Samuel David Elijah Job and others as no true but false Prophets because sometime mistaken See 1 Sam. 16. 6. 1 Kings 19. 14 15 18. Rom. 11. 4 See also Acts 23. 5. And in the Antient Approved Bibles see what Remark is in the Argument on Job it 's there said That Job maintaineth a Good Cause but handleth it Evil. Again his Adversaries have an ill Matter but they defend it Craftily Moreover he i. e. Job was assured that God had not rejected him yet thro' his great Torments and Affliction he bursteth forth into many inconveniences both of Words and Sentences c. yet Job was a holy and just Man and true Prophet in many things Our Bitter Persecutor would fain fasten Contempt of Holy Scripture upon the Quakers with these odious Assertions viz. That the Scripture is BEASTLY Ware that WHAT the true Prophets spake was false and WHAT the false Prophets spake was true c. Intro p. 13. These are three notorious Falshoods as well as gross Errors maliciously contrived to contradict our sincere Confession viz. That the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of Divine Authority as being given by Divine Inspiration c. and that we prefer the Holy Scriptures before all other Books extant in the World How sincere we are in such Confession we can refer to him that knows our Hearts to whom we Appeal against our Adversaries contrary unjust Judgment and gross Calumnies falsly representing us insincere even in these weighty Matters wherein the greatest Tenderness and Conscienciousness towards God ought to be exercised by us all Another gross Abuse our Bitter Adversary has committed against many of us who Signed an Epistle from our Yearly Meeting in 1675. which I must give some Account of here 1. He Cites these words out of our said Epistle viz. It is our Sence Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and Authority of his Power and Spirit that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as that Faithful Friends Papers which we Testifie have been given out by the Power and Spirit of God are Mens Edicts or Canons with such scornful Sayings be permitted Subscribed saith he by W. Penn G. Whitehead and others Introd p. 11. And what of all this This Advice related to such Papers and Epistles of Faithful Friends as concerned good Order and Discipline in the Church and for promoting pure Religion in Life and Practice and why should they be slighted or contemned as but meer Human Edicts and Canons What use does our Scornful Adversary make of this Observe what he saith p. 13. viz. But as for what G. F. c. wrote their Yearly Meeting Testifies it was given forth by the Eternal Spirit yea THE SAME MEN that charged their Disciples in the Name of the Lord not to call their Papers Edicts or Canons call the Scriptures Death Dust and Serpents Meat And what same Men He has told us before W. Penn G. Whitehead and others who Signed the said Yearly Meetings Epistle that they so called the Scriptures whereby he has greatly abused and shamefully belied the same Men i. e. W. P. G. W. c. for they disown the Expression and own the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures as first given by Inspiration from God and truly prefer them before all other Books extant in the World But how can that be in our Adversary's Account when he objects against it and us That G. W. avouches that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth IN ANY is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and Greater c. He shews himself but very dull and impertinent in this Objection For we may prefer the Scriptures even the Bible before all other Books extant and yet not before the Spirit of Truth or the Immediate Powerful Teachings thereof in Man for that Spirit was before the Scriptures Writings or Bible were and only can give the true understanding thereof and therefore the Spirit of Truth may be preferred to the Scriptures and all other Books without any contempt or slight to them This Objection is more fully Answered elsewhere To our Adversary's saying viz. G. W. tells me I was but a kind of a Quaker and I think 't is the truest word in his Book I think I was not above a third part of one and that too much too p. 13. Thus he would fain winde off from the Reputation he had of a Quaker for 25 Years together he now miserably shifts and minces the Matter but manifestly contrary to his own Confession in his Quakers Detection p. 3 as before quoted to my Question Whether F. Bugg when a Quaker denied Jesus of Nazareth to be the Efficient cause of Man's Salvation He Answers I do believe I then did not hold the worst part of Quakerism c. Yet I do freely Acknowledge that I was in great Errors Particularly touching the Point of Justfication For I then Expected Salvation through my Obedience to the LIGHT which the Quakers taught was Sufficient to Salvation But since it pleased God to open my Eyes I believe that Salvation is attained through the Mercy of God is Christ Jesus by Faith in the Merits of his Passion and Obedience to his Precepts p. 14 15. Observe here 1. He now counts it a great Error to Expect Salvation through Obedience to the Light without Distinction of What Light 2. He Opposeth the the Sufficiency of the Light for Salvation And 3. Attaining Salvation through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus Faith in his Merits and Passion and Obedience to his Precepts These he Opposeth TO Obedience to his Light and Expecting Salvation through the same These he sets in Opposition as one that expects Salvation through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus and by Faith in his Merits and Obedience to his Passion without Obedience to his Light For that End Expresly Contrary to Christ's Doctrine and his Apostles Testimonies 1. Christ Commanded Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light And this Believing in the Light was a necessary Act of Obedience in order to Salvation 2. Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth Me shall not abide in Darkness And the Apostle James Exhorts to a Receiving the Ingrafted Word which is able to save the Soul And this Word is both Light and Life In him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men Therefore the Light is Sufficient to Salvation 3. Salvation through the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ true Faith in his Merits and Suffering for us and Sincere Obedience to his Precepts cannot be attained nor performed without Faith in and Obedience to his Light it was the Mercy of God to us to afford us Light to lead us out of Darkness For Men in Darkness are Blind and as such cannot see the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus nor true Faith in his Merits or Suffering For 't is in Walking in the Light
