there is no Name given under Heaven by which men can be saved but the Name of Jesus There is no Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 If it be asked Why I am sometimes Comical and Reflect so severely on some of their Leaders I answer Quacks and Jugglers and foolish Pretenders to any thing are not to be treated as wise and sober men Answer says the Wisest of Men a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit Prov. 26.25 Says the serious Worshipper at Mount Carmel that approached the Altar of God with all imaginable Reverence and not as a Stage player when he saw the Priests of Baal seemingly most devout cut themselves and leap upon the Altar Cry aloud 1 Kings 18.27 either he is talking or in a journey or sleepeth and must be awaked A goodly God! For my severe Reflections on some Men I lived nigh them knew them well they were some of the great Advocates for their Cause talk'd of all England over for their Zeal among the Quakers who spared not the most Learned Religious Ministers and People in the world for want of self-denial which little appeared in the Accusers for leaving the Places of their open Meetings the Ministers were Hirelings 10. John 12 13. who did flee when the wolf came that cared not for the sheep and that because the sheep were not their own As if to flee from a Place were to flee from an Office And after they had call'd them and the People Hypocrites Children of the Devil Haters of Christ Lovers of the World that should be damned for ever for this their great open Sin and Wickedness they did the same thing themselves when their Fund failed Either what I have Charged them with is True or False if it be False let me be accounted the greatest Defamer upon Earth a Persecutor or what they please If it be true as I call Heaven and Earth to Record it is and can justifie the Charge before God and Man I do say it on mature Consideration and with great Composure of Mind That Pen and the Quakers are Impostors or Apostates Know Reader I have made no use of Books nor Men to help me in this Work tho it is said by some it were impossible I could thus describe them without help from some Man that had been a Quaker I have not troubled you with some stories of Quakers upon common fame though I doubt not the truth of them yet cannot prove them if required as that one Friend came to another and said The Lord hath sent me to thee to tell thee thou must lend me Twenty pound It was a lying Spirit sent thee said the other for the Lord knows I am not worth half the Money Neither have I troubled you with their denying such a sense of Scripture when writing against us and asserting the same sense to serve their own turn and all from one and the same Infallible Spirit Penn is a notorious instance who in a Book call'd Judas and the Jews said on those words Tell the Church 18. Matt. 17. That the Church was to judge of matters of wrong between Man and Man but not of Faith or Conscience yet in another Book to all Protestants asserts The Church had Power about matters of Faith and Conscience when he pleaded for the Church-Quakers Nor much of what I have read of some of them many y s since I remember in the time of a long continued Drought about Twenty year since when many fear'd and talk'd of a Famine out comes Fox and tells us What reason we had to expect a Famine That before the Plague he saâ— the Angel of the Lord with a drawn Sword over the Court. See the Cheat. Rain soon pour'd down You false Prophets tell us your Prophecies before not after their accomplishment I must recommend to you the aforementioned Book The Snake in the Grass If you are Dissenters pardon some warm passages proceeding from intemperate Zeal for Bishops and Liturgies In the Book may you be informed of The Authority of the Church-Quakers for so Penn's Faction are call'd who often Assemble at London and assume to themselves power over the Light within especially in the Separate Quakers for so are the Followers of George Keith call'd a Scholar once Master of Arts who owns Faith in an outward Christ crucified him that died at Jerusalem The Resurrection of the Body Defects to be bewail'd The insufficiency of the Light within without Scripture and speaks favourably of Baptism and the Supper All this George Keith hath printed and told me He proves George Fox their Great Apostle to be a Blasphemer and impostor That he said before some Governors That he said he was equal with God and Judge of the world He receiv'd the Title and Worship of Christ from many who lay prostrate before him he smoothing them on the face and blessing them So did Sabbata Sevi his deluded Followers and Nathan the Prophet in the Year 1666. till he turned Turk to save his Neck Penn pleads for this Fox attributes his abuse of many Terms to his Ignorance What! and yet inspired and sent of God! That he call'd on the Army to fight against Rome and the Turks That Balaam must be slain and all the Hirelings turn'd out of the Kingdom He bad them pull down Mass-houses and Colleges Give the Priests Blood to drink for they are worthy said Burroughs The Blasphemy of many of their Leaders who said they were as holy as God not only in quality but equality and that the preternatural distortions of their Bodies and their Quakings at first were of the Devil Though the Numen that then inspired them hath now left them Though Solomon Eccles a Quaker before the Fire of London went up and down with a Pan of burning Coals yet he was proved to be a false Prophet in other things That the Quakers moved not their Goods believing it was a Delusion and knowing that almost every Week one Quaker or another would go up and down the Streets in London and cry Thus saith the Lord Fire Pestilence Sword c. And if Solomon Eccles prophecied of the Burning of the City all know so did Oliver's Porter That Muggleton hath his Prophecies too to be printed How soon Josiah Coal died after he testified against him That Muggleton a Taylor and Fox a Shoemaker set up for Inspired Persons together Though Fox at first condemned all outward teaching by Man till he had gotten men from the Ministry then he set up Preaching but Muggleton doth not but keeps to the old Principle He saith The Father to whom Christ pray'd was Elijah who governed in Heaven when Christ was on Earth because in his absence there was no God there And such Blasphemous stuff They pretended to the Spirit of discerning Persons and Things and could tell what Men were on the sight of them They now Damn one another the Muggletonians and Quakers call one another Sorcerers Serpents and say
