that thy dark mind stumbleth at is that some have said That they that have the Spirit of God are Equal with God ' Whereunto he Replies ' He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit there is Unity and the Unity stands in Equality it self When the Son is revealed and speaks the Father speaks in him and dwells in him and he in the Father in that which is Equal in Equality it self there is Equality in Nature tho' not in Stature ' 3. That they Assert themselves to be Infallible G. F. Gr. Myst p. 107. He saith speaking of the Priest ' The Holiest Man that is is not able to give an Infallible Character of another Man ' To which he Answers ' Hast not thou in this discovered thy self to be no Minister of Christ or of the Spirit who cannot give an Infallible Character of another Man How canst thou Minister to his Condition ' Pag. 96. ' And thou not being Infallible thou art not in the Spirit and so art not a Minister of Christ and art not able to judge of Powers that is not Infallible nor Magistrates nor Kingdoms nor Churches ' Pag. 33. ' And are they Ministers of Christ that are Fallible ' Edw. Burr p. 862. ' Such i. e. Hereticks are Infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the True Church of Christ and by every Member of the same ' That they are Perfect as God Geo. F. Gr. Myst p. 282. Whereas Mr. Cawdry said ' Surely they cannot be Perfect here or hereafter in Equality but only in Quality ' Fox Answers ' Christ makes no distinction in his Words but saith Be ye Perfect even as your Heavenly Father is And as he is so are we And that which is Perfect as he is Perfect is in Equality with the same thing which is of God and from God ' That they are without Sin G. F. Myst p. 101. saith ' It is the Doctrine of Devils that Preacheth That Men shall have Sin and be in a WARFARE so long as they be on Earth ' Pag. 231. ' All who come to Christ the Second Adam they come to Perfection and all who attain to him they attain to Perfection in the Life of God out of the First Adam ' Pag. 271. ' For who are Sanctified have perfect Unity perfect Knowledge perfect Holiness ' And William Penn in his Truth Exalted Reprinted 1671 p. 9. laughs at the Church of England-Men for Confessing themselves Sinners or Praying to God for Mercy ' Alas poor Souls saith he are not you at Have Mercy upon us miserable Sinners there is no Health in us from Seven to Seventy ' And Edw. Burr p. 33. saith ' That God doth not accept any where there is any Failing All who do not fulfil the Law and Answer every Demand of Justice ' 4. That they have Immediate Revelation Equal with the Prophets and Aposiles In Truth defending the Quakers written from the Spirit of Truth in George Whitehead and George Fox Junior Printed 1659. p. 7. The Question being put ' Whether the Quakers did esteem their Speakings to be of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible ' 'T is Answer'd ' That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and GREATER ' G. F. Gr. Myst p. 242. tells us that the Priest saith ' That the Apostles were Eye-Witnesses and understood by Immediate Revelation from God Inspired with the Gift of the Spirit more than any Man could hope for since ' And saith ' They do not pretend any such Gift nor depend upon such any Immediate Miraculous Revelation from Heaven ' To which G. F. answers ' Then all may see now in this what ye have received that hath been from Man which is not from Heaven immediate nor the Gifts of the Spirit nor received the Gospel by the same means the Apostles did who were not the Eye-Witnesses as the Apostles were Neither have ye attained to the same Knowledge and Understanding as the Apostles did nor received it from Heaven Now let all People question Whether it is the same Gospel which is not received from Heaven nor Immediately nor by Revelation for the Gospel is Immediate which is the Power of God Rom. 1. They i. e. Quakers are in the same Power Understanding Knowledge and Immediate Revelation from Heaven that the Apostles were in ' Geo. Fox further tells us p. 213. that the Priest says ' Thou dost not speak in that Degree of the Holy Ghost as the Prophets and Apostles did that spoke forth Scriptures ' To which he Answers ' Then thou must take heed of Exalting thy self above thy measure for thou canst not know Scripture but by the same Degree of the Spirit the Prophets and Apostles had ' 5. They Vilifie and Speak Contemptuously of the Scriptures News coming up out of the North written from the Mouth of the Lord from one who is Naked and stands Naked before the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which was Prophesied of but now it is fulfilled CALLED G. F. Printed 1655. p. 14. ' Your Original is Carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and your Word is Carnal the Letter and the Light is Carnal the Letter Their Original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death And their GOSPEL IS BUT DUST MATTHEW MARK LVKE and JOHN which is the Letter ' Tho. Lawson in his Brief Discovery of a Threefold Estate of Antichrist Printed 1653. written from the Spirit of the Lord p. 9. Calls the Ministers ' Babylon's Merchants selling Beastly Wares for a large Price the LETTER which is DUST and DEATH ' Saul's Errand to Damascus Printed 1654. p. 7. It was Objected to the Quakers that they had said Whoever took a place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it or from it was a Conjurer and his Preaching was Conjuration To which G. Fox Answered ' All that do Study to Raise a Living Thing out of a Dead to Raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and draw Points and Reasons and so do speak a Divination of their own Brain they are Conjurers and Diviners and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not Spoken from the Mouth of the Lord. ' Truths Defence given forth by the Light and Power of God appearing in G. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn Printed 1653. p. 101. It is DANGEROVS to read viz. the the Scriptures which the Prophets Christ and the Apostles spoke forth freely And p. 2. speaking of some of their Queries which were lookt upon as frivolous and should have been Burnt They said You might as well have Condemned the SCRIPTVRES to the FIRE And p. 104. they give their reason why saying Our giving forth Papers or Printed Books is from the Immediate Eternal Spirit of God Edw. Burr p. 47. of his Works having this Charged upon him as the Principle of
the Quakers that Saints were not to do Duties by or from a Command without but from a Command within and that the word Command in Scripture was not a Command to them till they had a Word within them He Answers ' That is no Command from God to me what he Commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves And thou or any other who goest to Duty as you call it by imitation from the Letter without which was a Command to others in your own Wills and Time your Sacrifice is not Accepted but is Abomination to the Lord for you go without the moving of the Spirit in your own Wills and Strength which God Hates and which his Wrath is upon ' Agreeable to which William Penn in his Quakerism a new Nick Name c. Printed 1673. p. 71 72. Asserts ' No Command in the Scripture is any further Obliging upon any Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be ingaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man So that Conviction can only Oblige to Obedience And when any Man is Convinced That what was Commanded another is Required of him then and not till then he is rightly Authorized to perform it ' And also assert That the Scriptures are No Rule A Shield of the Truth written from the Spirit of the Lord by Jam. Parnell Printed 1655. p. 11. ' He that saith the Letter is the Rule and Guide of the People of God is Without feeding upon the Husk and is Ignorant of the True Light ' Edw. Bur. p. 515. tells us ' That the Scriptures are not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life unto the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures ' And further in a Testimony from the Brethren met together at London in the Third Month 1666. to be Communicated to the faithful Friends and Elders in the Countries by them to be read in their several Meetings and kept as a Testimony among them Signed by Rich. Farnsworth Alex. Parker George Whitehead and Eight more who by the Operation of the Spirit of Truth being brought into a Serious Consideration of this present State of the Church of God c. Declare in the Third Section ' If any Difference arise in the Church or amongst them that Profess themselves Members thereof we do Declare and Testifie That the Church with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ have Power without the Assent of such as Dissent from their Doctrines and Practices to Hear and Determine the same If any pretend to be of us and in Case of Controversie will not admit to be Tried by the Church of Christ Jesus nor submit to the Judgment given by the Spirit of Truth in the Elders and Members of the same but kick against their Judgment as only the Judgment of Man it being Manifested according to Truth and Consistent with the Doctrine of such Good Antient Friends as have been and are Sound in the Faith agreeable to the Witness of God in his People then we do Testifie in the Name of the Lord if that Judgment so given be Risen against and Denied by the Party Condemned then he or she ought to be Rejected as having Erred from the Truth and persisting therein Presumptuously are joined in one with Heathens and Insidels ' And pursuant to which Mr. Keith was Proceeded against in Pensylvania as guilty of Heresie not from the Scriptures as he desired but from Friends Books and was told by Sam. Jennings a great Teacher and Justice of Peace there in the Publick Meeting ' We are not to prove it from Scripture but from Friends Books for the Question between us and G. K. is not who is the best Christian but the best Quaker ' And accordingly they produced instead of Scripture a Citation out of William Penn's Christian Quaker to prove him a Heretick See G. K's Heresie and Hatred Printed at Philadelphia 1693. 6. They assert that Christ's Flesh is a Figure Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 14. The Question was put to Geo. Fox Whether Christ in the Flesh be a Figure or not and if a Figure How and in What To which he Answers Christ is the Substance of all Figures and his Flesh is a Figure And in Truth defending the Quakers by G. Whitehead c. p. 20. It is said expresly That Christ's coming in the Flesh is but a Figure And that Christ was Crucified within us and any other was Anti-Christ G. F. Gr. Myst p. 206. ' The Apostles Preached Christ that was Crucified within and not another him that was Raised up from the Dead was Risen that Lord Jesus Christ within It was he that was manifest in the Saints that was and is not another FOR THE OTHER IS THE ANTI-CHRIST Now I say if there be any other Christ but HE THAT WAS CRUCIFIED WITHIN HE IS THE FALSE CHRIST And he that hath not this Christ that was Risen and Crucified within is a Reprobate the Devils and Reprobates may make a talk of him without ' 7. They Vilifie and Deny the Sacraments viz. Baptism by Water and the Lord's Supper by Bread and Wine G. F. News coming up c. p. 14. ' Your Baptism is Carnal And their Sacrament as they call it is Carnal And their Communion is Carnal a little Bread and Wine ' And p. 34. 