further proceeds in Justification of his most gross Forgery and Defamation against us viz. But they say I put up a Mock-Pillory I Grant I did and that to shew what they Actually deserved from their own Proposals to Authority Preface p. 2. Which Mock-Pillory was the form of a Pillory with Twelve Pictures standing with the first Letters of the Names of Certain Citizens of London and other Persons of good Fame and Repute with a Forged Mock-Trial grosly to Defame and Scandalize them as Perjured Persons for denying F. Bugg's False Charge in the first Edition of his New Rome Arraigned And now both his Mock-Trial and Mock-Pillory left out in his Second Edition Yet thus Unjustly Justified therein as what the Quakers Actually Deserved Oh! Abominable Falshood Insolence and Slander But what has he Actually Deserved Nevertheless in Contradiction to this his False Plea for his Mock-Pillory his Friend and Advocate Thomas Crisp in his Counterfeit Discovered p. 2. saith as he is informed That F. Bugg has acknowledged 10 G. Whitehead c. that he was sorry he had done it and that if it were to do again he would not do it that is set up his Feigned or Mock-Pillory But how does his Sorrow for it appear when now he tells us 'T was to shew what they i. e. the Quakers Actually Deserved Where 's then his Sorrow What say you his Watchers Was it a just Course to Convince us of Error that he took against us by his Mock-Trial and Scandalous Mock-Pillory Pray Answer plainly otherwise if you do not yet stop bis Current of Scandalizing and Defaming us your Encouragement and Approbations already given him will the more Affect you and Render you the more Culpable of his gross Abuses as partakers of his great Iniquity which will be no good Expedient to dignifie your Church or promote your Interest or good Fame I hope you 'll yet Consider it And further observe some of F. Bugg's Additional Forgery against us the said People in his own Words Preface p. 3. viz. Methinks I hear them say Come let us say he i. e. F. Bugg is a Pestilent Fellow a Mover of Sedition we must use all the Arts we have to stop him for he seems to follow the Steps of M. Luther that Apostate Adversary of our dear Elder Sister and if he goes on he will so unvail us that all People will know us and our Intreigues come let us Bespaâ—ter him and Cover him with some Frightful Beast's Skin and thâ—n set our little Currs to bait and Worry him to Abuse and Bespatter him in City and Country c. This I have found true Thus far F. Bugg Observe here this Piece of Forgery and Romance to Bespatter us and Suggest False Matters against us which he never heard the Quakers say but thinks he hears them so say which we cannot think he does unless he Dreams it But to shew his own Conceited Ambition and Pride how Puft up Swell'd and Bigg he is in his own Conceit as if he were such a Potent Invincible Antagonist when we very well know the Contrary how Feeble Impertinent and False he is And his Comparing himself to M. Luther as one in his Steps and Implying the Church of Rome to be our Dear Elder-Sister In the one appears his Proud Conceit and Vain Fmpty Boasting in the other his Notorious Falshood and Calumny As to his Charge of Blasphemous Pretences of Miracles against G. Fox whom he most Maliciously and Slanderously calls That Imposter Pref. p. 6. And why so But because G. Fox mentioned certain Miracles Wrought by the Power of God Not at all Ascribing them to himself or his own Power but to the Power of God in Answer to the fervent Prayers of his Servants and People among us in certain places But says F. Bugg not one of them i. e. Miracles said to be done in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth as in Acts 3. 6. Which Quoth he is a strong Argument of their Disowning Jesus of Nazareth c. Answ. 1. That Miracles both outward and inward have been wrought among us by the Power of God Consequently by Jesus Christ who is that Power F. Bugg cannot Confute If wrought by the Power of God then they must be in the Name of Jesus Christ for they are Indivisible and Inseparable 3. What Sincere and Faithful Regard and Breathings of Soul those our Friends Concerned had in their servent Prayers to the Name of the same Jesus of Nazareth F. Bugg is now as wholly Ignorant and now Insensible as his Argument and Consequence of their Disowning Jesus of Nazareth c. is utterly False it being by and through him that the Power and Spirit of God hath been made known among us in its Effectual Operations As to his Reciting the Quakers Books which he Falsly says carry two Contrary Faces Contrary Doctrines Contrary Principles c. In two Columns Opposite And then Aspersing their Leaders with the Depth of Hypocrsy Couch'd in them 'T is to none but to such as his own Evil Envious Eye his Dim and False sight that they appear so Contrary for to a Single Eye and Charitable Mind such Pretended or seeming Contrariety is easily Reconcileable As under the Title of The Perfect Quaker he Cites David 's Enemies Discovered p. 7. Thus viz. And these the Quakers do not call the Letter the Rule nor Matthew Mark Luke and John the New Testament and Gospel c. And in Opposition under the Title of The Counterfeit Quaker he Cites The Harmony of the Old and New Testament and the fulfilling of the Prophecies But he has falsly Cited the first to make them seem the more Contradictory for the Words truly Cited are these viz. And these i. e. Who witness the Life which spoke forth Scripture do not call the Letter the Rule and the four Books Matthew Mark Luke and John the New Testament and Gospel c. Here Bugg leaves out and the four Books which he has not Proved to be both the New-Testament and the Gospel being not the Books Abstractly but the New Covenant and the Power of God therein Testified unto which Gospel was before the Books were and before Abraham was Rom. 1. Heb. 8. Jer. 31. Besides we owning the said four Books to be Books of the New Testament or Covenant yet they are not all the Books thereof there are more Books of the New Testament as that of the Blessed Acts of the Apostles and their Evangelical Epistles and the Excellent Apocalips which also belong to the New Testament so that the Harmony of the Old and New Testament relates to the Divine Testimonies or Doctrine of Christ contained in the Books Paul and other Apostles were Ministers of the Gospel not of the Letter but of the Spirit and of the New Testament or New Covenant which are one and the same yet did not thereby Contemn or Slight the Scriptures which Testifie thereof And seeing that I have Confessed that the Spirit or Life
' s Calumnies p. 2. Col. 1. 2. 14. That G. F. was a Blasphemer of the Blessed Trinity p. 16. Note A gross Calumny also He neither Blasphemed nor Opposed the Scripture Trinity i. e. Three of the Father the Word or Son and Holy Ghost but objected against some Unscriptural Distinctions and Terms of Three distinct or separate Personalities Subsistances or Substances Unscripturally by some supposed or implied in the Deity 15. That the Quakers count all others who are not of their Communion Damned Persons p. 16. This is both false and too uncharitable for the People called Quakers to be of such a severe Judgment Charitably believing that many not in outward Communion with them under various Forms of Religion may be sincere to God according to their Understandings and Belief as also that there are other Sheep which are not yet of this Fold whom Jesus Christ will gather and fetch home into his Fold and that in every Nation and People such as fear God and work Righteousness are and shall be accepted of him 16. That the Jesuit taught them this That they must not by any means Swear p. 17. Note A gross Lye for Jesus Christ taught us not to Swear Mat. 5. and so did his Holy Apostle James Chap. 5. And many of the Blessed Martyrs and Protestant Reformers were of the same Judgment with us whom the Papists Accused and Persecuted for the same who imposed Swearing as their Priests taught contrary to Christ's Command 17. That this sullen and dogged Sect is the Jesuit's natural and undoubted Issue tho' like other Bastards they are ashamed to own their Father c. p. 17. Note These are like some of Bugg's false and shameful Raileries and no such thing could he demonstrate in all the 25 Years that he was Conversant among the People called Quakers or since nor what Jesuit was then his Father or to whom he was then Bastard but the contrary he has in Print declared for the said People and their Doctrine even since he left them witness