A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth and Progress OF QUAKERISM Setting Forth That the Principles and Practices of the Quakers are Antichristian Antiscriptural Antimagistratical Blasphemous and Idolatrous from plain matter of Fact out of their most approved Authors c. Containing Also A modest Correction of the General History of the Quakers wrot in Holland by Gerard Croese By Francis Bugg Senior Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out mine hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1. 24 26. Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Psalm 137. 7. London Printed Anno 1697. THE INTRODUCTION Courteous Reader IN my former Books I thought my self obliged to Apologize for my writing against the Errors of the Quakers because some People then even the Author of the Snake in the Grass c. thought I might wrong them as the Quakers suggested who since are better satisfied therein their Mask being taken off But yet some objections still remain to obviate which I shall proceed to do Obj. 1. But say some Fra. Bugg in his Book Entituled The Qua. Detected c. gave a tollerable account of the Quakers respecting their beginning and now to write contrary seems contradictory Ans I do acknowledge that in the year 1686. when I wrot that Book I had better thoughts of them respecting their beginning than now I have neither did I then in 1686. know them guilty of holding such pernicious Principles and Fundamental Errors as now I know they do having then not seen many of their Books which since I have both seen and perused But grant I did not so clearly see them then as now nor understand their Fundamental Errors so clearly then as now yet I saw enough to justifie my separation from them from the charge of Apostacy as I made fully appear not only in that Book but also in my Book i. e. New Rome unmask'd c. neither did my acknowledging them and their deportment and the simplicity and plainness of their Carriage which attended them and their Doctrine which I since understand was only a decoy to catch simple Souls to be a reason for their being Orthodox and my self an Apostate from the Christian Faith since not only I but Men more Learned and of better Judgments than I have been mistaken Witness that famous Man and worthy Martyr of Jesus Christ Archbishop Cranmer See Fox's Acts and Mon. p. 1488. The Church of Rome Taught in the beginning a pure Doctrine but after she fell into the new Doctrine of Transubstantiation I marvel that any one could allow it if they knew it But whatever they bear the people in hand that which they write in their Books hath neither Truth nor Comfort Again p. 1325. ibid. I am said Huge Latimer that worthy Martyr Ignorant of things which I trust hereafter to know as I do now know things in which I have been Ignorant heretofore ever learn and ever to be learned to profit with learning I thought in time past that the Pope was Christ's Vicar had been Lord of all the World as Christ is So that if he should have deprived the King of his Crown it had been enough for he could do no wrong Now I think otherwise I thought in time past that if I had been a Fryer in a Coul I could not have been Damned nor afraid of Death and by reason thereof I have been minded many times to have been a Fryer namely when I was sore sick and diseased But now I behold my Superstitious Foolishness It were two long to tell you what blindness I have been in and how long it were e'er I could forsake such Folly c. Reader These two Instances if there were no more shew forth that the best of Men are fallible and may err as I did and be mistaken as also the Humility of these two learned Prelates and worthy Martyrs are exemplary in their Christian acknowledgment thereof and forsaking such a corrupted Church infected with Idolatry and Superstition which cleared them from the charge of Apostacy and the same cause leads to the same thing And if I once had a good opinion of the Quakers you see these famous Men had as good if not a better opinion of the Papists who yet left them and forsook them as I did the Quakers and for which I bless God who put it into my heart to forsake such a manifest Heresie Amen Obj. 2. But say the Quakers in their Book Judas and the Jews c. p. 78. But herein you shew your malice for had G. F. been a cursing Man like Muggleton c. Implying it somewhat pardonable then to write against the Quakers Ans See their Book Truth 's Defence c. G. Fox's words to Mr. Camelford a Minister thus O thou filthy Beast no Prayers can we send to thee but for thy Destruction thou Man of Sin and Enemy of Christ O thou impudent and brazen fac'd thou Hypocrite and Pharisee thou art damn'd openly Thou art in the Sorcery in the Witchcraft and in the Adultery and in the corrupt Seed whose Blessings are Cursed O thou slanderous Beast thou natural Brute-beast and here I charge thee to be a Witch and to bewitch the People Thou deaf Adder and Serpent thou child of the Devil Blasphemer and Enemy of all Righteousness O thou falsehearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of God are due to thee and that is thy portion thou blind Sot thou dark Sot thy Torment is but beginning and so fare thee well Thus far Fox Again hear another of the same Praternity viz. Ed. Burrow in his Works p. 29 30 31. In Answer to certain Queries sent to the Quakers by one Mr. Bennet Burrow's Answer runs in this Channel viz. Thou art manifest what thou art where thou art and what Spirit thou art off a Reprobate a child of Darkness the Light condemns thee and all thy Generation of Priests Eternally we witness thee and all thy Generation to be in the Witchcraft and Sorcery for thou art Darkness it self Here thou full of all subtilty hast made manifest thy Poyson and Enmity Here thou Jesuit and thou Reprobate see whether thou be'st not a blind ignorant Sot there thou accursed art made manifest Here thou beast to whom the Plagues of God are due and upon whom his wrath must be accomplished Here thou dark blind Hypocrite thou dead Beast here thou polluted Beast here stop thy mouth thou Sorcerer O thou dark Beast and Conjurer who art Querying with thy Conjuring words c. Reader behold and be amazed that this people should blame any body for writing against them when never did any write like themselves nor was Muggleton a greater Curser and Damner than Fox The next I shall mention is their Learned Fisher who writing against John Owen Richard Baxter Thomas Danson and John Tombs In his Book Stiled The Rusticks Alarm c. calls and compares them to
