. F. and E. Burrough c. for so doing and are advised to take such in again These are the Men that advise the Protector as we have noted to push down and tread under the High Places of Idolatry in all the Apostatized Churches not only Papists but others And in another place To cry up Christ the only King and Lord. Yet in their Remonstrance p. 14. 665. They say We our selves know that Sion must not be builded with Blood nor the Church of God by Weapons of War nor Religion propagated by Violence therefore we cannot strive with these Weapons nor with any Carnal Weapons of War either fight to defend or offend Let the Reader judge now whether G. F. G. W. and their Party their reproaching and railing on the Presbyterians and Independents and other Parties for their joyning and abetting the late War and approving the Execution done upon the late King and his Party crying up Oliver and Richard and the Old Parliament and the Army c. and then when the King came in changing their Language crying up this King c Whether I say G. F G. W. and their Party are not far more guilty and more abominable in these Matters than any other Party whatsoever whilst they so contumeliously upbraid others and have done the same things and yet now under all these Contradictions Dissimulation and Temporizing do like the Whore in the Proverbs wipe their Mouth and proclaim themselves an Innocent and harmless People and others alone guilty See their Book entitled The Guide Mistaken 1668. p. 50 51 52. They write thus AT the beginning of the Wars
THE Quakers Unmask'd Their Double-dealing and False-heartedness Discovered BY Collections taken out of their own Writings which were Communicated to G. Fox G. Whitehead and others of their Preachers and Leaders WHEREIN May be seen some of their Contradictions Confusions and Temporizing With some Observations thereupon by another Hand ALSO One of the Forms of their Oaths used amongst themselves with their Definition of an Oath Likewise a Letter and Paper formerly sent to the abovesaid G. F. Whereunto are annexed some Remarks c. Also what an Oath is In a Letter to E. S. Esq LICENSED June 19. 1691 The Leaders the Leaders of this People have caused them to Err because they received not the Truth in the Love of it Therefore are they given up to Strong Delusions to believe and to tell Lies The Day is come and now is that the Hidden Things of Esau 's Nature are to be and must be brought to Light O thou Sword of the LORD How long will it be e'er thou be quiet Put up thy self into thy Scabbard rest and be still How can it be quiet seeing the LORD hath given it a Charge LONDON Printed for J. Gwillim over against the Great James in Bishops-gate-street and R. Baldwin in Warwick-lane 1691. The Author of the following Collections to the READER IT can hardly be credited by any the care and fear I have had concerning the said Collections lest they should have become publick in the last two Reigns which I would not they should for the Treasures of this World This is a faithful and true saying whether it can be believed or no. But now Liberty of Conscience being established by Law I gave Ten of 'em i. e. The Quakers Vnmask'd to be shown or sold to any sober Person unto which some of the Leaders of that People have lately put forth an Answer and finding they are so far from acknowledging any thing to be amiss in their said Writings that they endeavour either to cover excuse or justifie them which hath necessitated me to cause them to be reprinted in Quarto that whoever have seen their Answer may if they please compare it with this And notwithstanding I sent them the said Book privately in writing in the year 77. hoping thereby to have prevented their farther exposing others yet about a year after I met with a Book of theirs intitled The Way cast up c. and therein several passages against the Presbyterians accusing them of Rebellions Seditions and Fighting Principles p. 23 52 53 54. And in the year 81. they put forth another Book calling it Peaceable Advice to the Presbyterians c. and therein p. 1. accused them again with the same Principles which being Printed at such a juncture when the Popish Plot was endeavoured to be stifled and turned upon the Protestants caused a great grief not only to my self but to many others some of whom writ to the Quaker's Bookseller desiring they might be stopt considering the season c. But they not prevailing in their Request I bought many of 'em and went to several of their Meetings where I spake these Words viz. I met with one of your Books against the Presbyterians and as a Witness against that Hypocritical Deceitful Daubing Temporizing Spirit that writ it and the Publishers of it I am made to tear it in pieces before you Which having done they threatned to have me called in Question for it c. I say considering these things and that what I had writ to them in private did not hinder them from this continued exclaiming against others about these matters It was thought meet to have 66 of The Quakers Vnmask'd privately printed in Folio which were chiefly intended to be given to some of the said People so that it is plain my purpose and intention therein was only to prevent if possible their doing any more such things for the future but not in the least to expose them to the then Governours who I feared would have been but too severe and too much exasperated