WILLIAM PENN And the QUAKERS EITHER Impostors or Apostates Which they please Proved from their avowed Principles and contrary Practices Inest sua gratia parvis 2 Tim. 3.8 9. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men as theirs also was By Trepidantium Malleus LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey 1696. TO THE Humoursom READERS My Brethren IN this quarrelsome Age wherein little that is written can please all or most I must expect to fall under the Censure of not a few Perhaps in an angry fit you will be ready to Object Is there not enough and more then enough in this scribling Age written against this People already I Answer There is too much and yet too little Many trouble the world with long vagaries about things less material or their more weighty things are not express'd in so few words nor their arguments managed with that conciseness as could be wish'd He is the best Soldier who attacking an Enemy runs on him and stabs him to the heart whether I have so stab'd Quakerism to the heart if you will be sober be you judges or the Quakere either who have any intervals from their Deliriums Two things are often enquired about Books How large they be And what they cost If they be too large or cost too much Men either neglect them or read them with a running eye but if short and of little cost not only their Money but that which is more precious to Studious men their time is well saved Here is a little Book and of small price and things not written of by others Some may ask What should induce you to this work A. I have sought for William Penn many years and coming as a stranger to London have here found him and I think the Queries sent to him are unexceptionable and unanswerable and I have more reasons than one to think William Penn is of the same Opinion for this I appeal from his mouth to his conscience if he hath any he may say as Ahab to the Prophet Hast thou found me O mine enemy 1 Kings 21.20 It may be you will say You are too hot A. Perhaps you are too cold read the after-account of the Man before you are so waspish and quick If you say I like not this Dispute then let it alone and leave it to them that do If the Bookseller have been deceived by me it is pity you should be so by him Look well to your Pockets and be sure you throw not away your Money for nothing especially when good Money is as scarce as good Subjects Many Writers get others to recommend their Books to the world but I care not to trouble any such for they overvalue their Freinds and so their Writings I will therefore do it my self In short I tell you I am a quick writer of sudden flights Yet if you will have my opinion I think it is not jejunely done nor to be reckoned among the meanest Books against this People However I have pleased my self and that is something and many an honest man too I doubt not and that is more But if I please not you I care not and so till you and I be in a better humour Farewell QUESTIONS SENT TO William Penn. Question 1. WHether He or any of them will or dare stand forth and say I desire no Pardon from a Holy God for any Imperfection in Thought in Word or in Action in the close of a Day of a Week of a Month of a Year since his or their imaginary perfect sinless State I intreat them into whose hands this Book shall fall to take notice That I kept no Copy of my Queries to him not intending them for open view much less for the Press I dare not therefore pretend strict exactness to words but sense and for this I dare challenge him to deny it Now if they are as Perfect as Adam was before he Fell as some have said I say he then needed no Pardon if they be as Holy as some have blasphemously said as God himself I say God need not Pardon himself Perfection in Scripture is sometimes put in opposition to Hypocrisy So all the Saints are Perfect God so loveth Holiness that he calls the least degrees of Holiness by this honourable name Perfection to encourage men in the thoughts of their present acceptance with him and to let them know the unshaken foundation is now laid So Noah Abraham Job and others are said to be Perfect that is no Hypocrites but Sincere ones Yet they were guilty of great and visible Sins and made Confessions of them to God in this their perfect State The instance of Asa is most pregnant it is said of him That he put the Prophet in Prison who Prophecied to him in the Name of the Lord that he was wroth with him very great sins sure and of a deep die and one would think inconsistent with true Grace When he was pained in his Feet he sought not to the Lord but to the Physician one would think he could be no Good Man yes says the Holy Ghost He was no formal Hypocritical Man he was good in the bottom and how is this express'd 1 Kings 15.14 Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord his God all his days What is that Without Sin Then the sense is this Asa committed very great sins nevertheless he sinned not all his days Sometimes perfection is put in opposition to imperfection This distinction is clear in the words of Paul 3 Phillip 13 14. Not as if I had attain'd or were already perfect I press on as many as are perfect be thus minded In the first place he speaks of Perfection in opposition to Imperfection I have not attained it says he if he had not by the way we have mad men running up and down among us that say they have but without the breach of Charity I dare be bold to assert the Perfection they have attained to is a perfection of Stupidity and Obduration but saith Paul I press forward I have perfection in my Eye tho not in my Heart as many as be perfect that is sincere upright be thus minded For they that in the former sense are perfect cannot be said not to have attained it or to press after it Job says of himself of whom God gave this testimony There was none like him in all the earth a perfect man that is a sanctified man 1 Job 1. If I should say I were perfect that would prove me perverse say it no he detests it in the next words I perfect for those words are only found in the Original I would not know my own soul 9 Job 20 21. Who can say his heart is clean says Solomon Yes A Pharisee a
our selves more than him Thus he that pretends to exalt the Love of God hath debased it above all men I hope some learned Bishop or Clergy-man will soon take this conceited Man and cut him up and send him to the Tribes in Israel with a see consider and speak your minds who hath asserted that the Quakers Cause calls for their most Learned Pens and they may triumph in the Victory if they get it The Quakers ignorance discovers it self on all occasions G. Fox would call Preachers Conjurers But to do him right he was none as all know that read his Books or heard him talk George Whitehead that hath writ so much is a Notorious Dunce as proved before Mr. Speed Mr. Vickris of Bristol never speak among them who are Men of Parts and Sense I will imitate the Quakers way of speaking and judge what if you heard such stuff as this though sometimes better in their greater Meetings where contrary to their first Principles many of them forbid Womens speaking or the speaking of Nonsensical Fools that talk at this or the like rate Frunds I am moved by the to speak unto you though I know not what I shall say Noah was a Perfect Man yet some say Men cannot be Perfect or without Sin yet Noah was so and his Son Cham was Cursed for uncovering his Father's nakedness when drunk Judas was the Traytor and bore the Bag and cared not for the Poor It is said he that taketh Kirjah Sepher Now that is the Spirit of the Book Now look Fruâ—ds the Heart is the Book and the Spirit is the Light within It is said indeed I forbid a Woman to speak in the Church but the Priests are in the dark mind and understand it not by the Woman is meant the Flesh and by the Husband is meant the Devil but they in the Witchcraft cannot see it but I say look to the Light within you Frunds If you have motions to a Woman and do not do the act or desire to take another Man's goods and do not do it you Sin not