'A Voice and a Word to all you Deceivers who deceive the People and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemy and Hypocrisie that tell People of a Sacrament and tell them it is the Ordinance of God Blush Blush and Tremble before the Almighty for Dreadful is he that will pour forth his Vengeance upon you ' Smith's Primer Printed 1668. p. 6. ' I would know Father saith the Child how it is concerning those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine which are much used in their Worship The Father Answers Why Child as to those things they arose from the Pope's Invention who hath had Power in the Night of Apostacy And hath set up his Devices which are yet continued in England tho' he seeming'y is denied And the whole practice of those things as they use them had their INSTITUTION BY THE POPE and were never so Ordain'd of Christ ' William Penn's Reason against Railing Printed 1673. p. 108 109. ' I affirm by that one Scripture Hebr. 9.10 that Circumcision is as much in force as Water-Baptism and the Paschal-Lamb as Bread and wine they were both Shadows and both Elementary and Perishable For a Continuance of them had been a Judaizing of the Spiritual Evangelical Worship the Gospel would have been a State of Figures Types and Shadows And we can Testifie from the same Spirit by which Paul renounced Circumcision that they are to be rejected as not now required Neither have they since the False Church Espoused
just that any should Charge them Condemn and Consure them 2 dly They exhort To do to others as they would that others should do to them 3 dly p. 5. We say they pray for all Men for Kings and all that are in Authority 4 thly p. 7. We say the Quakers have and always had a high Value for the Scriptures above all other Bookâ— 5 thly p. 1. They i. e. Clergy Incense those in Authority against this Innocent People i. e. Quakers that the Monster of Persecution might be again raised to Suppress them c. Ans As to the First Would the Clergy account it just to Charge and Condemn them c. Just or unjust they are both Charged and Condemned at the Quakers Bar as above quoted yea and in Smith's Works p. 157 161. the Quakers Dialogu'd the Bishops and summon'd all Ecclesiastical Courts and Officers and not only by their Authority Condemn them but call the Bishops Monsters and into the Bargain say The Book of Common-Prayer is conceived by an Adulterous Womb and that it receives its Strength from the Pope's Loins And 2 dly That therein you Quakers do not do as you would be done by and therein gross Hypocrites and Dissemblers with God and Man But 3 dly your Pretence to pray for all Men for Kings c. This is so False and Falacious that I challenge the whole World to produce one Instance of your praying for King William or any King save once at a Meeting at Milden-Hall where Sam. Cater prayed for the late K. J. II. and how should you be found in that Practice since all Kings with you are but Spiritual Egyptians by your Ancient Testimony from which you have not deviated in one Point But your Principles the same they ever were tho' as Whitehead says You can now word the Matter otherwise 4thly That you value the Scriptures above any Books in the World This is false with a witness when you in Print tell us We may as well burn the Bible as your Writings see p. 9. herein calling the Scriptures Dust Death Serpents Meat Beastly Ware and that Preaching out of them is Conjuration And G. Whitehead tells us in his Book Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. That what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of greater Authority than the Bible And many of your Books nay even that are said to be given forth from the Spirit of Truth the Holy Ghost and spoken from the Mouth of the Lord. How then do you value the Bible above all Books in the World But as Solomon said Prov. 26.3 A Whip for the Horse a Bridle for the Ass and a Rod for the Fools Back and so you must give me leave to whip this John Feild for his deep Hypocrisie and Deceit and I wish it may do him Good What! to pretend that the Quakâ—rs value the Bible above all Books then consequently above their own This is such a Lie that it stabs it self when you exalt and value your own as of greater Authority and are commanded by your Teachers to read them in your Meetings and never read a Chapter of the Old and New Testament in your Religious Meetings if such I may call them since you were a People neither is it agreeable to your Ancient Testimony Nay I am perswaded that should the Government think fit for a Proof of your Sincerity herein to injoin you to read a Chapter of the Bible at the beginning of your Meeting I mean by such of your Teachers as can read a Chapter you would be so far from submitting to Authority that they 'd first go to Jayl and then call it Persecution and record it to Posterity But would it therefore ever the more be Persecution I trow not since it was the Practice of Jewish as well as the Christian Church in all Ages of the World But 5 thly and lastly That the Petitioners