against them for it And though I have been made thus to advise and caution them from their running into these and many other Evils which they have run themselves into Yet alas they have slighted scorned and rejected every thing I proposed that might any way have conduced to their present Happiness and everlasting Good which being my chiefest end aim and endeavour whether they will yet hear or forbear I am clear and have that Reward with and in me which no Man non Men can give or take from me J. P. This following was writ by the Person that caused the 66 Books aforesaid in Folio to be printed The Publisher to the truly Christian Reader THE following Tract Providentially coming to my Hand and being desired to Read and Consider it I spent some Hours therein to my no small Consternation upon a double account First That the Land of my Nativity was not long ere this an Aceldama being so generally Apostatized from the Truth and become a second Sodom Secondly To consider That the Principal and Forwardest LEADERS of the People who while Faithful were begirt with the Power and Strength of the Almighty GOD of Jacob and brought to their PISGAH-SIGHT should turn again to their Onions and Garlick throwing by the ROYAL LAW of LIBERTY and Re-espouse Egyptian Bondage What shall we say to these things Oh that the Souls of all that are yet Faithful and have according to their measure been given up to the Guidance of the Spirit would Cry mightily unto the GOD of their Salvation That every one concern'd in the following HURRICANE which they have been formerly warned off in Love and Meekness about four years and half since may remember from whence they are Fallen repent and do their First Works which is the principal End of the Printing hereof that so the Still Voice may be Restored in all our Habitations That all Weapons of War may be turned into Plow-shares and Pruning-hooks and every One confess The LORD is GOD who only must and will be Exalted Amen amen saith the Soul of thy Friend J. G. Note Where any Words are added that were not in the Manuscript or in that Printed they are put in Italick between these Marks excepting 5 short Sentences in Black Letter p. 3 4 5 which were left out for brevity but are now put in only to shew they do not in the least vary the sense as the Quakers alleadge in their Answer no more than any other passage they have mentioned therein does To the Reader The three following Letters were writ to Mr. J. O. The first was Printed the other not First Letter to Mr. J. O. sent with the following Book then not printed I Having been ill and weak in Body near upon a Month it put me upon a deep search and examination concerning the Cause thereof and finding my self clear in HIS sight who justifies in secret I matter not who condemns And now being a little raised
up and restored for a season from the Grave I have further considered what my Work and Service is in my Generation and do find a necessity laid upon me to be Instrumental for the discovering unmasking and manifesting your Preachers and Leaders who have long exercised Tyranny and Cruelty over the Souls of the Righteous and who by their Threats and Flatteries have caused many innocent Men and Women to bend and bow under them contrary to their own Consciences for which they must certainly give an account and so must you that are the Upholders of them The Book herewith sent I desire may be shew'd to the Persons to whom it is directed it will concern you to consult and consider how the Truth which you have so long talked of in Words may be Cleared and the Hypocrite and Deceiver made to bear his own Burden of which if I may be assured my End in sending it will be fully answered and it will be a sufficient Recompense for all the Care and Pains I have taken therein and shall endeavour to prevent and stop its farther Publication But if in the Pride of your Hearts you shall kick and spurn against it reject and despise my Counsel herein given you then know that your Iniquities will be upon your own Heads when I shall be clear in my Conscience concerning you I am a Lover of TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS In whomsoever But an utter Enemy to Deceit and Wickedness In whomsoever I got one to Copy out the Book fair over but am not so well to see it carefully Examined therefore if you find any mistake in the Quotations let me know it in two or three Weeks time and it shall be rectisied before it go farther 10. Oct. 1677. J. P. Second Letter to Mr. O. 'T IS now near 6 Weeks since I sent you the Quakers Vnmask'd c. which I desired might be imparted to G.F. G.W. c. from whom or some of you I expected an Answer but not hearing from any of you concerning it I take it for granted you are satisfied I have not wronged you in the Quotations and therefore it may be returned by this Bearer 20. Nov. 77. J. P. But instead of returning the said Book as I desired he sent me part of a Letter writ to him by G. W. which occasioned me to write this following Answer Third Letter to Mr. O. I Perceive by a Letter directed to you there is an Answer to the Book I sent you but it seems I must not see it before it is Printed as you have mine neither may I see the Falshood which in divers particulars as to matter of Fact they say I am guilty of that if any such 〈◊〉 be it might be amended but they act herein more like Politicians