his Quakers Detected Cited in our Quakers Vindication and other Answers But 't is an ill and nasty Bird that bewrays its own Nest as he has done These last Aspersions of the Jesuits Teaching the Quakers and they the Jesuits Natural Issue and Bastards c. Bugg Credulously pretends to Cite out of a Learned Divine's Book of the Church of England but tells not his Name that his Credit may be enquired into but whatever he be he is of no Credit with us in this foul Aspersion and Abuse 18. That the Quakers Allegorize the Death and Sufferings of Christ his Passion Atonement Resurrection and Ascension to be within p. 17. Note This is a known Perversion and Falshood the true Spiritual-minded Quakers do not Allegorize away either the outward Sufferings Passion or Death or Atonement Resurrection or Ascension of Jesus Christ as if all these were within only for they really believe and own all these to have been done and transacted outwardly and literally as well as they truly believe and own the Mystery Spiritual Sence Influence and real Benefit and Advantage thereof as Inwardly and Spiritually partaken of felt and experienced by every Sincere and Spiritual Believer in Christ Jesus 19. That neither if you go to a Thousand of their Meetings shall you hear one of their Preachers have such an Expression in their Mouths as Consessing their Sins and Begging Pardon for Jesus Christ's sake p. 18. Note This is a presumptuous Prediction such Confession and Supplication have been oftentimes in publick among us and may be again for ought F. B. knows for them that want Forgiveness and Cleansing from Sin well-knowing that the Lord requires both true Confession and forsaking Sin tho' we do not Confess nor Pray by Book or Lyturgy after the Priest yet we feel the Spirit of Christ making Intercession with Sighs and Groans which cannot be uttered 20. That the Scriptures are Beastly Ware p. 21. Note This Reproach and Blasphemy F. B. has often most falsly cast upon us 't is Answered before several times and more fully hereafter 21. That the Quakers first rose in the North breaking all Law Order and Government p. 22. That Quakerism flowed over all our Banks of all Law Order and Government both Divine and Humane p. 24. Note Both these are gross and very offensive Aspersions before Answered and Refuted manifestly by our Christian Conversations 22. That they have a great Tax Collected to maintain their Teachers Travellers and Spies both at Home and Abroad p. 31. Note For which gross Lies F. Bugg quotes his own Authority and bids see his Books Battering Rams against New Rome and New Rome Vnmask'd wherein we do not only deny his imposed Authority but have Refuted and Confuted the same in our Answers to those his Books quoted by him 23. That by their Threatned Chronicle they i. e. the Quakers intend to represent this Nation as a Persecuting Bloody-minded People p. 34. Note No such Threatning or Intention are we justly Chargeable with nor so to Represent this Nation for 't is not so now nor were the People thereof in general such when Persecution was on foot but the Persecutors in it many of whom are since cut off did openly shew their Cruelty by Imprisoning many to Death and by making Havock and Spoil upon the Goods of many Families to their great Impoverishment and Ruin of divers besides those that were Banished out of the Land by Persecutors but Blessed be God and Thanks to the Present Government the Case is now altered much for the better on that account those Cruel Persecutions being stopt and the present Persecution we are now under being chiefly the vile Misrepresentations gross Lies and Calumnies of dark and malicious Apostates and Backsliders such as F. B. and their Adherents 24. That the Quakers prefer their own Books before and above the Scripture p. 37. That they prefer their Nonsensical Pamphlets before the Scriptures being compared with the Contemptible Expressions they give them as BEASTLY WARE c. p. 38. Note These are some of his Old Calumnies and Perversions frequently Answered and Refuted for yet again we solemnly say We prefer the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as contained in the Bible and that Book it self above and to all other Books extant in the World whether our own or any other Books whatsoever as sincerely owning the Holy Scriptures aforesaid not only to have been given by Divine Inspiration but most eminently confirmed by Divine Authority 25. That G. Keith could not in Conscience clear the Body of the Quakers from those Errors charged upon them in Pensilvania in regard he knew them guilty thereof p. 40. i. e. the Body of the Quakers Note The Body of the Quakers he did not Charge therewith but a few in Pensilvania for the Body of the Quakers there have cleared themselves thereof and he has seemed expresly to clear the Body or People called Quakers and in
Salvation and Compleat Redemption which Christ Jesus has obtained for us i. e. for all Mankind thro' his Mediation and Sufferings 7. Our Really Believing and Confessing the Lord Jesus Christ his Passion Sufferings Death Atonement and Reconciliation made for us and his Resurrection Ascension and Glorification as without us according to Scripture cannot be to Allegorize all these away as if only transacted within us as we have been unduly Accused for they were really done and transacted without us by our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ tho' our true Knowledge of the Power of his Resurrection and Fellowship of his Sufferings and our being Conformable to his Death must be Experienced within us if ever we Live or Reign with Him 8. We sincerely Prefer and Esteem the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament contain'd in that Excellent Book commonly called the Bible as most Eminently Confirmed by Divine Authority and Faithful Witnesses before all other Books whatsoever extant in the World and yet our preferring the Holy Spirit from whence the Scripture came before the Letter of the Scripture is not to undervalue the Scripture for the Spirit must needs have the Preference and Preheminence as being the Author and Original Cause and Dictator of the Holy Scriptures and Giver of Light and Life also whereby truly to understand them and to live accordingly 9. As for Baptism and the Lord's Supper they are Scripturally considered by us in their several Dispensations both as in the Figure and in the Substance in the Type and Antitype as the Outward or Literal were Typical or Figurative of the Inward and Spiritual we confess and own considered in their Places and proper Dispensations but the Substance is more Excellent and Permanent than the Shadow as the Inward and Spiritual Grace is more Excellent than the Outward and Visible Signs and as Christ's Spiritual Baptism which is the Saving Baptism was Typified by John's And to Eat and Drink or Sup with Christ in his Kingdom of that Spiritual Meat and Drink which he gives for Life to the Soul was Typified or Figured forth by his Outward Supper of the Passover Bread and Cup for the Outward Element of Water cannot wash away Sin from the Soul neither can the Outward Bread or Cup give Life or Nourishment to the Soul The Shadows flee away but the Sum and Substance remain 10. We sincerely Believe and have often Confessed the Immortality of the Soul of Man that was Created in God's Image and the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead according as laid down in Holy Scripture 1 Cor. 15th Chapter and of Eternal Judgment by Jesus Christ as being Judge of the Living and of the Dead in the Great and Last Day of Judgment at the Great Harvest which is the End of the World God having appointed a Day wherein he will Raise the Dead both the Just and Unjust and also Judge the World in Righteousness by that Heavenly and most Glorious Man Christ Jesus whom he hath Ordained Acts 17. 