would Incense these in Authority to raise that Monster Persecution upon you Now tho' I do profess my self a Member of the Church of England I have often and do now again tell you that I am against Persecution and will add that Persecution for the Name of Jesus or for Righteousness sake is a Badge of a false Church of which your Schism in Pensilvania has given a Demonstration And had you Power in your Hand which God grant you may not I doubt not but we should soon feel your little Finger as heavy as ever you felt a Parliaments Loins Witness your Indicting me for Printing unlicenced your own frequent Practice at that time and your Persecuting of G. Keith c. in Pensilvania but I hope all Suffering is not Persecution Shall Men fire House and poyson Rivers and not be Controuled Limited nay Punished if they will follow their own Light blind Zeal and Imaginations In like manner such as poyson the Streams of the Christian Religion subvert the Faith undermine Christianity broach and maintain Heretical Opinions and Damnable Errors even denying the Lord that bought them as you have in Print which I take to be a Fundamental Error and by me proved upon you I hope then it will not be raising Persecution to have you examined about these things which is the main thing you fear whilst you make the World believe you fear Persecution Thus referring Jâ—… Fâ—ild to my former Books I subscribe my self the Quakers Friend tho' I tell them the Truth Francis Bugg Feb. 18. 1698. FINIS
A Brief DISCOVERY Of SOME of the Blasphemous and Seditious Principles and Practices Of the People Called QUAKERS Taken out of their Most Noted and Approved Authors Humbly Offered to the Consideration of the KING and both Houses of PARLIAMENT BY Edward Beekham D.D. and Rector of Gayten-Thorpe Hen. Meriton Rector of Oxborow Lancaster Topcliffe L.B. sometimes Sen. Fell. of Gon. Caius Coll. Cambr. NORFOLK LONDON Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in Little-Britain MDCXCIX A Brief DISCOVERY of some of the Blasphemous and Seditious Principles and Practices of the People called Quakers 1. The Quakers teach That the Light within by which they are guided is not Conscience GEO. FOX the first Founder and great Apostle of this Sect Gr. Myst p. 209. saith against his Opponent thus ' This Light that doth Enlighten every one that cometh into the World which he calls Conscience is not Conscience ' And in p. 331. he further saith ' The Light which every one that cometh into the World is Enlightened withal is not Conscience for the Light was before any thing was made or Conscience named ' But the True Eternal God and Christ And G. F. Jun. in his Works Reprinted 1665. p. 50. ' I the Light will fall upon you and Grinde you to Powder All who will not own me the Light in you And I will make you know That I the Light am the True Eternal God which Created all things and that by me the Light all things are upheld and that there is not another besides me that can Save ' In Geo. Fox's Book styled The Pearl found in England for the Scattered ones in Foreign Nations the Royal Seed of God and Heirs of Salvation called Quakers who are the Church of the Living God per G. F. Printed 1658. where speaking in the Person of the Quakers Light he hath these Passages p. 15 16. ' I 'll break in Pieces I 'll make Nations like Dirt I 'll tread them into Mire I 'll make Religions Professions and Teachings Gatherings on Heaps Gatherings of Multitudes Gatherings which they call Churches I 'll make Mire of them I 'll make Mortar I 'll make Dirt of them The wrath of the Lamb is Risen upon all Apostates who are gathered in the Apostacy Apostatized from the Prophets Life the Apostles Life the Life of the Lamb The Lamb is Risen The Scepter is gone out The Throne is Set You shall be Shaken ye Diviners ye Dreamers ye Notionists I 'll Whirl you under Hailstones Viols Plagues Thunders Woes Judgments are come amongst you upon your Heads all Nations The pure Life of God is Risen From the Life of my Apostles of my Prophets have ye been all Scattered and Apostatized But the Rod i. e. our Light is over you which must Rule all Nations Trumpets sounding and Sounded the Just will Rule The Lamb will have the Victory Woes Woes and Miseries are out-going upon all the Heads of the Wicked What our Hands have handled and what our Eyes have seen what was from the Beginning the Word of Life this Declare we unto you ' Again G. Fox in his Book stiled The Teachers of the World unvailed c. who in p. 27. thus saith ' I am the Light of the World HIM by whom the World was made If you love the Light with which you are Enlightened withal you love Christ who saith Learn of me But if you hate that Light there is your Condemnation From HIM who is one with the Truth in every Man Who of the Lord WAS moved THIS to WRITE Whos 's Name of the World is called Geo. Fox ' And to this another of their Eminent Teachers one of their Prophets say Amen in his Book The Quakers Challenge c. Printed 1668. in these Words p. 6. ' Stand up Muggleton the Sorcerer whose Mouth is full of Cursing Lies and Blasphemy who calls thy last Book A Looking-Glass for GEO. FOX whose Name thou art not worthy to take into thy Mouth who is a PROPHET indeed and hath been Faithful in the Lord's Business from the beginning It was said of Christ That he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not SO it may be said of THIS true Prophet Geo. Fox whom John said he was not But thou wilt feel this Prophet G. Fox one