than either Miniters of Christ or just Men and deal by me in this much as you did with J. Whitehouse against whom your Meeting drew up a Charge yet would not give him a Copy thereof but when it came to be your own Case that some of your Friends were accused for Miscariages then you could say It was below the Justice of all Nations not to give a Copy of the Charge Thus you can say and unsay do and not do as suits best not with Truth but with your own Self-ends and Interests If Truth and Plain-heartedness were with you why should not I see your Answer before publication as well as you see my Book But Guilt and Deceit makes shy Call a Council of your wisest Men to consult what you had best to do in this matter in which your chiefest Preachers are greatly guilty of abominable Wickedness in the sight of GOD and just Men And if a necessity be upon me as now it is to publish mine if you will not doe the thing that is right to prevent it to bring out yours then say the wise are taken in their own Craftiness which is now fulfilled I cannot but wonder at their saying that 't is a violation of the Act of Indemnity what I have done in this business when they as well as my self know that all things of that Nature are thereby pardoned as to Men But their transgression is of a deeper dye than the breach of Man's Law only for they have pretended to be Ministers and Messengers of the most High GOD and what they writ was by His Authority when really and truly it was but the Imaginations and Inventions of their own deceived Hearts to manifest which and to undeceive the Minds of the Simple who are beguiled as my self once was by their specious and high Pretences I have taken the pains to write out some of their Messages which do apparently shew they are but pretenders only and have made use of the Name of the LORD to cover and carry on their own designs and when it suits not with their Interests then would they have such Messages hid and not brought to light Are these the Embassadors of the most High who for any worldly ends or carnal considerations would have His Commands and Requirings stifled which they said they gave forth in His Name Surely their Hypocrisie and Deceit appears and will yet appear more and more Behold you great Goliahs your strength is in an Arm of Flesh but mine is only in the Living GOD before whom all your deceitful Covers are manifest which will stand you in little stead in the Day of Distress that is coming upon you for He will certainly plead with you for all your Abominations You are full of designs to keep up your Esteem amonst the People but the LORD by whose Power I am raised up against you will bring you low and utter disgrace will come upon you because you have not sought His Glory so much as your own and if thou continues and joyns with them in their Sins thou must not expect to escape their Judgments It is certainly so that I have been your truest Friend though accounted your Enemy and have in all Faithfulness discharged my Conscience towards you and what I am to do farther in this matter it concerns me diligently to wait upon HIM who gives Wisdom to the Simple to confound the Wisdom of the Wise and I am assured that Simplicity and Innocency will stand when all the cunning Contrivances of Men shall fall I am The Friend in Truth without Flattery J. P. Dec. 19. 77. I desire G. F. G. Whitehead may see this or any you see meet The PREFACE WHen I have considered how the Quakers i.e. G.F. G. Whitehead and the rest of that Temporizing Imperious Lording Party have Writ and Printed against the Presbyterians Independents and others for being Engaged in the late Wars and what opprobrious villifying and reproachful Terms they have given them for the same it hath exceedingly amazed and astonished me that they who were so Great Justifiers and Encouragers not only of what had been done in the late Wars but also did incite and encourage those that were therein engaged not
Fore-fathers have lived under and we our selves been liable and subject to by reason of the Government standing in a single Person successively and we being forced to live under the Authority of such Men as had no right from God thereunto as I have said And now our Eyes are opened to see better things and we are in good Expectations that the Lord will Suddenly so appear as to free us from future Oppressions in this respect c. And these things we are waiting for to be brought to pass in their Season and the Hand of the Lord will accomplish it if not by you then even contrary to you Therefore take this my Council even as you hope to prosper for this I know from the Lord upon the rejecting or receiving hereof dependeth your Standing or your Fall your Renown or perpetual Reproach even your Blessing or your Curse and the time is at hand that many shall confess the Lord gave good Counsel to you by his Servant E. Burr Obs That in his Judgment it was through Ignorance that the People subjected themselves to Hereditary Governours or such as had no right to the Place of Rule or to the Government standing in a Single Person successively and he reckons it a piece of Slavery the Nation hath long been under that our Kings have attained to the Throne Hereditarily and yet G. F. c. of late tells the King and Parliament that their Hearts and Hands could seal to the Substance both of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy And G. F. saith If he could take any Oath at all upon any occasion he should take the Oath of Allegiance which Oath binds to the King and his Heirs and Successors Now if this be not Contradiction and Temporizing what is See moreover G. F's Paper taken out of the same Book that the Abstract against Kingly Government was taken p. 42. To all such as feed the Priests till they turn against them THE Black Presbyterians and Priests and Cavaliers which are stirring you being out of the Power which first had Dominion over them what now are Priests Cavaliers Presbyterians saying Curse you Meroz that will not come to fight against the Mighty meaning the Parliament and all the honest People in the Nation to destroy them And what are they now bawling against you as they have against the Quakers Will nothing satisfie the Priests and the rest but Blood Have they not been the stirrers up for War and Blood always What now are they so fat fed that they curse them that will not come to fight against the Parliament Have you fed them so fat that they kick against you like wild Horses that they snort that there is such a snorting among them against their Feeders Have you sed them like wild Bulls and Heifers that now they run against you with their Horns Surely the Fodderers of these have not well looked about them have not these been called Ministers of the Gospel But now how comes it that they preach up War These are bad Cattle Horses Heifers and Bulls that kick against their Fodderers And run with their Horns against their Fodderers I must tell you the Sun is set upon all the Priests in this Nation and such as be like minded and that is the Word of the Lord God to this present Age and many more G. F. Hear now Is Penington an Eminent Writer among them and one of good repute to the Parliament the Army and all the well-affected in the Nation who have been faithful to the Good Old Cause 1659. p. 1. THat there hath been a Backsliding and turning aside from the Good Old Cause even by the Army who formerly were Glorious Instruments in the Hand of God hath been lately confessed The Name of God hath been Blasphemed in the whole Earth and that Holy Spirit and Power which many Hearts can witness was the Beginner and Carryer on of this Work made a Scoff and Derision to the Enemies of Truth in these Nations and in the Nations round about who watched to see the Issue and Result of these things The Controversie was very great and eminent and drew many Eyes upon it the Lord was appealed to on both sides to decide it and many know that by his Presence and Power in the Army the Stale was turned even when they were very very low and cryed out for Prayers and made large Promises in the Days of their Distress yea the Lord did not desert the Army but heard their Prayers and the Prayers of his People for them carrying on the Deliverance until he had given a perfect Victory into their Hands c. Obs That by the Lord's Presence and Power in the Army the Controversie was decided and the Army made Glorious Instruments for the Good Old Cause was not then the Armies Cause once Just in the Quakers Opinion and their fighting lawful and approved of God Miles Halhead and T. S. two Eminent Men of their Ministry follow with their most plain Testimony Wounds of an Enemy c. 1656. p. 23. VVHen the Presbyterians saw the Army who were made the Sword of the Lord against Papists and Bishops would not submit to the Covenant they drew the Sword against them and not prevailing in a first War many of them joyned with the Papists and Bishops and the Common Enemy meaning the King And now an Oath of Abjuration is tendred to them to Swear who have been most faithful to the Common-wealth and its Army and have born the Brunt and Heat of the Day in the late Wars with the peril of their Lives in the Field and the loss of their Estates against the Popish Prelatical and Presbyterian Party Hath this Generation witnessed the Word of the Lord to be true above many Generations before whose Eyes and by whose Hands the Righteous God hath executed his Dreadful Judgments on the Enemies of his Elect hath he despised the Image of the King and Princes and Nobles and the great Ones and poured forth their Blood as Water on the Earth and made them a fearful desolation in the Cause of his People and of Justice and of Equity In the Iniquities that they have committed and in the Sins wherewithal they have Sinned hath He cut them off and made them the dreadful Examples of his Vengeance p. 75 76. Obs The Contents of this is plain to every capacity Take also George Roffs Testimony another of their Ministry TO thee Oliver Cromwel thus saith the Lord I had chosen thee among the thousands of the Nations to execute my Wrath upon my Enemies and gave them to thy Sword with which I fought for the Zeal of my own Name and gave thee the Enemies of my own Seed to be a Curse and a Reproach for ever and made thee an Instrument against them and many have I cut down by my Sword in thy Hand that my Wrath might be executed on them to the utmost See Righteousness c. p. 11. Obs Here the Lord is represented