31. before whose Tribunal-Seat all must appear to Receive their Final Judgment and Sentence according to their Deeds done in the Body whether they be Good or Evil. 11. That Christ's Gospel Ministry must be free without forced Maintenance filthy Lucre or Covetousness 12. That Magistracy or Civil Government is God's Ordinance the Good Ends thereof being for the Punishment of Evil Doers and Praise of them that do Well These Things we Sincerely Believe and Own but to do F. Bugg Right we find not that he has Charged us in the Tenth Particular about the Resurrection though some other Apostates have And we know no other Doctrine or Principle Preached Maintained or Received among or by Us since we were a People contrary to these before-mentioned nor do we Own any contrary thereunto Signed in Behalf of the said People and to Clear my own Innocency in Particular By G. Whitehead A Brief Advertisement to the Impartial Reader upon Francis Bugg's last Book falsly Stil'd The Picture of Quakerism Drawn to the Life THat it may appear that as to Matter of Doctrine and divers other things contain'd in the said Book he has frequently Repeated and Impos'd the same Notorious Calumnies and Perversions Unjustly upon the People called Quakers with other Abuses which in the foregoing Treatise and other of our Books in Answer to him have been and are fully Detected please to take a Brief Catalogue of some of his Notorious Calumnies Lies and Abuses with short Notes on them as followeth 1. In his Dedication to the Bishops of the Church of England whom he flatters thus viz. My Lords I have not leisure to trace them i. e. the Quakers in all their By-paths from the very beginning of their Rise and to shew how they branched forth from the Seeds of the Ranters Levellers and other Latitudinarians Observe pray herein he Imposeth a Nototious and Scandalous Falshood upon the Bishops it being well known that the said People call'd Quakers as to their Rise sprung and branched forth from and out of Religious Families of the Puritans so called and of the most sincere among those called Independent Anabaptist and Presbyterian Churches and Families and others and not from the Seeds of Ranters as he has grosly defamed them thereby Abusing both Bishops and other Readers 2. Their Contempt of the Scripture as Beastly Wares p. 2. Calling them Beastly Ware p. 42. That the Quakers have Condemn'd the Holy Scriptures p. 48. That our Teachers tell us that the Scriptures are Dust Death Beastly Ware c. p. 61. That their Chief Work in their Meetings as well as Writings was to lower the Power of the Magistrates Reproach the Ministers c. and the Bible Beastly Ware c. p. 97. He further saith I know if I had recommended the Scriptures ye would have rejected them as Serpents Meat Beastly Ware your frequent Epithets p. 121. And Beastly Ware again p. 125. Hist. Obs. Thus he still shamefully Abuses the Readers Bishops and others by these most gross repeated Blasphemous Calumnies manifestly Detected both in the foregoing Expostulation and other Answers to him So that he shamefully pleases himself with frequent Repetition of his old stinking loathsom Stuff to defame the Quakers 3. That possibly our Women learn'd of my self i. e. of G. W. to call the Scriptures Dust Death Beastly Ware c. p. 122. Obs. My Conscience bears me Witness he hath suggested a horrid Calumny against me herein having had a high and reverend Esteem for the Holy Scriptures from my Youth upwards 4. That they i. e. the Quakers sprung out of the Dregs of the People as Ranters c. Obs. Both which are Abusive Aspersions before Detected Query Didst thou F.B. spring out of the Dregs of the People as Ranters when first thou turnedst Quaker For shame for shame leave off such sordid Stuff 5. That the Quakers deny Christ and that their Doctrine teacheth to deny him to be Christ who was Born of the Virgin and
do here follow Some of Francis Bugg's Principal Calumnies and Misrepresentations of the People commonly called Quakers I. F Bugg charged us i. e. at least Twelve of us as being A Pack of False Witnesses and Perjur'd Persons And this from his own Scandalous Mock Trial Conviction and Condemnation unwarrantably acted by him in his New Rome Arraigned Epistle to Bereans p. 7 8 9 10 11. and p. 33. And all this for our Negative Testimony against the matter of his Charge contained in the Four following Articles of his false Accusations against us the said People viz. 2. That they i. e. the Quakers deny Jesus of Nazareth See The Converted Quaker p. 5. 3. That they call Geo. Fox the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem hereupon Bugg also falsly saith That they did not mean Christ but G. Fox 4. And that the Quakers Prophets give witness to Geo. Fox instead of this Christ p. 82. and Chap. 3. p. 16. they say That God Man the Man Christ Jesus who was Born of the Virgin was But a Garment a Vail a Vessel which is expresly contrary to our Principles as Answered in Print His Converted Quaker p. 2. 5. F. Bugg Accuses the Quakers with Contempt of Scripture i. e. the Holy Scripture and as intending down with the Holy Scripture affirming that they say the Holy Scripture is carnal Dust Death and Killeth tho' we find not that saying in any of our Friends Books quoted by him and are sure 't is contrary to our Principle as the foregoing are yet Bugg is not ashamed to say viz. I have not set down one Line or Word as theirs that is not theirs New Rome Arraigned p. 22. Note That these Precedent Accusations are not only expresly contrary to our Principles and Concurrent Testimonies extant in Print both for Jesus Christ the Holy Scripture and Divine Authority thereof but also to F. Bugg's own Testimony in his Book Of Christian Liberty the Second Part Chap. 1st Where he confesseth our Principles Received in the beginning to be Principles of Truth and in our Name and Person Testifieth unto the Holy Scriptures that they are good and a true Declaration of those things which were most surely believed by the Apostles and by us ought to be believed thus far F. Bugg when a kind of a Quaker Besides his Contradiction herein to himself he Confesseth that here we agree i. e. G. Whitehead and himself namely What the Holy Scripture is That we do not Ascribe Holiness to the Paper and Ink or Dead Characters but to the Holy Doctrine and Blessed Precepts therein contained which therefore is called the Holy Scriptures New Rome Arraigned Apol. Intro p. 6 7. Qu. Where then can he Prove either that the Quakers Condemn the Holy Doctrine and Blessed Precepts or Say that the Holy Scripture is Dust Death c. We Challenge him or any of you his Abettors to prove such Contempt or that Saying as the Quaker's or their Principle 6. F. Bugg's Charging the said People called Quakers with Contempt of Governours Reviling Christ's Magistrates accounting Magistracy a Cumbersome Tree and their Principles as being Antimagistratical and Antimonarchicate Note Herein F. Bugg appears Mischeiveously Malicious unjustly to render us Obnoxious to the Civil Government like Judas and the Jews against Christ and rendering him an Enemy to Caesar. 