Day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee And although the World knows him not yet he is known ' And pag. 2 3. ' Come Protestants Presbyters Independents and Baptists the Quakers denies you all The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they ' c. Now from such Protestants as these Good Lord deliver us notwithstanding their now Wording the Matter otherwise whilst they mean the same thing and their Principles the same that ever they were as they themselves say and that in every part of which here is but a Specimen Edward Burroughs stiled a Son of Thunder and Consolation a true Prophet and faithful Servant of God in his Works Reprinted 1672. p. 149. has an Answer to this Question ' Is that very Man with that very Body within you Yea or Nay ' He saith ' The very Christ of God is within us we dare not deny him ' 2. That they are one Soul with God G. F. Great Myst p. 91. ' They shall see the Bishop of their Souls Christ the Power of God which is Immortal brings the Immortal Soul into the Immortal God Christ their Sanctification who sanctifies their Spirits and Bodies and brings the Soul up into God from whence it came whereby they came to be one Soul ' p. 100. ' And is not that which came out from God which God hath in his Hand speaking of the Soul taken up into God again which Christ the power of God is Bishop of is not this of God's Being ' That their Soul is part of God Idem p. 273. The Priest says ' That it is Horrid Blasphemy to say the Soul is part of God ' G. F. Answers ' It is not Horrid Blasphemy to say the Soul is a part of God for it came out of him and that which came out of him is of him and rejoiceth in him ' And p. 100. ' God who hath all Souls in his Hand and is not this that cometh out from God which is in God's Hand part of God ' That it is Infinite in it self without Beginning or Ending Pag. 90. ' Is not the Soul without beginning coming from God And Christ the power of God the Bishop of the Soul which brings it up into God which came out from him Hath this a Beginning or Ending And is not this infinite in it self and more than all the World ' They make themselves Equal with God G. F. Saul's Errand to Damascus Printed 1654. p. 8. ' He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ is Equal with God ' Fr. Howgil's Works Printed 1676. p. 232. saith to his Opponent ' The first thing
Fisher and many more Altho' none before so much for it as they The aforesaid Sam. Fisher in his Works Printed 1656. and Reprinted 1679. and recommended to the World amongst others by William Penn who tells us That these things came not to him by Flesh and Blood but by the Revelation of the Father of Lights And thus the said Sam. Fisher speaks in a Message from the Lord to O. Cromwell and the Parliament of England p. 19 20. ' I will hold my Peace NOW no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so profanely Commit and Do Daily against my Chosen but will utterly SVBVERT and OVERTVRN them and bring the Kingdoms and Dominions and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven into the Hands of the HOLY ONES of the most High and give unto my Son and his Saints to Reign over all the Earth and take all the Rule and Authority and Power that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints And I will put my High Praises into their Mouth and a Two Edged SWORD into their Hands and they shall Execute Vengeance upon the Heathen and Punishments upon the People and shall bind their Kings in Chains and their Nobles in Fetters of Iron and Execute upon them the Judgment that is written in my Eternal Decree and unchangeable Council saith the Lord. Given forth under my Hand as the Lord himself gave it into my Heart to see and into my Mouth to speak in part and unto my Hand thus at large to write it this Twenty fifth Day of the snme Month viz. the Seventh 1656. Samuel Fisher ' Witness also the Quakers Declaration to Oliver viz. Oh! Oliver arise and come out for thou hast had Authority stand to it Nor let any other take thy Crown And let thy Soldiers go forth with a free and willing Heart that thou mayest Rock Nations as a Cradle This is a Charge to thee in the presence of the Lord God Also Geo. Roffe in his Book Intituled The Righteousness of God c. Printed p. 11. hath these words 'To thee Oliv. Cromwell thus saith the Lord I have Chosen thee amongst the Thousands of the Nations to Execute my Wrath upon mine Enemies and gave them to thy Sword with which I fought for the Zeal of my own Name and gave thee the Enemies of my own Seed to be a Curse and a Reproach for ever and made thee an Instrument against them and many have I Cut down by my Sword in thy Hand that my wrath might be Executed upon them to the Uttermost ' Subscribed Geo. Roffe And Geo. Fox in his Letter directed to the Council of Officers of the Army 1659 c. Complains of many Quakers Disbanded out of the Army as well as Justices of the Peace in these words p. 5. ' And many Valiant Captains Soldiers and Officers have been put out of the Army by Sea and Land of whom it hath been said among you that they had rather have had one of them than Seven Men and could have turned one of them to Seven Men who because of their Faithfulness to the Lord God being Faithful towards him it may be for saying Thou to a particular and for Wearing their Hats have been turned out from amongst them ' And may Reassume it again when they shall judge it meet As appears to us by a Declaration wrote by Edw. Bur. in the Name of all the Quakers