Mary Fisher had leave from the Lord to go froâ— New-England to save her life when otherâ— had not Now they used carnal Weaponâ— Paul said These hands have ministred to â— necessities And whatsoever doth makâ— manifest is Light Now we abhor thâ— Papist Transubsistation and Infannibility and many things be taken figuratelâ— When I shoed a Horse the other day thâ— Horse went the better so you if you loâ—â— to the Light within you ah the pure Lighâ— The Priests use Heathenish words such aâ— be not in Scripture as Sacrament c. Thâ— word of the is come upon mâ— I am to read a Letter from Friend F. oâ— P. though we read not Scripture thâ— was of old yet we may what comes froâ— the pure streams One came to me 〈◊〉 know where John Steeplehouseman dwelâ— whom he prophanely call'd Mr. Churâ—â— man but I bid him defiance for Woâ—shipping the Beast They say if you 〈◊〉 Persecuted from one City flee to anothâ—â— But these Hell-hounds understand noâ— they be Baals Priests Hirelings a Geneâ—tion of Vipers for it is revealed unto 〈◊〉 Flee to another is to the City Heaveâ— O Frunds flee there flee there Frund There is none that doeth good they say 〈◊〉 not one but David said after O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion The Priests say this world shall in time end but they be in the dark and make Solomon a Lyar who sayeth yea he sayeth One generation passeth away and another cometh but the earth abideth for ever now mark Frunds what abides for ever shall never end but they be Sorcerers Wolves in Sheeps cloathing They say That when the outward fleshly Christ was Crucified the vale of the Temple was rent in twain and the Rocks rent and the Graves were opened But they be blind Guides that lead the blind and so both fall into the Ditch I am moved to tell you Frunds and now the two thumbs must be put against the Breasts that this is meant Mens Hearts were torn Hearts as hard as Rocks what think you Doth the Scripture tell you of outward Temples and outward Books Do not Fâ—unds strike any one after the manner of Men for Paul saith Lay hands suddenly on no man The world is angry if we Honour them not by putting off our upper Covering and say Thee to them but abide you in the Light c. They talk much of Paul's Epistles But what do they tell us of the Epistles of Apostatizing Jews And they talk of Abraham's Faith we must be better than they in their day They telâ— us what David and what the Apostles did 〈◊〉 but being led by Example hath undonâ— the world Now my Frunds the People of God of old were Quakers Moseâ— was a Quaker for he said I exceedingly quake and fear and Habakkuk was a Quaker for his lips quivered yea they were all Quakers for they taught Righteousness which is the very Principle of the Quakers yea I say so do the Quakers sayâ— Now the world saith That the Body of Christ is gone to Heaven but it turned to the dust They say the Scriptures be Gold's Word but they lie they be dirt Serpent's meat some Frunds threw their Bibles into the fire and they perished and therefore are not God's word Frunds It is often said and truly the Scriptureâ— and the Body of Christ be the Two great Harlots that have deceived the world many things in Scripture are evil in onâ— place Circumcision is commanded in another place forbidden c. That such and worse Speeches have been made in thousands of their Assemblies 〈◊〉 doubt not and I am ready to give an account of the things as their assertions that I have read in their Books or heard in hearing them or talking with them Because many are decoyed by the Quakers mode of Speaking as most agreeable to Scripture as Thou to a Single Person not you which word we use Thou not You to God I will consider it We are no more bound to Scripture modes of communication than to Scripture dresses and because many many weak ones are deceived by these specious pretences I will plead this case Bildad said to Job only 18. Job 1 2 3. How long will it be ere You make an end of words How long shall we appear vile in your sight for be teareth Why may I not say You to one as well as Thou to many When God delivered the Law on Mount Sinai Thou shalt not kill Spoke he not to Thousands We borrow this from the French Vouz for they have no other word to a single Person we took You from it We despise not the word Thee to a King as they often say in all cases he that Marrieth him to his Queen saith Wilt thou have this Woman He that gives him the Lords Supper saith The Body of Christ given for Thee preserve thy Body and Soul What if men agree such a word
Papist and a Quaker The Doctrine of Perfection or a Sinless State began among the Pharisees who thought mental sins nothing therefore Christ reproves them convinceth them that a Wrathful thought is Murther an Unchast thought Adultery a Covetous thought Theft for these are contrary to the Divine Law and stain the Heart of Man The greatest wickedness that ever was acted by the most Profligate man in the world was at first but a Thought and his greatest sin virtually therein The greatest Oak was once no bigger than an Acorn the Fire that Burnt London but a Spark I trouble not the Reader with the usual distinctions among the Learned of a Perfection of Parts and a Perfection of Degrees Not that I think them unuseful but not so intelligible to all Capacities He sinneth in his highest acts of Love to God that cannot say I love God so well it is not my duty to love him more neither have I reason to bewail the want of it So I might enlarge about Time Prayer c. Now as this Doctrine began among the Hypocritical Hereticks in the Church of the Jews so it was taken up by such in the Church of Rome and carried on by such in the Protestant Church I affirm and am able to prove it The Quakers borrowed their Expositions and Arguments out of Popish Authors Let any man compare Kellison the Jesuit his Survey of the New Religion and Barclay's Apologia pro Theologia vere Christiana together and speak his mind in this point I could never get any of our Perfectionists for so I often call them as detesting them for this worst of Doctrines to Answer this first Question They desire no Pardon of God for any Imperfection in the end of a Day For fear I think God should take them at their word few of them now pretend to it or talk so much of it for fear it may be they should be laught at so many living and conversing with them see so much pride passion unfair dealing neglect of all Family and secret Duties I remember one of Bristol a Scholar who tells us in Print his outward name was Lawrence Steel a Novice lifted up with Pride and so fell info the Condemnation of the Devil he once said to the Reverend Mr. Fairclough of that City Not that I am Perfect would I were yet going on in Disputing or rather Prating he urged that much mistaken and abused place He that committeth sin is of the devil then you are so said Mr. Fairclough to him on your own confession according to the wrong gloss you give of the words Instead of an argument for an answer he fell into an angry fit and so into angry words Question 2. Whether George Bishop of the City of Bristol a Scholar writing a Book call'd A Looking-Glass for the Times was not a most deceitful Writer though then their grand Champion He saith in the Title page That the quakers were most like to the ancient Christians