7. His Reproachful Characters to Scandalize the People called Quakers viz. New Rome Rome ' s Sister Rome their Elder Sister and calls those their Brethren that pretend to Sell-Pardons and pray Souls out of Purgatory and saith that these i. e. Quakers follow The Steps of the Jesuits And withal F. Bugg in the Title of his Book in Print New Rome Vnmask'd Scornfully and Reproachfully Termeth G. Whitehead one of her Chief Cardinals Remark Now pray let it be considered Whither Bugg's thus wickedly Misrepresenting the People called Quakers as Papists does not greatly tend to gratifie the Popish Interest by thus Magnifying of it and to lessen and injure the Protestant Interest and Consequently to Contradict and Affront the Government which hath been pleased Legally to Recognize us as Desenting Protestants Qu. Whether F. Bugg's Affront and Contradiction hereunto be not Seditious i.e. to Sow Discord Strife or Contention 8. Because of our Solemnly Declaring to the King and Parliament That we believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given forth by Divine Inspiration And they have accepted this our Declaration and Legally made it a Condition of our Liberty Bugg passeth this Judgment on us the said People viz. The more shame for you to be so Deceitful to give in a Testimony so contrary to your Belief And that the Quakers Pretending to the Parliament they believed them namely the Holy Scriptures to be given forth by Divine Inspiration was to serve a Turn New Rome Arraigned p. 40 42. Remark Herein Bugg hath not only most grosly Belied our Belief for the Holy Scriptures but also Contradicted the Parliaments Charitable Acceptance and Belief of our Testimony therein What Insolency and Audacious Attempt is this Dost thou approve or disallow hereof Bugg also very unjustly accuseth the Quakers that they Revile Christ's Ministers Undervalue his Death and Sufferings Condemn his Laws Despise his Ordinances all which is Expresly contrary to our Principles and how proves he those to be Christs Ministers whom our Friends have Testified against viz. The Covetous Cruel Persecutors Here he Imposeth and shamefully begs the Question 10. Moreover he Treats the said People with these Characters Black-Guard of Lyers Horrible Blasphemers Impudent Imposters Cowards Cunning Sophisters Juglings Legerdemain Great Deceivers Horrible Blasphemers Wretched Imposters That surely Simon Magus never exceeded these Imposters Acts 8. With much more such like Outragious Railery and Defaming Treatment too tedious here to recite being far Louder in Clamours than Proof Barking loud at a Distance but fearful fairly to Ingage NOW Friend Smithies seeing thou hast refused to Personate thy Convert F. Bugg or to be his Advocate or Vindicate him in his Charges and Books against the People called Quakers as I Proposed to thee and Offered thee a Meeting for that End I desire to know of thee If thou wilt please to give a Check to him and put a Stop to his defaming the People called Quakers in Print or if he refuseth thy Advice thereunto If thou wilt give publick Testimony against him by disowning his perverse Work and tell the World he is Heady and Wilful and no real Convert If neither it will Reflect upon thee Note But to this Enquiry or Letter I never received Answer from William Smithies as yet I Hear he is again Printing against us supposed as one Bent in his Malice to Scandalize us which we resolve with God's Help not not to lye under for we are assured he has wickedly Wronged and Misrepresented our Christian Religion and
Principles and Shamefully and Undeservedly Scandalized particular Persons both Living and Dead and an Innocent People also As we hope in Christ ever to approve our selves both in in the sight of God and Men with due Honour to Jesus Christ in all his Works and Sufferings and tender Respect to the Holy Scriptures As by the Harmony and Concurrence of our Ancient Friends Testimonies is publickly Demonstrated and we can make appear contrary to thy Converts Unjust Pretences and Misrepresentations and therefore if thou dost not put a stop to his Mischevious Attempts which severely Affects both our Christian and Civil Reputations in Rendring us both Blasphemous Imposters and Perjured Persons his Malicious Mischievous Work will Affect thee and some others who have Abetted him and the Cry will be loud and ascend higher than to thy self I hope thou wilt Charitably accept this Information and Advertisement and prudently Consider and make Use of the same London the 1st of the 1st Mouth 1693-94 FROM thy Friend and Well-wisher Geo. Whitehead Expecting shortly thy Ingenuous Answer c. But no Answer yet CHAP. II. A Copy of a Letter to Isaac Archer Vicar of Milden-Hall Suffolk London the 2d of the 1st Month 1693-94 Friend Isaac Archer I Desire thee Charitably to accept these Lines and prudently to Consider them for the Truth 's Sake as also for thy own Reputation I remembering how Officious thou wast in Accompanying and Abetting thy Follower and Disciple F. Bugg in the publick Disturbance he made of our Friends-Meeting at Milden-Hall the 30th of the 2d Month called April 1691. Contrary to the Intent of the present Government and of the Law of our Liberty in the peaceable Exercise of our Religious Worship toward Almighty God and how thou with him then Deemed our said Meeting an unlawful Conventicle because our Friends there had omitted a Circumstance of Law in not entring that Meeting-House upon Record as the Law directs which did not bespeak a Charitable Disposition on thy part towards us And also how thou hast Gratified Encouraged and Abetted the said F. Bugg if he writes true of thee by giving thy Approbation for his Abusive Book Which he saith he hath recited only an Abridgment thereof in his most Scandalous Book Stiled New Rome Arraigned as followeth viz. I do own the Substance of this Book as a Defence of those Eternal Truths by which I hope for Salvation and which are as a Comfort to me in my Pilgrimage Peace be to those that own them and the Lord open the Eyes of them that deny them Isaac Archer Now thou having thus far Countenanced F. Bugg and approved of his Writing against us as a People who are commonly called Quakers Please to Consider how far his Injurious Work of Envy and Contention against us and the Consequences of it may Affect thy Self and thy Reputation And therefore for thy Information and Caution I hereby give thee a short Recital of some of F. Bugg's Notoriously False Charges against the said People called Quakers where he chargeth them 1. With denying Jesus of Nazareth 2. Contempt of Holy Scriptures 3. Calling us Perjured Persons for our Negative Testimony against his so charging us and thereupon acting his Mock Trial forging our Answers and Erecting the form of a Pillory and therein Scandalizing divers Citizens and Tradesmen in and about London as Perjured Persons tho' Persons of good Repute and Credit better than himself thereby Affecting not only their Christian but Civil Reputations 4. Contempt of Governours and being against Magistracy in Principles he also Charges upon the said People giving them these Characters viz. New Rome Rome ' s Sister the Papists their Brethren and that they follow the Steps of the Jesuits 5. Terming one of their approved Ministers one of her chief Cardinals i. e. New Rome's 6. Our Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration he renders Deceitful and Contrary to our Belief and to serve a Turn 7. He Accuses the said People with reviling Christ's Ministers undervaluing Christ's Death Sufferings all which is expresly contrary to the said People's Faith and Principles 8. Terming the said people Black-Guard of Lyers Impudent Imposters Cowards Horrible Blasphemers Wretched Imposters and such as Simon Magus never exceeded cum multis aliis c. With many more such like gross Calumnies and Raileries are Bugg's Malicious Books stuft with all to render us Odious