not rather that he was glad of it as no doubt he is In p. 6. to the Reader Our Adversary again p 14. says he deals very unfairly and unjustly by G. W. about some of our Friends saying They give forth Writings from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God and by the same Spirit and Power that was in the Prophets Christ and his Apostles unto which he falsly addeth And their so speaking G. W. saith is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater his words and their so speaking are J. P's own Abuse and Perversion Now I beseech you Sir read the Passage in p. 14. and see wherein J. P's Abuse and Perversion lies It lies in this that he added these words and their so speaking and did not put them in a different Character to distinguish them from G. W's words though they did not alter the sense at all if you leave them out the Passage is as much to the same purpose as if they were in Did ever any Writer charge his Adversary with Abuse and Perversion upon so slender an account What an affront is it to the simple-hearted Reader to write at this rate This is the Man that in his Letter to J. O. threatens Mr. P. farther to detect and unmask him if he will not be reduced to Christianity Does he mean by Christianity Quakerism which it seems teaches him to use the basest Equivocations and Slights that can be found in any Writer Of his Book p. 3. He utterly denies it as a Slander that the Quakers formerly exhorted Men to fight and would fight themselves I must refer you to The Quakers Vnmask'd c. to judge whether that is a Slander or not It will abundantly satisfie you whilst you understand their Writings in the plain honest sense of the Words without their after Equivocations J. P cites one of the Quakers Ministers saying We directed all People to the Spirit of God in them and if that led them to fight I had nothing against it for this saith G. W. he quotes fol. 4. but tells us not what Book But why did he not tell J. P so 13 years ago when he desired to know what Errors they sound in the Quotations if there were any however to satisfie him that it was a true citation he took it out of the Quakers Book where Foreign Letters were recorded which was first in J. O's custody and afterwards in J. P's P. 4. The Quakers tell Rich. Protector ' That he would walk with the Lord and preserve his People then thy Name shall be greater than was the Fathers and the numberless number of this Now distressed People will be unto thee a strength and stand by thee and Defend thee and thy just Government Sir If you had been Protector I persuade my self you would have thought these People would have fought to defend you and your Government But whatever they or you thought then the meaning now is according to G. W. c. they would defend him and his Government By Righteousness Prayers and Faith and by Contributions Taxes c. or the fear of the Lord as in the days of Jehosaphat Would you not judge that Man perjured that should swear Allegiance in such terms with such a meaning And must we not take the Quakers words for as binding as an Oath Next p. 5. you will please to note what G.W. Answers to the Charge of upbraiding others with that which themselves for many years were as deeply concerned and ingaged in c. To all which saith G. W. I do conscientiously Answer He hath most grosly and palpably belyed the People called Quakers in these Passages divers ways First in rendring them without exception of Persons not only Justifiers of the late Wars and what had been done therein without exception of things done but also equally concerned with the Presbyterians Independents and others therein But do the Quakers when they charge these things upon the Presbyterians c. make any exception of Persons or Things And yet it is well known and it is proved out of their own writings in The Quakers Vnmask'd c. that their Chief Leaders approved of the greatest things done in the late Wars against the King and to his Person whereas the Presbyterians generally dis-approved of them Besides they say their giving forth Papers or Printed Books is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God and that their Preachers are guided by an Infallible Spirit and that they are of one Mind and Judgment and the like and therefore an indefinite and general charge will affect them more generally than other Parties G. W. says p. 6. The War began in 41. and in 48 the King was Beheaded and all this while no Quakers heard of till about 50.51 52. when there was no Wars in England for them to be concerned in how false then is J P. to say The Quakers were as much or more concerned in the War against the King as any others But G. W. confesses that divers who have been since and now of us Quakers have formerly been concerned in the late Wars And J. P. has made evident their approbation of what was then done and that many that turned Quakers in the Armies continued there till they were turned out that the Protector is blamed for putting them out by G. Fox and others that they are called Sober Men and true Hearts that feared God and trembled at His Word valiant Captains Soldiers and Officers it may be for saying thou to a single Person or for wearing their Hats c. the distinguishing Characters of Quakers from others Whereas he says there was no Wars in England in 50.51.52 it is a piece of his cunning and is false for Worcester Fight was in the year 51. and Sir George Booth's Insurrection in 1659. when the Quakers gave intelligence calling them Rebels for but endeavouring to bring in the King and for some years there were Wars both in Scotland and Ireland and upon the Sea and in Flanders See E. Burrough's Alarm Sounded c. 1659. The Quakers Vnmask'd c. p. 6. 