as was proved in the Book out of Eusebius Socrates Scholastieus Evagrius and Dorotheus Yet in the Folio is so far from such a proof that he doth not attempt it But to do him right he gives a true account out of those Authors but such a description of Ordination by Laying on of Hands Singing of Psalms Swearing against the Arians and all other things that prove them to be altogether unlike the Quakers and like us It is true by the ble in a few leaves he speaks of Jerom and it may be some others who were against taking of Oaths which if true is not material for I knew one worthy Minister against it and some private Christians and would to God this were all the Controversie between us and our Perfectionists The Book cur'd me of the temptation which I confess induc'd me to read it Tell me Was there ever such a cheat since Writing or Printing were known in the world Did he think we would look no further than the Title Page and take his word for all the rest One of these Books for this rare admirable Discovery was sent to every Doctor in the University in my time which was twenty seven year since for their Conviction and Edification If any say the Quakers were like them for Sufferings so were the Protestants much more in Queen Mary's days the Papist in Queen Elizabeth's days the Nonconformists in the Reign of King Charles the Second that Papist in Masquerade as he confessed on his Death-bed No he pretends likewise in Principles and Practice Since the Reading of his Book I could never think of the Author without great detestation as the greatest piece of Falshood and Impudence that ever appear'd in the world Yet our Perfectionists never testified against this man have call'd me a Persecutor for thus telling the truth I could name other Quakerish Writers of History but will not Question 3. Whether the Quakers in the time of the violent Proceedings against Dissenters begun about almost Fifteen years since and continued about Five years leaving the Places of their Publick Worship for fear of Confiscation of Goods Imprisonment or Banishment were not either Notorious Impostors or Notorious Apostates acting on our Principles after the severest Censure of them They have asserted in many many many of their printed Books Speakings and private Conference That it was unlawful for any to leave the Place of their Publick Worship for any Persecution whatever That they were moved by the Holy Spirit sent by the Ever-living God to testify to us in the Name of the Lord That we were Hypocrites Carnal Persons Lovers of the World more than of God for not appearing openly So Pen and others Though we declared we so far were from thinking such an open Appearance to as they phrase it bear our Testimony to be Duty that it was Folly Either say I when they themselves lest their Meetings which they generally did all England over where the then Rage was fiery and burning their Minds were changed about this thing or not If they were not they were Notorious Apostates to live in the sinful omission of open Duties so many years as many did going up and down about their business till not Conscience but King James's illegal deceitful Toleration brought them to those Places again They observ'd not their own Message from God to us And if we through ignorance must be damned they much more for acting against their Light and that after thousands of Protestations to God and man of the contrary If their Minds were changed as Richard Vicarr confessed privately to me he believed they were then were they Notorious Impostors to bring us a Message from the Devil in the Name of the Lord. Then have they blasphemed the Name of the Eternal God and belied the Holy Ghost Then have they defamed slandered the Generation of the Righteous and reprobated and damned them for an innocent lawful justifiable Action Know Reader that we ever asserted That it was lawful to flee in a
Bishop that false deceitful vile Corrupter and Abuser of History c. What were the Titles of the Books Who were the Authors He could not afterwards tell me This Friend of his told me very soberly and calmly That if the Charge against the Quakers of leaving their Meetings in a time of Persecution were true for which they condemned us I had a just Charge against them and they ought to give me satisfaction No Book meddles with these Questions The next morning I sent him another Letter and told him what Excuses I had heard why he would not meet with me which he knew not to be true that I did believe he knew no Reply could be given and therefore declined it and that he had as good tell me so in plain words as thus practically and by interpretation I had promised him if he could give me a satisfactory rational Answer to my Queries I would turn Quaker but not till then And that I had some more Questions to propose to him about which I desired his sober Consideration and that I challenged him to a publick Disputation about them Question 5. Whether it were not great Folly or worse to say That bowing to a man was Idolatry a Breach of the second Commandment a Sin which rather than Mordecai would commit he would run a Risk for his own Life and the Lives of all the Jews and yet after all this Harangue turn this Custom of bowing to men into a common Practice When we were reasoning with them once Did not Abraham bow to the Children of Heth c They would reply If Abraham were satisfied in it we are not following Scripture-Examples hath undone the world and yet of late years they observe that civil decent Ceremony By the way Reader give me leave to tell a pleasant though plain Story I knew two Grave Learned Divines who parting bowed one to another A zealous Quaker in a great Fury runs to them and said to one of them a facetious man Dost thou not know it is written Thou shalt not bow down The Minister looking on this ignorant impudent Fool with Contempt said to him Dost thou not bow down when thou dost Sh The Quaker replies Thou art a Beast to talk so And said the Minister Thou art a veryer Beast if thou dost not do so Nay Priest said he why talkest thou like a Beast Why said be quotest thou Scripture like a Devil alluding to that Scripture where the Devil setting on Christ cites Scripture of Angels preserving men that they hurt not their feet against the stones but left out in all thy ways Mat. 4.6 So the Quaker names Thou shalt not bow down but left out to graven Images Question 5. Whether it were not unheard-of Dissimulation to tell Oliver Cromwell Thus saith the Lord I have put the Sword into thy hand to to destroy Idolaters the Stuarts and Maâ—nants And yet after all to tell Kâ— Charles II. That all this was Rebellion 〈◊〉 that they gave their Testimony against the mâ— ther of his Father What George Fox and Burroughs did well known He that would fully undâ—stand this wickedness let him read a liâ—â— Tract done by a curious hand call'd 〈◊〉 Snake in the Grass The best Thing tâ— ever was written on this Subject 〈◊〉 Pennyman's Papers once a Quaker wâ— hath out of their Authors shewn hâ— they always shuffled Principles about â—vernment Scriptures Ministers c. Question 7. Whether it were not great wickedâ— to pretend to Inspiration Infallibility Pâ— phecies Miracles and yet expound so 〈◊〉 congruous and contrary to Scripture As Pen and I heard George Whitehead to in Bristol