and Subscribed by several of the Principal Leaders of them Printed 1659. p. 8. They speak thus ' We are Dreadful to the Wicked and must be their Fear for we have Chosen the Son of God to be our King and he hath Chosen us to be his People and he might Command Thousands and Ten Thousands of his Saints at this Day to FIGHT in his Cause he might lead them forth and bring them in and give them Victory over all their Enemies and turn his Hand upon all their Persecutors ' But say they p. 9. ' We cannot YET believe that he will make use of us IN THAT WAY tho' it be his only Right to Rule in Nations and OUR HEIRSHIP to possess the uttermost parts of the Earth but for the PRESENT we are given up to Bear and Suffer ' 11. They have a Goverment within the Government Independent from it and Opposite to it First their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings which are after the mannerof the Justices Monthly Meetings and Quarterly Sessiâ—…s in the Country which are Subordinate to the Yearly Meeting which Yearly Meeting consists of Deputies from all the Counties in England and Wales as well as Agents from beyoâ—d the Sea and it their Supreme Assembly which gives Laws to the whole Body of the Quakers wheresoever they are And there they make their Orders for the Government of their People For Suppressing of any Books wrote against them and pass Censure upon Offenders And there also they take an account of their Fund which is raised by an Order of this Yearly Meeting in all the Counties of England and Wales by way of Collection And the Money when Collected is Transmitted to London and lodged in the hands of Six Feoffees who as to the Disposal thereof are to be Governed by the Second Day Meeting held on every Monday throughout the Year which Money is for divers uses viz. Stipends for their Teachers Wages for their Clerks Attendants upon the Houses of Parliament For Printing and Dispersing of their Books For the Maintenance of the Poor For the Relief of such as have suffered for Non-payment of Tythes and the Breach of other Laws and for several other things tending to the Propagating of their Doctrines and Supporting of their Government Mr. Bugg's Pilgrims Progress Chapters 7 8 9 10 11 give an Account of their several Meetings and of their Fund Exchequer or Common Bank Mr. Keith who has been a Quaker above Thirty Years in his Second Narrative p. 5. says I am not able to Print Books as they Quakers can they are many and have a Common Stock I am but one And in his Book called The Pretended Yearly Meeting of the Quakers their Nameless Bull of Excommunication given forth against him c. Printed 1695. p. 5. speaks thus 'To my certain Knowledge and Observation I saw the Door of the Meeting where that called the Yearly Meeting Sat kept by Three or Four Persons that Refused to let in some that desired to come in and yet were owned by them And it is sufficiently known they who keep the Door let in or keep out such as they think fit But again such as they let in if they be not of the Ministry nor any of the Two Chosen out of every County they are allowed only to be there as Standers By and Spectators but have no allowance to give any Judgment in the Case which hath been a discouragement to some honest Friends owned by the Yearly Meeting as Friends from coming to the Meeting being only permitted to
Pennyman and others who Exclaimed against this as a great Deceit made a shew as if they would turn off the Clerk of this Register one Ellis Hooks but as we are informed they did not turn him off 13. Whereas they have published of late Yours several Confessions of their Faith which seem to be much more agreeable to the Word of God and more conformable to the belief of the Church of England than formerly we have just cause to distrust these their Professions as being designed to Serve a Turn because they are so far from disowning their Ancient Books in which these Blasphemies are contained that they tell us they have not deviated from any one Point of Doctrine which they first held Joseph Wyeth in his Primitive Christianity continued Printed 1698. p. 6. Afferts thus 'Our Principles are NOW no other then what they were when we were first a People for Truth Changes not ' And pag. 53. he repeats it again saying ' That our Principles are NOW no other then what they were when first a People ' And in their Yearly Epistle Printed 1696. they say ' We cannot but Recommend unto you the holding up the Holy Testimony of Truth which had made us to be a People and that in all the parts of it for TRUTH is one and CHANGES not ' And in The Quakers Cleared Printed p. 7. they speak thus God is the same Truth is the same his People the same and their Principles the same And for Conclusion Geo. Whitehead in his Brief Remarks on T. Cs Book annext to the Counterseit Convert Printed 1694. p. 72. saith I may see Cause otherwise to Word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same A Postscript by another Hand to the Quakers Friends HAVING observed your Timerousness about the Petition since I came to Town I take leave to tell you that it seems to me to arise from a sensible Knowledge and Conviction of your Errors tho' you have the boldness to Impose upon the World in your late Book An Apology for the Quakers and an Appeal to the Inhabitants of Norfolk c. to say Who can Convict us of any Errors in Fundamentals c. Who can I can I have And God willing shall continue to do it still unless you Retract them And so have many others