9. You see then how G. W's Answer is both false and deceitful P. 7. 8. G. VV. charges J. P. with an apparent lye in saying the Quakers had been engaged in the same Cause so as to Preach up Battels c. But I pray Sir what difference is there between Preaching up Battles c. and exhorting Generals Officers and Soldiers to go forth against mighty Enemies till they had subdued them and set up their Standard a top of Rome and done many other things which were to be done by Fighting And that in the Quakers Spirit See E. B's Alarm Sounded c. p 28. P 9 10. G.W. Commends the Quakers for their forbearance towards J. P. and is confident that had J. P. look'd upon them as Fighters c he durst not have adventured to have given them such frequent and publick occasions of provocations and frequent disturbances and interruptions
Barack Jepthah Samson David Samuel and the Prophets who by Faith subdued Kingdoms and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens did not Fight G.W. has found out all these ways of an Army's Conquering without Fighting Sir I know you are an impartial Man can you think seriously not that any Man to whom the Quakers wrote or any Man that should read what they wrote would understand them in any such sense without Fighting for I take it for manifest no Man did but whether they that wrote or even the Quakers themselves till now they are press'd with these passages ever thought of such Senses And if not where is the Quakers plainness whereof they so nauscously boast P. 24. G. W. says It cannot consist with our Christian Principle so much as to avenge our selves Who are more ready to avenge themselves in Word and Print than Quakers How have they railed and reviled their Opposers Witness those Names G. W. calls Will. Rogers F. Bugg Tho. Crisp and others in the Preface to his Book Judgment fixed viz. Apostate-Informers Treacherous Hypocrites False Brethren and Deceitful Workers Betraying Indas's Devils Incarnate who having tost their first love to Truth and gone out from us are become degenerate without Natural Affections Dogs that are without Wolves and raging waves of the Sea that foam out their own shame And a multitude of other such like Names do they call those that oppose and cannot conform to their outward Prescriptions and Impositions besides their frequent violence with their own Hands * See the complaint of one of their own People touching this matter It hath been their lot to be haled with violence out of the Assemblies Did I think to see the same violence offered in our Assemblies Nay but with Sorrow mine Eyes have seen pulling down haling out and thrusting forth of our Meetings and they went to the utmost as far as their Power and doubtless they wanted not Will but Power to punish And although they exercise the Oppressions before-mentioned and much more as may be seen in the said Book yet by their deceitful flatterits they make People believe That they are harmless innocent and peaceable People suffering and bearing wrong but not doing any And if any Person write or speak their Grief they will represent them under such terms as may render them odious and the more effectually to weaken their Testimonies they will fix upon them scurrilous and contemptible Appellations as Scotch-Men Welch men Tinker Taylor c. Some of them utterly untrue and to prevent an Inquisition into the matter they would make People believe that they are envious malicious and discomposed Spirits bad dirty factions and ranting Spirits who are gone from Truth and are out of Truth Such is the Portion of those that appear in the least against their imperious tyrannical and lascivious Actions And whatever Man detected the Fallacies and destructive Cheats of imperious disdainful Men but was thus reproached Must it be Justice in them to complain of their Oppressions and Envy and Malice c. in us to complain of ours Their years are but few yet verily they have been exceeding expert to learn of the Papists Subtilties Spirit of the Hat p. 29 36 37. and what is a great part of this Book of G W. c. but avenging themselves of J. P. They might have said all they had to say in their own vindication without those manifold reproaches and even Curses which they belch out against him such as that in p. 30 God will smite thee thou malicious Hypocrite Our Innocency shall rise up in Judgment against thee Read to the end of that Paragraph Of this nature is G. W. glorying that Jer. Ives not long after his malicious Works against us Quakers was soon cut off by Death p. 33. I must desire you Sir to read p. 34 35 36 37. of their Vindication of that Declaration to which Mr. P 's Name was amongst the rest subscribed and then judge what disingenuity and deceit there was in him to insert the substance of that Declaration without telling that his own Name was to it since his Name was not to those after Declarations which are inconsistent with this 2. Whether it is possible to give a more Equivocating Answer to any charge than G. W. c. has given of this They say God might command Thousands and Ten Thousands of His Saints at this Day to Fight in His own Cause †This passage and the like the Quakers left out in the reprint of E. B 's works knowing it seems they would expose them in their clear sense but being brought to light they then study