on Prov. 9.1 4. Wisdom hâ— built her a house She cryeth Whose simple let him turn in hither and for 〈◊〉 that is void of understanding A simâ—â— thing said he is a thing unmixt pure So he that is Holy hâ—th no Sin Now â—hough the latter part of the Verse explains the former yet this mighty man of theirs that hath printed so many large Books could not see it Besides though the word Simple be an equivocal word in English yet not so in Hebrew for here it fignifieth foolish That a Quaker about a year since in Cullington prophesied from the Lord All Women that are with Child this Year shall die in Childbirth which was far from being true though some in that Case were in great fear If this cost any of them their Lives I cannot contradict it if any should say that this false Prophet deserved to die as much as any Thief or High way-man whatever Reader know these men condemned all Human Literature and asserted Inspiration But can the Spirit in a Quaker contradict the Spirit in the Scripture They say That as if a man speak through a Cane it is not the voice of the Cane though it pass through it but the voice of the Man So it is not the voice of the Quaker but the voice of the Spirit I needed no more to prove them Deceivers but hearing them Yea some have pâ—â— tended to Miracles One came into a House where a Chillay dead and said to the People Weep no the Child is not dead but sleepeth And iâ— imitation of the Prophet 2 Kings 4.3 Stretcht her self on the Child saying In 〈◊〉 Name of Jesus of Nazareth arise I suppose Reader I need not tell thee that thâ— Soul of the Child returned not to it againâ— A Story well known and by whonâ— among Bristol Friends A Quaker told me that it was said George Fox could by Inspiration speak aâ— Languages where the Lord sent him anâ— restored a Man to Life who broke hiâ— Neck Impudent Falshoods I knew a Woman about 22 years since who must fast 40 days and 40 nights bâ—â— soon died and would have eat but couâ— not L S of Bristol before named asserted he was as much Inspired as waâ— the Prophet yea as Balaam's Ass Thiâ— Inspired Ass after a continued idle Life fell ill of the Diabetes by drinking alwayâ— Red-streak Cyder When on his Death Bed he said to his Physician Dr. Griffin who told me the Story I shall not die â— shall be in such a place by such a day If should now die the Lord would reveal it to me But the Fool soon turn'd up his Trotters and died The Spirit say they is Infallible What then doth it make us so God is Omnipotent Omnisicient doth he make us so This L S the Inspired Ass once found out a notable place of Scripture for taking away Baptism and the Lord's Supper Isa 3.1 For behold the Lord takes away the stay of bread There is the Supper said he and of Water there is Baptism as honest Mr. Blinman a Minister had it from him and told me the Story Now who would talk with such profane Wretches thus playing with Scripture AFter this I receiv'd a Letter from William Penn who told me That he had consulted some Bristol Friends and they told him I was a Hot-headed man and a Persecutor
of them and that if I were Sober and Temperate he would spend an half hour with me though much business lay before him To whom I presently replied in a Letter That I was never taken for a Wet Dissenter that it was very unfair to put me off with such an excuse For what if I should say I had consulted my Friends about him and that they told me 〈◊〉 was a Roman Catholick a Plotter for â— Popish Tyrant against the best of Kings But said I away with such trash Thaâ— I did suppose R.V. was the Man noâ— with him who was my Accuser hâ— knew the contrary that I received him civilly in my house he me in his thaâ— many Quakers could testifie that I haâ— been very kind to many of them shewâ— kindness to their Sick when I was in thâ— same Goal with them that I once paiâ— the Fine of one and caused his Goods tâ— be returned He bids me in his Letter to take my course but I observed added not hâ— feared not as men commonly do which now I have done and let him try what he will gain by it READER Seeing William Penn would not that is in plain English could not Answer my Questions I will treat thee more fairly Iâ— will Answer thine which may be in thy Heart Question 1. What is William Penn I will tell you some things he wrote and what I have heard from credible Witnesses that knew him then judge you not I. He in the Reign of King James the Second saluted him thus That he was the most Illustrious Example of Integrity that for his Conscience sake ventured the loss of Three Kingdoms Now it is well known the excluding Parliaments never Treated with him nor made him any Proposals about Religion He also then told the world there are not Papists enough in London to make the Coal fires and yet here is such a cry of the danger of Popery To that Objection Shall we Tolerate Idolatry If Popery said he be Idolatry He makes an If of it Now he that at that time should say There was no danger of Popery must be a Knave or a Fool a Fool if he thought as he said a Knave if he said as he thought not Now Penn was no Fool. There were Papists enough in London once to burn the City whether enough or no then to make the Coal-fires One that knew him very well told me he was no more a Christian than a Mahumetan for they believe Christ to be a Good Man and that W. Penn as he thought believed not now either Christ's Divinity or Humanity I will tell you one Story more of William Penn and then speak your Minds I have had it from good hands that Mr. Charles Nicholets hath often declared that when the late K. J. preferr'd him for a Paper of Verses in commendation of his Vertues offering him first to be Ranger of his Park which he refus'd afterwards by making him Licenser of the Press that he gave a License to a Book against Popery William Penn ask'd him What he meant to License a Book against the King's Religion Why said Mr. Nicholets I am no Papist and though I have Licensed Popish Books which I know I should not yet I will not deny a License to a Protestant Writer So Penn was much displeased and caused him to be turn'd out of his Office My Friend told me he would give it on Oath Mr. Nicholets so told him Question 2. What are the Quakers Quakerism is the sink of all Heresies Some Quakers are Socinians believe not the Trinity nor Divinity of Christ some be Sabellians they believe Christ's Divinity but not the Trinity some of them have respect to Scripture-Authority others regard them no more than an old Almanack not containing any Duty for us but for others in their day Some are for others against Womens speaking A Quaker came from a Meeting and told a friend of mine I have heard Nine Women speak this day but a Man may put in an Egg-shell all the sense they spake Every Whâ—m was once a Message from the Lord but now that folly is so manifest to all Men that they are more sober One came to another and said Thus saith the Lord to thee James Nobbs thou art this and that the Man heard all patiently and then said Hold thy Tongue thou prating Fool for the Lord knows I am not James Nobbsae Another had a Revelation to go with a Message from the Lord from Oxon to Abbington Five Miles when he return'd in the close of the day his Wife who was no Quaker ask'd him Whether he had delivered his Message No said he the Man was not