and this you are deeply sensible of else you would not be so startled and affrighted because of the Petition which neither Incite to Persecution nor any Alteration of the Act of Toleration of Protestant Dissenters but only That the Quakers Principles and Practices may be strictly Examined and Censured or Supprest as they upon Examination shall appear to deserve and as to the Wisdom of the Government shall seem meet c. This is the Substance of what is desired in the Petition which doth so startle you which is a great sign that you are Convicted of Errors in Fundamentals You formerly blamed others for flying to the Powers of the Earth as a sign that they had lost the Lord p. 18. calling the Parliament the Beast that carry the Whore yet now none are so industriously concerned nor more tedious in their solicitations to the Parliament than the Quakers Sic mutantur As for your Term Apostate which you often throw upon me and others 't is no more than you cast upon all People read the 16 page herein that Love Own and Honour the King yea any King since the Apostles time and thereby charge all to be Apostates and in the Apostacy whether Lords and Commons in Parliament Judges Justices c. Yea both Clergy and Laity of all Ranks and Degrees who either are or have been Loyal to this or any other King in any Age since the Days of the Apostles all are by your Ancient Testimony Apostates and the Kings are with you Spiritual Egyptians These are your Primitive Principles you came into the World withal which in your Yearly Meetings or Convocations as well as in your late Prints you Revive and Renew in all its parts and tell us you are not changed Only G. Whitehead in your Name says We may see cause otherwise to word the Mattor and yet our Intentions the same c. as above quoted And that your Principles are now no other notwithstanding your new late Creeds to the contrary than what they were when first a People and what your Principles then were here is both Authors produced Book Page and Line What can you desire more They do not go behind your Backs to Try Judge and Condemn you when you challeng'd them they met you and would have proved their Charge upon you but to my Knowledge being present you refused to own your Books or the Doctrines therein contained or make any Defence to the Charge upon you I say they did not go behind your Backs to Try Judge and Condemn you as you have done them See Burrough's Works P. 223. viz. A just and lawful Trial of the Teachers and Ministers of this Age Reprinted 1672. by a perfect proceeding against them and they are Righteously examined Justly weighed Truly measured and Condemned to be contrary to all the Ministers of Christ in former Ages and to Agree and Concarr with all the false Prophets and Deceivers and being brought to the Quakers Bar of Justice these things are truly charged and legally proved upon them and found Guilty c. Now Friends consider and be cool do you think this was fair Dealing in you thus to condemn the Clergy of all Ranks at once If not how can you have the Face to go to the Bishops for Favour until you have retracted these your abominable Antient Testimonies Printed in 1657 and Reprinted 1672. And you tell us you are the same still only you can word the Matter otherwise I know I anger you for bringing to Light your hidden Works of Darkness and 't is for that you account me unreasonable But if it be unreasonable in me to Recite these your Clandestine Trials Judgments and Sentences of the Clergy behind their Backs and a Hundred more of your horrible Tenents how much more unreasonable are your old Prophets and present Teachers who first writ and publish'd these things and now justifie and defend them Again This your Prophet and Son of Thunder in his Works P. 273. tells the World that the Sufferings of the Quakers are greater yea and more unjust too than the Sufferings in the Days of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs yea all the Ten Persecutions by your Doctrin were nothing to the Quakers Sufferings See Page 26. herein But that I may shew the Vanity of this your Presumption as well as the Quakers Design I shall once more give a Hint of the Nature of the Sufferings of the Quakers and of the Apostles and Martyrs and let the World judge what Principles you came into the World withal In order to which take this short Parallel Of the Quakers Sufferings see their Book stiled A horrible thing committed in the Land
c. Page 8. Taken from Robert Minter the 4th of the 4th Month 1658. by Priest Alexander Bradley of Elmston in Kent First Two Feather-Beds Three Bolsters and one Pillow One Flock-bed and Bolster One Bedstead and Curtains Iron Rods and Cords for two Beds Ten pair of Sheets and one Rug. Five Table-cloths and six Towels One Dozen of Trenchers and one Spade A Mattock and Dung-fork 45 double Clouts for a Child 12 Beds and 4 Blankets Six Caps for a Woman Two Neckcloths and four double Crosscloths for a Woman One Mantle and seven Chin-stays Three Shirts and three Biggins A Swadling-band and Back-band Two double Bibs and one Dressing Three Bushels of Barley Three Milk-Pails and half a Cheese Three Forms and two Tables Three Pin-cusheons and Pins Besides a Thousand Pins more c. Of the Sufferings of the Apostles and Martyrs as I find them in Hist John Baptist St. Stephen St. James Philip Andrew Matthew Mark c Some of whom were flee'd alive Some their Brains knockt out Some Crucified Some burn'd alive Some put in Boiling Oil and the like Again One