and Obnoxious in the Eye of the Government and Nation for which the Righteous God will Judge him and his Abettors for such his Intolerable and Mischievous Attempts Please to observe that tho' F. Bugg by his Partial Picking Words and Broken Sentences out of some Ancient Books of George Fox Edward Burrough's and Isaac Penington's he would seem thereby to Colour such his false and erroneous Charges before cited and Fallaciously cast them on a whole Body of People yet the same Books of theirs in other Passages explanatory and more plain do clear them and their Principles as to their sincerely owning Jesus of Nazareth highly Esteeming the Holy Scriptures truly owning Magistracy and so far from Popery as that they were in their Day true Witnesses against it and against all Idolatry and Superstition and that our Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Holy Scriptures being given by Divine Inspiration was sincere on our parts and in the sight of God according to our Belief and Principle as by many of our Books and Testimonies is Evinced as also that we highly Esteem and Value Christ's Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for the Reconciliation of Mankind unto God as by the Harmony and Concurrence of our publick Testimonies and solemn Confessions which have been Extant for many Years is clearly and fully Demonstrated whatever F. Bugg and his Abettors have Maliciously Suggested to the contrary against us whose work of deadly Malice and Persecution therein does not only affect our Christian and Civil Reputation but the Civil Government under which we Live and with true Gratitude enjoy our present Liberty in the Exercise of our tender Consciences towards Almighty God in point of Worship For 1. Bugg's Rendering our said Declaration to the King and Parliament for the Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture deceitful on our parts This is to go about to Invalidate and Destroy a Principal Condition of our Present Liberty and to confront the Government 's acceptance of our said Declaration 2. Bugg's Unjustly and Maliciously Representing the said People called Quakers under these Black and Odious Characters of New Rome Rome ' s Sister and as Brethren to the Papists following the Steps of Jesuits c. And Consequently no better nor other than Papists Whereupon I ask thee these Questions viz. 1. Does not this greatly tend to gratifie the Popish Interest by his thus Magnifying of it far bigger than 't is and to lessen and injure the Protestant Interest and consequently to Contradict the Government which has been
Love of God to Mankind and that God blessed their i. e. the Quakers Meetings with the Comfortable Enjoyment of his Presence for many Years as F. B. has more fully declared for us in his Book stiled The Quakers Detected Printed 1686. Two Years after he had left our Communion and turned to the Church of England F. B. his Title of New Rome c. is a refuted Calumny unjustly cast upon the Protestant Subjects called Quakers Foxonian Quakers is a scornful Nick-name and no such distinction own'd by the said People His Charges of dangerous Errors and pernicious Principles tending to Overthrow the Christian Faith to obstruct the Jews Conversion to encourage MAHOMETISM and to pervert the right way of the Lord are also Perverse and Lying Aspersions and Calumnies which neither are nor can be proved by him or you his Abettors against the said People on due Examination besides his dubious Question on his own Charge renders him the more uncertain and questionable therein by his thereupon saying viz. Which whether so or no deserves the Examination and Consideration of the Christian Ministry of all Protestant Churches so short and dubious is he in his own Examination and Consideration tho' very loud clamorous and positive in his Charges wherein he does it seems but make work for others which he is never able to perform himself nor his Abettors Tending to Encourage Mahometism is a new as well as undue Charge what 's his pretended Reason or Proof for the same In his Preface to the Reader p. 2. His supposing That they do not believe Christ to be distinct from the Saints or from his Body the Church which he is Head of herein is a mistake yet this can be no proof of his Charges if by distinct from them be meant separate from them as may be rationally supposed for Christ and his Saints as to their Beings are distinct and not confounded yet not divided nor separated from each other in Spirit That they do not Pray in the Name of Jesus to God the Father thereby to own his Mediatorship is a notorious and publickly known Lie as Thousands can Testifie consequently far from proving his said Charges Nor make Confession of Sin to God in Prayer nor beg Pardon for the same are also two notorious Falshoods knowing that many who frequent our Meetings have great need of both sincere Confession Repentance and Pardon of Sin for Christ's sake and their own poor Souls But look at Christ within the Light within his Intercession within and so did all true Christian Believers who knew the Mystery of Christ in them who believed and walked in his Light and received the Spirit of the Son of God into their Hearts making Intercession and crying Abba Father We do not believe this to be any pernicious Principle either tending to Overthrow the Christian Faith or to Encourage Mahometism His Crucifixion within is not this to insinuate that they do not believe Christ Crucified without which is a perverse and injurious Falshood implied against them having often confessed Christ Crucified without on the Cross at Jerusalem as the Scripture testifies And if we should say that F. Bugg and such envious Apostates do Spiritually Crucifie Christ afresh unto and in themselves and put him to open shame by maliciously Reproaching his Truth and People this is not to deny his being Crucified without I cannot see any Mahometism from thence justly Chargeable upon us Neither does his following Objection prove us guilty thereof but himself very Ignorant of Christ and Christianity viz. Object Yet they have among them many good Exhortations and they own Christ to be the Word of God the Power of God the Wisdom of God will not this do Supposing they mean all to be within yea Heaven and Hell and all within c. Unto which F. B. the Framer of the Objection has Cited this for Answer viz. The Mahometans hold Abraham to be the Friend of God and Moses the Messenger of God and Christ the Breath of God and they Punish such as speak against Christ whose Religion was not say they taken away but mended by Mahomet Heylins Cosmog Lib. 3. p. 104. And our Saviour is called in their Alchoran The Word the Power the Soul and Strength of God c. Quoting the Lives of the Patriarchs Printed 1694. Answ. 1. The People called Quakers do utterly deny Mahometism 'T is not at all Concerned in their Principles or Religion being Christian and wholly Opposite to the Adoration of that Impostor Mahomot 2. They utterly deny that Christs Religion could be mended by Mahomet or any Man or Men else whatsoever 3. But if the Mahometans hold Abrham to be the Friend of God and Moses his Messenger and Christ the Breath the Word the Power the Soul and Strength of God and Quakers hold the same this can no more prove that their Principles and Doctrines tend to encourage Mahometism than that the Holy Apostles Doctrine did so for they held Christ to be the Word of God John 1. 1 John 5. 7. Rev. 19. The Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Yea The Life Strength and Arm of God and a Quickning Spirit also Isa. 53. 