to put an equivocal sense on them But it must not be taken for granted says G. W. that therefore he would do it But that which GOD may do and which we cannot yet believe that He will make use of us in that way and therefore for the present we are given up to bear and suffer c We must needs conclude that this is one of those things that GOD hath made no DECREE to the contrary but that He may Will it to be done even by us in the future though He hath not done it at present And all that G. W. c. has Criticiz'd upon the Equivocalness of the term YET does but bewray his and their Equivocation for though YET may be taken for Nevertheless when they say but YET His Kingdom is not of this World notwithstanding it cannot be so taken when they say neither can we YET believe c. but it must be taken to denote the time to this present adhuc as yet in exception to the time to come especially when it is farther explained by the clause for the present which is necessarily opposed to the time to come and imports clearly that Fighting may be commanded as in the Future as now bearing and suffering is commanded I am very confident that G. W. c. cannot produce any one instance out of any Man's Writings that understood well the English Tongue of the use of the term Yet in such a Phrase and Construction in any other sense than of Time But if all unconcern'd Readers must and will understand it in this sense then G. W's Answer is full of gross Equivocation These are the People that exalt themselves above all other Professors whatsoever that they reckon all them to be of the World out of the Truth and themselves the Only People of GOD and that they are in the Truth and none but they Christ's Lambs and the like And for distinguishing themselves from others they took up some Observances or Ceremonies which did it effectually such as saying Thou not You to a single Person calling no Man Master but John or Thomas c. not I thank you but I receive thy love not carrying the Feet but the Head foremost of their Dead and the like They condemn utterly the courtesie of putting off the Hat to any In short they affected
singularity in most things that were customary in England how innocent soever And under the notion of not Swearing they only refuse the Ceremony of an Oath as the laying the Hand upon and Kissing the Book Now I pray Sir what of true Religion or real Goodness is there in these things Suppose the whole World did observe them would they be at all the better for it However by these things they have cut off all others how religious and sincere soever And if any Man oppose what they say or do instead of meekly answering they are ready with the most virulent opprobrious and threatning Language and Writings that can be found in any sort whatever They will diligently seek out and take up any thing may reproach one and will insinuate Crimes that Men are most free from Thus have they changed the Meekness and Gentleness of Christianity into Fierceness and Churlishness Humility and Modesty into Arrogance and Self-conceit Peaceableness into Contentiousness Mildness into Clamour and Blessing into evil speaking and reviling Plainness and Simplicity into-Equivocation and Craft and all this under the Profession of the most unspotted Innocency and Sincerity Truth Righteousness and Holiness But I would not be understood to impute these Immoralities to the Quakers in general nor to all their Teachers and Leading Men but to the Foxonian Party that love to Govern and have the Preheminence who have endeavoured to suppress those who have at any time proposed any thing contrary to their Sentiments Thus in a few years instead of being led and guided and being obedient every one to the Light in himself they were obliged to submit to the sense of the greater number of the Governing BODY though never so contrary to their own sense Nay this Imposing Spirit proceeded so far at a Quarterly Meeting in Barbadoes where they did not act with that Caution and Cunning as here at London that they made and subscribed this following Order viz. I desire to give up my whole Concern if required both Spiritual and Temporal unto the Spirit of God in Men and Women's Meetings as believing it to be more according to the Universal Wisdom of God than any particular measure in my self or any particulars with whom the Men and Women's Meetings have not Unity The Actings Writings and Speakings of that kind I have spoken of being observed by some * W. Rogers T. Crisp F. Bugg W. Macklow J. Story J. Wilkinson Charles Harris J. Rance Tho. Curtis J. Ansloe and many more among them who were either too wise or too honest to be persuaded that those corrupt Fruits could proceed either from the Spirit of God or from the Light within that they griev'd and mourn'd to see that excellent Principle of Reformation The Light in every Man so grosly perverted and undermined that they were made to oppose and testifie against them Sir I might go on throughout G. W.'s c. whole Book and shew many more gross Equivocations Palliations and Deceits but I will not proceed farther lest I may seem to question your Judgment in not observing those things that are so evident But I think we that read Books have just cause of indignation against those Quakers who have the face to impose upon the World such abominable Stuff under the Notion of the Teachings of the Light of the unspotted Innocency and Christian sincerity But it may reasonably be thought they write not for vindication of themselves to those that are of the World as they call all that are not in their Form but for their own Party that are so blindly addicted to their Leaders that they swallow every thing they say without consideration Unhappy Men that have given up their Minds to the Glory of a singular Party in contempt of all others and can find no other way of vindicating themselves I may need your excuse for writing so much and therefore will now subscribe Sir Yours A. C. May 23. 