at home he is gone a great journey O thou Child of a Man said she Dost thou think the Lord sent thee to a Man that was not at home Which as I remember made the Man more sober In my younger days on a Temptation I confess I sought converse with the chief of them I could meet with to try their Perfection and Attainments above all others I found as others know that went amongst them on the like Temptation their hearts heads and hands were all in the world no Family or Secret Prayer minded their Children's Souls neglected some of them said they would teach them to be Sober and no more I first read G. B's Book then Conversed with R. B. of Oxon a great Quaker but he was a vile Jester said he to one I can prove thou art an Atheist How said he Thus Art thou a Wise Man or a Fool No Wise Man replied the Man then said B. Is it not said The fool hath sâ—id in his heart there is no God c. J. L. of Plimouth who for his Bounty which indeed was very great was a most frothy abusive Jester though his Name founds with a delicious Air every where among them yet a filthy and wicked Jester was he J. M. of Pensilvania hardly escaped whipping a few years since for Lying with his Maid who had thus Punish'd others for the same Vice he being there a Justice of the Peace and a great Speaker How they painted out one another in Print in their open Meetings in Bristol for Drunkenness and other Vices is well known He that would read their Blasphemies let him read Rogers's Book a Quaker of that City what he says of Fox and others and yet these were the Perfect Sinless Creatures all the while In their Letters one against another they would begin on both sides This is the word of the Eternal God from me to thee Thou art an Hypocrite Some must Blaspheme Reviling of Ministers was a Meritorious work Some reported of Mr. Hughs once of Plymouth the best Man that ever that Town was blest with that he would drink Fifty Glasses of Sack at one Meal Say it as often as they would I dare say not one believed it Every common thing was from God Read the Snake in the Grass a Book worth Gold Let Penn or any
what was inflicted by the Civil Magistrate on one another was just That Penn defended and engaged so to do Pensilvania by Soldiers and Arms against the Indians Commissions were given to Fight for the recovering of a Sloop taken from some Privateers that they Imprisoned some Quakers for Printing some Books without a License though but in their own defence That Burroughs said God could Arm Thousands of his Saints yea and Ten Thousands to Fight his Cause but for the present must not be so till Christ command them and this Christ is the Light within He asks this one plain Question of Friends Is not force of Arms necessary in England and all other Nations though condemned and that by the Spirit of God as Antichristian and Diabolical This Gentleman entertains you with a very pleasant Comedy how they play their Infallibilities Inspirations Prophecies one against another how they damn all the Christian world and yet assert the Salvation of Heathen How Fox and especially the Old Cheat George Bishop told Oliver How much they loved him and stood by him and what should be done to prevent the coming in of Charles Stuart And yet when he came in told him They acted not against him but mourned for him And talk much how they suffered as he did and what was their Loyalty till Billin a great Quaker Protested That if it cost him his life he would declare against any such pretences for said he we were not for the King but against him Howgil stole whole Paragraphs out of Mr. Selden of Tythes verbatim Yet this in others hath been highly condemned where not practised but injuriously charged He gives you an account of their horrid Blasphemies about Scripture as Serpents Meat dust about Christ and the Light within about Perfection Ordinances c. AND now I advise all Persons of Parts and Wisdom that look into the Controversie between us and the Quakers especially Gentlemen and Ministers to buy and peruse the aforenamed Book the best in my opinion that ever I saw I have given you some of the dainties there to invite you to a more plentiful eating What shame is it for Men to pretend as Preachers to convince Gainsayers and yet know not the most convincing Arguments to confute their Folly whom they know to be the worst of Hereticks and oppose them as such Or what a shame is it for Gentlemen who should be advocates for truth not to know what can be said against such Deceivers as these These are Hereticks indeed some of the worst when others cannot be so call'd though they are too often so but rather Erraticks and perhaps we are all such though some more than others As I have recommended the Snake in the Grass so I will Pennyman's Paper call'd The Quakers Contradictions according to the Times and their Interest Once a Quaker but left them for their Folly and Madness Some have said as he proves out of their Writers That their Writings are equal to the Scriptures and of as great Authority Some That the Scriptures are Carnal Dust Death Others have declared before the Lord That such words were never spoken by Friends which if not great impudence must be great ignorance For it may be Friends in one place know not what Friends in another place do say or Print I therefore commend Pennyman for sometimes repeating their words and no more He proves that they that have denied the Scripture to be the word of God have called their own Writings so Some have said That they are no Ministers but are under the curse that be not infallible and speak not immediately from God that cannot resolve all doubts and convince all Gainsayers What a cursed sort of Teachers then say I are most of the Quakers Teachers who are so far from this that they cannot speak tolerable sense nor pronounce right many common words They also have said That they that have not the Spirit of discerning and know not Mens state infallibly upon the sight of them cannot apply themselves to them accordingly not knowing whether they be holy or unholy But did they know all the Priests and Jesuits that came among them whom they almost adored Bedlo told my Brother how often Whitebread and he as well as other Papists had been at Quakers Meetings that Whitebread Executed was a Speaker Why discerned they not such Speakers that have been found to have lived in Drunkenness Whoredoms Must you know hearts too this is the work of Christ Judas was not smelt by the Disciples Some say they know Thousands of Friends that are free from Sin Once they all pretended to be so and that they that were not so were not of God but of the Devil Some say That Friends be all of one Mind and Soul Yet we know there are great divisions among them here at home and beyond Sea He tells you of a Quaker's stealing the Hour-glass out of a Church and that Fox said If a Friend be moved to such a thing by the Lord by the Eternal Spirit it is defended Now you Priests and Steeple-house Wardens look to the Silver Vessels used in the Sacrament for if a Friend should be moved to take them away by the Eternal Spirit it would be defended Some of the Separate Quakers have desired Liberty of Conscience in things not Evil as was once pleaded for but they cannot be heard Some have condemned asking any thing of outward Rulers Others have often