1 Cor. 15. Could this be to Encourage Mahometism No sure 'T were Blasphemy to Assert it The Mahometans hold many Truths out of the Law of Moses corruptly mixt with their Mahometan Imposture and so do many Idolaters Apostates and Antichrists in Christendom does it follow that because the Quakers own those Truths that therefore they are either Mahometans or Idolators c. 2. That 's no good Consequence and but ill Argued at this Rate F. Bugg may as well prove any true Christian to be of any Religion and himself also a gross Impostor because he holds some Truths which gross Imposters c. hold Neither can he Mahometize or Unchristian the Quakers by his False Supposition viz. If they do not come to this Result to own the same Jesus that was Born of the Virgin Crucified Dead Buried Rose again and in the sight of the Galileans Ascended into Heaven Seeing we do Sincerely and Frequently and Publickly own and confess the same Jesus both in Print and Publick Testimony as Thousands are Witnesses that we Confess Jesus Christ come in the Flesh Born of the Virgin Mary that he was the Word which took Flesh and Christ also a Spirit even a Quickning Spirit 1 John 1. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 45. But F. Bugg Falsly adds this more Possitive Charge viz. And Publickly Condemn their Books which Teach the Contrary Preface p. 2. And what 's contrary but that the Quakers disown the same Jesus that was Born of the Virgin Mary which is a Notorious Falshood and Calumny And therefore I Challenge him and you his Teachers Abettors and Congratulators to produce those Books of the Quakers with the Pages and Words wherein the same Jesus is so disowned otherwise for shame Retract and Condemn this his Abuse and Calumnious Aspersion He
as for a Convenient Place which B. A's was esteem'd to be he could neither except against the Place or Time when proposed to him at Jacob Frankling's the of the Twelfth Month 1693. before several Witnesses And I did not propose to F. B. any uncivil confused tumultuous or populous Meeting to Debate Matters if I had he might justly have rejected my Proposal but a Meeting of a few Sober Moderate Persons to be Witnesses only of what passed and such did meet with me at several Convenient Places in London but were disappointed by F. B's keeping away 2. The Conditional Retraction proposed by him was afterward contrived for an evasive shift when he saw I was in earnest and resolved to meet him before some Witnesses as proposed and appointed several Times and Places in London so to meet him giving him timely notice aforehand and waited for him several Hours but he would not Adventure to come and give me Meeting for a fair Disquisition of Matters in Controversie unless I would either submit them to the Judgment and Determination of Persons of a contrary Perswasion or aforehand engage to such a Conditional Retraction as he proposed all which appeared designed shuffles and shameful evasions to shun Meeting as aforesaid contrary to his own Word and Acceptance before-cited as may be seen more at large in my Answer Entituled The Counterfeit Convert a Scandal c. from p. 1 to 9. and yet he has a most insolent and odious Custom of boasting cracking and upbraiding at a distance and falsly telling the World that Whitehead evaded and shuffled i. e. from Meeting him p. 2. which was his own act not mine but a notorious and gross Lie as many then present can testifie how many Hours I waited for him time after time and my Letters and Challenges also wherewith I followed him from time to time if he durst but produce them in Print they would manifestly decide this Matter between us wherein he most falsly asperseth me with his own Act of evasion and shuffling as if he were such a Potent Goliah and formidable or frighting Adversary Alas poor empty cracking boasting insulting Reviler Our Adversary again falsly Charges Is. Pennington saying he denies Christ which by the way is an abominable Slander on that Innocent Man and calls Him that was Born of the Virgin a Veil c. and then saith Yet G. Whitehead the Counterfeit Quaker in his Book Stiled The Counterfeit Convert c. p. â—2 vindicates him What in denying of Châ—ist Oh horrible Falshood saying Aâ—d tho' I have evinced Is. Pennington's meaning on his words reflected on about the Body or Flesh of Christ it follows not that I make his Expressions mine seeing I note them as his for says G. W. I may see cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same c. Then our Adversary goes on Canting Taunting and Abusing us from this passage as with Equivocating Jesuitism with a Witness or Arius risen again under a new form and figure c. But herein our scornful Adversary has insinuated most grievous Lies against me and others 1. As denying Christ. 2. As intending the same 3. Yet otherwise word the Matter to Equivocate and act the Jesuit Now pray you his Approvers observe how notorious his Abuse and Calumny is in this very Matter That I was dissatisfied with wording that Matter in some recited Expressions I grant but that Is. Penington's meaning or mine either was to deny Christ I utterly deny Observe the passage at large quoted Counterfeit Convert p. 72. which is this viz. I know no Contemptuous Speeches of our Lord Jesus or of Scriptures excused consequently much less owned by me And tho' I have evinced I. P's meaning on his words reflected on about the Body or Flesh of Christ it follows not that I thereby make his Expressions mine seeing I note them as his I may see cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same We have not the same Expressions and Utterance in all Cases and yet may aim at and mean the same thing but never to contemn our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or the Holy Scriptures which testifie of him in any respect far be it from us so to do Therefore T. C. yea and F. B. too have grosly wronged and misrepresented us in these Matters Now pray observe here 's no such Concession or Grant as F. Bugg would insinuate viz. That either Is. Penington denies Christ or that I vindicate any such denial or him therein but the contrary far be it from us either to contemn or deny our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or the Holy Scriptures for they testifie of him wherein is not the least Equivocation or Jesuitism Counterfeit Two-fac'd Quakers as Bugg unjustly and scornfully brands us who has not only made eight or nine Repetitions of my words about seeing cause otherwise to word the Mâ—tter and yet our Intentions the same but also impertinently and unjustly applies them to sundry and divers Matters to which they were never intended and that designedly to render us as odious as he can as for instance he applies the said words of mine aforesaid as if our Intentions tended 1. To a Denial of Christ. 2. To a Denial of Preaching a Belief in Christ as he is in Heaven above p. 3. Q. Anat. 3. To a Contempt of Holy Scriptures contrary to our Confessing the Divine Authority thereof p. 4 5. 4. To what he calls Anti-Magistratical Principles p. 5. Implying that the Quakers intend all these whatever they seriously confess or profess to the contrary whereupon the Nick-name of Counterfeit Quaker is frequently cast upon us by this Implacable Adversary It would fill a Volume to set forth and enervate all his Scurrilous Abuses Raileries Absurdities Forgeries gross Slanders and Calumnies in these and many other Matters And further to pacifie our angry Adversary as to what he has noted Fundamental Errors Damnable Heresies c. tho' I cannot in Justice Charge the Persons accused in their Absence as 1. God that died in us c. 2. And that when Christ ascended he was separated from his Body 3. And that Faith in Christ without us as he Died for our Sins and Rose again was not necessary to OUR Salvation p. 37. These I do really disown as contrary to my Sence and Judgment and to Holy Scriptures Testimony as sincerely believing 1. The Only True and Living God is Immortal 2. That Christ visibly Ascended in his Body 3. And therefore that Christ did not only Die for our Sins but Rose again for our Justification and consequently that Faith in him as he so Died and Rose again and Ascended into Glory is necessary not only to our Salvation but to all others that have certain Demonstration or Proof of the same afforded unto them either by an Effectual Living Ministry or Revelation of the Spirit The unbelief thereof when so demonstrated I count as real a Sin and