1691. POSTSCRIPT SIR AND besides what I said about Fighting I am credibly informed that some Quakers have not only fought but that with great Courage and Magnanimity The first I shall mention is Mr. William Mead an eminent Person who being set upon by three High-way-men and having only a Cudgel or Staff in his Hand did not only bravely defend himself therewith but knock'd down one of the Robbers so wounded that the other were forced to carry him away whilst Mr. Mead escaped their Hands The next shall be one Matthew Renshaw Master of a Ship who fought both with great and small Guns till he was overpowered by the Turks Another one John Thompson who fought exceeding stoutly and killed a great many Men before he was taken by the Enemy These two Masters were not only Quakers themselves but their Owners generally if not every one such More might be named but these suffice to shew that the Quakers will fight in a just Cause and that stoutly too which puts me in mind again of G. Fox To the Council of Officers c. p. 5. who says of those that had been put out of the Army for being Quakers Of whom it hath been said among you that they had rather have had one of them than 7 Men and could have turned one of them to seven Men. And since my writing the above I have spoken with Mr. Pennyman touching the Accusation against Stephen Crisp mentioned in The Quakers Unmask'd folio p. 14. and which in their Answer p. 14. they say Steph. Crisp absolutely denies that he either forced him or that the Party did shew any dissatisfaction before he Signed and Sealed the said Paper Oh! what shall we say to these Men who not only use Equivocatious in their Writings but do absolutely deny matter of Fact to which Mr. Pennyman was an Eye and Ear-Witness and is ready to attest it if called thereto but would not then subscribe as a Witness being greatly dissatisfied with the unworthiness of the demand I will add here something concerning the Nature of an Oath whereby it may appear that the Quakers are mistaken about it Of the Nature of an Oath WHen the Author to the Hebrews says Ch. 6.16 Men verily Swear by the greater and an Oath for Confirmation is to them an end of all strife he plainly shews us that an Oath is the greatest and utmost Evidence of Truth and Sincerity that can be given for if a Man openly appeals to GOD who searcheth the Heart and therefore knows not only what is outward in Men's Words and Actions but their most inward thoughts that Man gives the utmost assurance he can possibly give for he that falsifies in the prefence of Men calling them for Witnesses who know the matter and whose office it is to ludge and punish incurs all that reproach infamy and other punishments which so great an offence and abuse deserves So he that falsifies in the presence of God calling Him for Witness incurs the greatest punishments of Divine Vengeance as one that makes God Almighty a Partner and Confederate to a Lie presumptuously and to his very face So that however God perhaps is not expresly invocated to do vengeance upon him yet in appealing to God as a Witness that is implyed because He is such a Witness as is also the Supreme Judge whose Justice and Truth is herein appealed to Therefore calling God to Witness is as much an Oath as any other form of Words as having as much evidence and assurance as any other Form whatever and as great Penalties attending it Now to assert any thing in the presence of Men expresly is all one as to call them for Witnesses So also to assert any thing in the presence of God expresly is all one as to call God for Witness Farther see several Forms of an Oath viz. I Do hereby testifie in the Truth of my Heart and in the Presence of HIM that knoweth all things and in the Presence of these Faithful Witnesses * The Quakers Form p. 25. c. Or GOD is my Witness I call GOD to record on my Soul The GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ knows that I lye not GOD is Witness between me and thee Any of which or the like without laying the Hand on the Book or other Ceremony or more Words is not only an Oath but as saith a knowing judicious and worthy Person if Authorized by Act of Parliament is as much a Legal Oath as any now in use amongst us And as the Quakers have been mistaken about an Oath so they have been about their paying of Taxes in that they allow'd and paid the Royal Aid Tax and that of carrying on the Waragainst the Dutch and the like yet they would not pay towards the Trained Bands notwithstanding they are chiefly intended for a Defence and the other not only to Defend but to offend our Neighbours as the Government sees cause So that 't is plain the Tax they then refused was more justifiable than that they allowed and paid inasmuch as to Defend is more allowable and justifiable than to Offend FINIS