Petitioned King and Parliament The Quakers Speakers take the chief Seats in their Assemblies now though once they condemned it Many now in Disputes and Discourse use terms others condemn as wicked Some have said It is laid on them by Christ not to Sue any Man at Law others I say have done it and as I have been credibly informed they that would not take an Oath in Bristol have in London Pennyman tells you how Penn blamed the Church of England in the Reign of the Late King James for Censuring the King's Acts and Reflecting on Roman Catholicks as not Manners nor Justice He cites the Book Some have said If the Spirit direct to fight we have nothing to say against it Others say they can never be directed by the Spirit to any such thing for it is not of God He speaks of their rudeness to him saying he deserved to be whipp'd at a Carts tail that they thrust him in the side with a stick Yet all these were Inspired and Infallible in contrary Doctrines Now having given an account of these two excellent Writers Let me a little consider the Plea of some among us for this People Question 1. Are not the Quakers more sober than once they were Yes and many know not the Opinions nor Practices of their first old Leaders No Men or Women run up and down Naked now c. Question 2. Are they not a People very Temperate above others Let every Man speak as he finds I lived long next door to one who was found out to be a
many Thousands of Places of Scripture not only Historical but Doctrinal that it is hard to find two men but what are agreed in But why reply I to that which is not to be honour'd with a Confutation May such Grand Impertinents and False Speakers learn of Job's Friends Job 2.13 To sit down and say not a word An Argument by the way which this man brought for Silent Meetings But for my part complain who will of their Silent Meetings I will commend them as the best Meetings they have and would theirs were all such Yea Friends hearken to no Priest of them all that advise you to Speak for the Wisest of Men saith A fool is thought to be wise when he is silent No Nonsense no Blasphemy will then be any more heard in your Assemblies This Barclay also tells us If Infallibility be not in his Enthusiasms it is not lodged in Scripture but we must go for it to the Chair at Rome Every thing Poor Robin to its Centre Thy Doctrine came from Rome tends to Rome and many that knew thee believe thou were 't not to be reckoned in the number of Protestants FINIS Books Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey POol's Annotations Folio Mr. Baxter's Life Folio Mr. Lorimer's Apology for the Ministers who subscribed only unto the stating of the Truths and Errors in Mr. Williams's Book in Answer to Mr. Trails's Letter to a Minister in the Countrey 4 to An Answer of Mr. Giles Firmin to Mr. Granâ— tham about Infant-Baptism 4 to Some Remarks upon two Anabaprist Pamphlets By Giles Firmin 4 to Mr. Firmin's Review of Richard Davis his Vindication 4 to A Proposal to perform Musick in Perfect and Mathematical Proportions By Tho almon Rector of Mepsal in Bedfordshire Approved by both the Mathematick Professors of the University of Oxford with large Remarks by John Wallis P.D. 4 to Mr. Stephens's Sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at St. Maryâ—le-Bow Jan. 30. 1693. Mr. Shower's Winter-Meditations Or a Sermon concerning Frost and Snow and Winds c. and the Wonders of God therein 4 to Mr. Slater's Thanksgiving-Sermon Octob. 27. 1692. 4 to His Sermons at the Funerals of Mr. John Reynolds and Mr. Fincher Ministers of the Gospel 4 to The Jesuits Catechism 4 to Dr. Burton's Discourses of Purity Charity Repentance and seeking first the Kingdom of God Published with a Preface by Dr. John Tillotson late Archbishop of Canterbury 8vo Remarks on a late Discourse of William Lord Bishop of Derry concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God Also a Defence of the said Remarks against his Lordship's Admonition By J. Boyse 8vo The Works of the Right Honourable Henry late Lord Delamere and Earl of Warrington consisting in Thirty two Original Manuscripts under his Lordship 's own Hand 8vo Bishop Wilkins's Discourses of the Gift of Prayer and Preaching the latter much enlarged by the Bishop of Norwich and Dr. Williams 8vo Mr. Samuel Slater's Earnest Call to Family-Religion being the Substance of Eighteen Sermons 8vo Mr. Addy's Stenographia Or the Art of Short-Writing compleated in a far more Compendious way than any yet extant 8vo The London Dispensatory reduc'd to the Practice of the London Physicians Wherein are contained the Medicines both Galenical and Chymical that are now in use Those out of use omitted and those in use and not in the Latin Copy here added By John Peachey of the Colledge of Physicians in London 12 s. Mr Hammond's Sermon at Mr. Steel's Funeral 8vo History of the Conquest of Florida 8vo Mr. Aikin's English Grammar Or the English Tongue reduced to Grammatical Rules Composed for the use of English Schools 8vo Mr. John Shower's Discourse of Tempting Christ 12o Hs Discourse of Family Religion in Thres Letters 12o Mr. Daniel Burgess's Discourse of the Death Rest Resurrection and Blessed Portion of the Saints 12o Mr. George Hammond's and Mr. Matthew Barker's Discourses of Family Worship Written at the request of the united Ministers of London 12o Miscellana Sacra Containing Scriptural Meditations Divine Breathings occasional Reflections and sacred Poems 12o Monro's Institutio Grammaticae 8vo Sir Jonas More 's Mathematical Compendium The Third Edition 12o Mr. William Scoffin's help to true Spelling and Reading Or a very easie Method for the teaching Children or elder Persons rightly to Spell and exactly to Read English c. 8vo The Triumphs of Grace Or the last Words and edifying Death of the Lady Margaret de la Musse a Noble French Lady aged but Sixteen Years in May 1681 12o The Map of Man's Misery Or the Poor Man's Pocket-Book Being a perpetual Almanack of Spiritual Meditations Containing many useful Instructions Meditations and Prayers c. 12o Man's whole Duty and god's wonderful Intreaty of him thereunto By Mr. Daniel Burgess 12o Advice to Parents and Children By Mr. Daniel Burgess 12o Mr. Gibbons's Sermon of Justification 4to Scala Naturae Or a Treatise proving both from Nature and Seripture the Existence of good Genii or Guardian Angels 12o Graaf de Succo Pancreatico Or a Physical and Anaâ—omical Treatise of the Nature and Office of the Pancreatick Juice 8vo Dr. Packs Praxis Catholica Or the Country-man's Universal Remedy Wherein is plainly and briefly laid down the Nature Matter Manner Place and Cure of most Diseases incident to the Body of Man 8vo English Military Discipline Or the Way and Method of Exercising Horse and Foot according to the Practice of this present time With a Treatise of all sorts of Arms and Engines of War c. 8vo Orbis Imperantis Tabellae Geographico-Historico-Genealogico-Chronologiae c. Curiously Engraven on Copper Plates 8vo Clavis Grammatica Or the Ready way to the Latine Tongue Containing most plain Demonstrations for the Regular Translating English into Latine fitted to help such as begin to attain the Latine Tongue By F. B. 8vo Cambridge Phrases 8vo Mr. Stephens's Thanksgiving Sermon April 16. 1696. Mr. Showers Thanksgiving Sermon April 16. 1696.