Cause humble this Adversary if it be his Blessed Will and let all others among us c. take warning from his woful and lamentable Backsliding and Fall Let one most Scandalous and Blasphemous Calumny be yet further Remarked viz. Fr. Bugg's repeated Charge against the Quakers viz. these Contemptible Expressions as calling the Scriptures Beastly Ware c. as before and the like we are Charged with in that most malicious wicked Piece The Snake in the Grass where divers gross Calumnies are broached from Bugg's Authority and Credit I having examined that Book out of which the said Expressions have been pretended to be taken Entituled A Brief Discovery of a Threefold state of Antichrist Printed Anno 1633. p. 9. I find no such gross Expressions as calling the Scriptures Beastly Ware but divers severe Reflections upon the Covetous Persecuting Priests in those Days then writ by some Prisoners at York-Castle 1653. and what 's there called Beastly Ware is not the Scriptures but what Babylon's Merchants sell for a large Price i. e. a Rabble of Notions heaped up in their Brain all the Week and which they sell for filthy lucre's sake c. calling them also Idol-Merchants Costly Sermon-makers who Persecuted the pure Truth the Saints live in p. 9 10. of the said Brief Discovery but not a word of calling the Scriptures themselves Beastly Ware and I am perswaded such Blasphemy and Contempt of Holy Scripture was far from the Thoughts of those said Prisoners and that which they would have abominated and rejected with Abhorrence if they had then been Charg'd therewith Thus the Perversion and Injury done by F. B. c. in this Matter is apparent in his putting Mens dark Notions for the Holy Scriptures The said Prisoners called Babylon's Merchants Rabble of Notions Beastly Ware but F. B. says it is the Scriptures which they so call what a shameful Liar and Perverter is this He pretends to prove W. Penn a Liar for once p. 38. Brief History But 't is more true that he is more than once yea often prov'd a Liar and gross Defamer of others and that his pretended Pious Endeavours by you his Approvers and Ministers aforesaid are proved very Impious and you may Answer for him and Vindicate him if you please or can since you have given him such high Approbation and Congratulation which he has divulged to your Disgrace for F. B's Answering by repeating Calumnies and Slanders against us will deserve little further notice since so often unanswerably Confuted already and if you his Approvers will not adventure to attempt his Vindication as well as Approbation nor yet shew any publick dislike of his Abuses scandalous and reproachful Scribling but leave him to his own Vindication and farther to reproach us we may take it as an Indication that you are Conscious his Defaming Work is not justifiable nor warrantable in the sight of God or Just Men and that you have over-shot your selves in his Approbation and the more guilty your selves in suffering Sin to lye upon him without just Reproof suitable to his publick Offence and Crime against Truth But if you will be mute in this Matter and suffer him to persist in his wonted Course of Vilifying and Abusing us without your publick Reprehension or Dislike thereof then may you be farther justly called in question and Exposed thereupon for your neglect of Justice CHAP. VI. A Brief Answer to Fr. Bugg's Two Printed Papers Dated March 1696. TO his Printed Paper unduly Stiled George Whirehead's Oath unjustly Accusing the Quakers with Prevaricating about Swearing His Story hereupon both first As to the Form of the Oath pretended Secondly And as to its being Read to him G. W. affirms he is wronged in this Accusation and Story by F.B. and that he is not Conscious to himself thereof but as preferring Truth 's Reputation before his own patiently suffers and bears it among many other Personal Injuries Misrepresentations and Detractions cast upon him by this Adversary whom I ask 1. F. B. who was thy Informer about this said Oath pretended 2. Out of what Book was it Read to G. W. and by whom 3. Suppose I had failed of our Principle in that Case as I have not hast thou done either fairly or justly thence to asperse the Quakers in general with Prevaricating about Swearing Must they all suffer for my Fault if I had committed it which I did not as many can Witness As to the Association and his taunting Insinuations concerning the King and Government and our Affection and Fidelity towards them and forming an Address for us like an Officious Agent we hope we have given that Satisfaction as to our Innocency which this and the rest of our most Inveterate Adversaries cannot extinguish and the Acceptance and Favours which as a People we have received through God's Providence from the Government no doubt does vex and fret this our Implacable Adversary seeing his many Attempts and strenuous Endeavours to render us Obnoxious and to Incense the Government against us and by his utmost Endeavours that way to prevent our Belief are so manifestly disappointed and frustrated Blessed and Praised be our God for Ever who hath attended our Endeavours But let it be observed how sordid brutish and unnatural it was in F. Bugg so strenuously to labour to prevent the Quakers Relief in the Case of Oaths since he Married his Son into an Honest Family of Quakers so called and appeared very officious as I am credibly informed to promote the Marriage as if he would rather have them also Ruined than Relieved As to our Christian Confession of Christ his Divinity and Humanity and his Glorious Body in Heaven we have sufficiently and sincerely evinced according to Holy Scripture against this Adversary and other Opposers which they are not able to Confute knowing also that we are not necessitated to give farther Answer to his Impertinent Questions especially since his Work is so much falsly to Accuse and Asperse us with sly and unjust Insinuations to render us Offensive and Obnoxious to the Government Besides One Fool may ask more Questions than Twenty Wise Men may Answer To F. Bugg's Paper Stiled A Brief Reply which with the other before-mentioned he having delivered at the House of Lords which one of them gave me His false Charge of our Contempt of Christ and the Scriptures being Answered and Refuted before in several Answers to his Malicious Books and Pamphlets he proceeds in his wonted Course of Perversion and Defaming still for which he frequently quotes his own Presumptuous Authority and Refuted Pamphlets As to his offence at the Words he Cites of an Imagined God beyond the Stars and their Carnal Christ. We say First The True Infinite and Omnipresent God tho' in Heaven above yet is not confined or limitted to beyond the Stars nor can the Heaven of Heavens contain Him 2. The True Lord Jesus Christ who Ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things He is not a