hang'd and her Skin flee'd off One had his Tongue cut out One broken in a Mortar One put in a Cauldron of boiling Oil. One fry'd in a Pan. One whipt and her Dugs cut off Some bound to Axle-trees and burnt Some thrown to Lions and Tygers c. Some toss'd on the Horns of wild Bulls Some their Brains beat out with Clubs Some burn'd at Stakes Some press'd to Death with Lead Some hang'd on Gibbets Some hang'd on Trees till dead Some hewn in pieces with Swords Some sawn in pieces Some Womens Bellies ript up Some torn in pieces with wild Horses Some hung on Tenter-hooks till dead Some hang'd by the Hair till dead Some had their Noses and Ears cut off Some their Mouths slit to their Ears c. Thus much by way of Parallel the Disproportion I leave to your Consideration not to mention your Sham-Sufferings as that of Sam. Cater who pretended and got it recorded that he suffer'd 20 l. for Preaching at Phakenham in Norfolk when he suffer'd not a Penny but by his Subtilty got 10 l. sent him from their Fund at London as at large elsewhere I have shewed I come next to shew your way of Canonizing your Saints and what Persons they are you Canonize and I think Rome do not outdo you as also your Design to render our Magistrates Infamous to Posterity in order to exalt your own Horn. For in another Book stiled A Word of Reproof to any Fellow-Soldiers c. Printed 1659. P. 79. you say ' Here followeth some Signs Examples and Judgments for the Accursed Generation who desire a Sign but they are Miracles to them that believe ' And saith E. B. let such reach hither their Hands and with me feel and see the Wounds that the Lord of Life hath received in his Members c. 1. In Sussex Priest Cossme caused Tho. Leacock to be Imprisoned for speaking a few Words after he had done and soon after the Priest was cut off by Death 2. John Chatfield Priest of Horsham caused Tho. Leacock to be Imprisoned who soon after fell into a Dropsie and in Six Months died 3. Priest Cutfly of Arundel being Instrumental in Tho. Leacock's Persecution suddainly after died 4. Edward Hunt Norwich Goaler who after G. Whitehead was discharged brought his Action against him for Four Pence a Night soon after cut off by Death 5. Rob. Allen of Bath who abused Tho. Morford in the Street had a Boy scall'd to Death and Parson Feak beat Chris Atkinson Reader Here is a few of the Examples there being about 80 more in 9 Years in England and Wales and still they are collecting else how will they outstrip Rome It remains now to shew what manner of Saints these are you now Canonize and for whom these Judgments and miraculous Wonders were wrought 1. Tho. Leacock your Teacher was a great Drinker who on a time at a Gentleman's House in Emny near Wisbech drank till he was so drunk that going out to make Water fell backward into a Rain Cistern brake his Bladder was forced to carry a Dish in his Breeches to catch his Water who soon after died miserably But whether in Judgment for your Presumption his own Sins or a Warning to others I will not determine lest therein I turn Quaker again 2. Tho. Murford was a more vile Person who being one of your Teachers pretended to be a Surgeon and applied Remedies to the Female Sex where he ought not many in Norwich can give you a larger Account than I will do here 3. G. Whitehead is still living and I could be glad he would Improve his Time by seeking Repentance while it may be found for his great Sin in making a Schism in the Church c. 4. Chris Atkinson thus Canonized and one of your Prophets Companion to G. Whitehead in Writing Printing Preaching Travelling and Suffering got a Wench with Child at Norwich tried since for Felony and hang'd one of your now Teachers of Fame amongst you gave me an Account lately of his Execution But as this shew your Design not good thus to record such Trifles even to a Row of Pins and a Double Clout so is it wicked with a Witness to Record such as Persecutors who execute the Laws and that such as die after it is in Judgment and Presumptuous in you to sit in the Judgment-Seat But why should your being examin'd about these and the like Insolencies put such a Dread upon you and thus startle you since it is agreeable to your own Proposition in Burrough's Epistle to his Works who thus wrote viz. ' And so gladly would we Quakers be made manifest to all the World that if any especially the Heads and Rulers have any Doubts concerning us For that End let any propound that we with the Consent of Authority 10 20 or more of us give as many of the ablest Priests and Professors a Meeting for Dispute at any Place and Time and for what Continuance they please Let the Priests and Professors object what they can against us our Principles Practices and whole Religion and let such that cannot prove our selves of the true Church and Religion but is found in Error let such deny their Worship and Religion and renounce it under their Hands and confess they have been deceived ' c. I find in another Book of yours to the same Purpose intituled The Copies of several Letters written by undry Friends as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c. Printed 1660. where Geo. Whitehead in his Admonition to King Charles II. P. 53. hath these Words ' And if any of the Priests do Inform the King against the People call'd Quakers or against our Principles it is but a reasonable thing that thou hear both Parties Face to Face that we may answer them this was upon me to lay before the King that we are free to vindicate any Principle we