other answer it if they can I am sure it much concerns them to do it I saw a Letter from a Quaker to his Sweetheart no Quaker and he began thus In my Bed the other Night a word passed through me Here was my Person but my Heart was with thee I can remember no more of the stuff such bring all Religion into Contempt What saith the Scripture said one to me Every Tub must stand on his own bottom They saluted one of their Leaders as the only begotten Son of God who lay from everlasting in the bosom of the Father He received of some Divine Honour as was proved I knew a Minister disturbed in Preaching by a Quaker Woman He got her at last into discourse of practical matters in which she betrayed so much ignorance that she got away as fast as she could An unhappy Boy followed her to the Church-door I pray thee said he tell me who sent thee here to day Who said she God No said the Boy I am sure God never sent thee here for if he had thou hadst never spoken so many things contrary to Scripture And for my part said he I cannot tell what to say to it for I cannot easily imagine the Devil sent thee here for I thought be had more wit than to send such a Fool as thou art about his work She never disturb'd them after The heads of many of their Children are Dungeon dark about Scripture only learn some of their Cants Question 3. Do not many Ministers mistake and that grosly in some words and in their Exposition and in their Doctrines too and many Hearers talk ignorantly as well as Quakers The Answer is easy They pretend not to Infallibility or Inspiration but acknowledge the imperfection of their Understanding as well as Faith and Affection and the necessity of Human Literature and much studying But this is not the Case of the Quakers but the quite contrary Now if I prove a man that pretends to Inspiration in all that he preacheth and that therefore he needeth not the knowledge of Tongues to speak quite contrary to the Scripture and says the Spirit tells him that is the meaning of such a Scripture which is as obvious as the Sun to be quite contrary to what the Spirit there intended I prove that man to belie the Spirit and so to be a Cheat and an Impostor And this is done thousands of times by these Quacks in Divinity The great mistakes of some of our Ministers arise from their want of the culture of good Education How often is it with us as in those times of Jeroboam 1 Kings 12.31 He made priests of the lowest of the people They expose themselves and work to Contempt I pray all true Protestants under what Denomination soever to take care in this respect that their Preachers be not gifted with Ignorance and Confidence like Quakers Speakers The Stories of the three motions of the Sun and the one was when he stood still and the four sort of Seekers one was them that never sought are well known but I will name some not commonly talkt of which I had from worthy persons who know the truth of them by men which are it may be adhuc in vivis One preaching on that Text Psal 139.14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made Read I am fearfully and wonderfully mad The e being left out by a mistake of the Printer this Observation was drawn from the words and drawn to purpose it was That the best Saints may fall into mad Fits On goes Mr. Parson to shew what mad Fits the Saints may fall into 1. Of Anger Anger is a short Madness Till the Hearers thought he had been wonderful mad indeed Another Tradesman sets up for a Preacher and to work goes he on that Text Nahum 3.8 Art thou better than populous No which No is taken to be Alexandria in Egypt Now Beloved saith the powerful Preacher I shall inquire into two things 1. What No was 2. Why he was call'd populous No was the eighth person a Preacher of Righteousness and he was call'd populous because all the world was once in his Ark. Another Reverend Mechanick very lately preach'd a Sermon and a Funeral one too on that Text Psal 39.13 O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be seen no more And you must suppose this warm Man laying about him beating the Air O! my Friends said he is one Scripture word and is used by Daniel three times in one Verse Dan. 9.19 O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken Spare is another Scripture word and is joined with Shield and Buckler I remember Col. Crook told me a Story of Col. L preaching in a great Church in Ireland on that Text The Spirit and the Bride say Come Rev. 22.17 The i by a mistake of the Printer that should have been put after the Letter r was put before it and now most devoutly and fervently goes our Preacher to work and reads And the Spirit and the Bird say Come Now enquiry is made what is meant by the Bird the Church what Bird was the Church here compared to Some said he think the Nightingale As if the Man had consulted many a Commentator to find out the Mystery Others thought the Dove and now a Comparison is made between the Church and the Dove for Innocency Chastity Purity Another setting up for a Preacher in a Parish I knew would speak something from those words from no doubt nothing to that in all things he might have the preheminence when he came to this hard word he could not read it well but said That in all things he might have the p r e pre h e he m i mi n e n c e nence preheminence Colos 1.18 I lately saw the Notes of a Tradesman that had been a Speaker thirty years leaving his Trade full of prodigious nonsense The world abounds with them The Bishops have too often Ordained such I knew one who gave a Spiritual receit Take a pint of Repentance with a quart of Faith and so walk forth into the fields of Meditation I knew also one that was made Deacon and told this story at his return When we sate down at Table my Lord bid me Eat he had Two or Three Questions to ask me Eat thought I I fell a sweating sure my Lord will ask me Questions in Divinity and in Divinity said he I am one of the silliest Rogues in the world pray said my Lord Is such a Great Man come to Town No my Lord O thought I that the other Questions may be no harder pray said the Bishop When doth he come to Town He is expected my Lord very speedily Where doth he lodge when he comes said the Bishop My Lord at such a place When said he I heard what the Questions were I fell to it Now such Fellows justify our Quakers in their work If one Tradesman why not another Obj. But the Quakers say some Preach very