cryed out and mourned under it and because of this is the Lord God of Heaven and Earth now Risen to overturn overturn Kings and Princes Governments and Laws and he will confound and break down all Tyranny and Oppression under which the poor have groaned and he will change Times and Laws and Government There shall be no King Ruling but Jesus nor no Government of force but the Government of the Lamb nor no Law of Effect but the Law of God all that which is otherwise shall be ground to powder The Kingdom of the most High shall Rule amongst Men and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed c. Sam. Fisher's Works p. 99. I will hold my peace no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so prophanely commit and do daily against my Chosen but will utterly subvert and overturn 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 Raign over all the Earth and take all the Rule and Authority that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints and put it down among all the rest as one of his greatest Enemies under his Feet saith the Lord p. 102. And so saith Fisher the Quakers are the truest Catholick Church in the World Reader compare these two last Citations with G. Fox's Quotation in this 4th Section and you may perceive what principles they were off about 1655. c. SECTION V. The World's wonder and the Historian's mistake in W. Penn who Wrote first in favour of the Protestants made and framed Tests against the Papists call'd to the Parliament for penalties of the violators thereof But when the late K. J. II. came to the Crown a fierce despiser of the Protestants and an Abbetter of the Papist a great stickler for the abolishing and taking away of Tests and Penal Laws c. GEN. Hist p. 43. Now as to what was the Wit and Spirit of W. Penn from his Youth what promptness and dexterity in discoursing attended the acuteness of his Wit what knowledge of Tongues and of things what temper and conversation of Life he was I had rather the Quakers should give you an account than I for I know well how difficult and troublesome it is to interpose his Judgment of a matter in which the Judgment of other Men is so various But certainly tho' my Pen were silent of him his own Writings will speak him forth to be the most eminent Member among all that Society c. I will and must acknowledge great part of this discourse of W. Penn's Wit promptness of Speeeh and readiness c. yet since Mr. Croese has appealed to his Writings to his Writings let him go and then let the World see how steady he has been even like the Weather-cock fast and loose at every turn and changing as the Moon vigorous for the Protestant Interest at least seemingly yea in K. C. II. time so hot for Protestants that he had the applause of many but in the late K. J. II. time he shewed the World what he was and what many thought him to be all along even a bitter Enemy to the Church of England and consequently to Protestantism But since an appeal is made to his Writings I shall cite an abstract of three which he wrot in K. C. II. time vigorous for the Protestant Interest He gave direction for the choice of Members principled against Popery cautioned all against Popery wrot a Test against Popery and what not but when K. J. came on he soon tack'd about as by others of his Books wrot in favour of the late K. J. I shall make it appear so that all that would know W. Penn rightly must go to his Writings of which I have 3 times 3 of each sort by me but these may suffice to shew how he looked one way and rowed another A seasonable Caveat against Popery c. by W. Penn p. 3. We hope it may not be too late to militate for Truth against the dark Suggestions of Papal Superstition to vindicate that of Reformation from the quaintest Stratagems and most unwearied endeavors of Romish Emissaries to put both it and us into their Inquisition We know they have so far mastered their Ancient fierceness and masked their Sanguine Looks with those more modest and familiar that though we need not more Reason than before yet we need more Skill and Caution or else we may too fatally experience the force of that vulgar Proverb Laugh in thy Face and cut thy Throat They are grown so complaisant that none seem more exasperated at Persecution than themselves whil'st the very Fathers of it decrying the fierceness of it in some Countries whose Incendiaries they were and still are and imputing all the Blood of poor Protestants to some unwarrantable civil Score Thereby abusing the Magistrates with their own Conspiracies nay for all their venerable Esteem for the Popes Infallibility they have not stuck to censure his roaring Bulls tho' procured by their own means And all that might express their new tenderness that many unacquainted with their practices are ready to believe them what they say themselves to be whose moral is to have two strings to their Bow to be ambo dexters and furnish'd with meanings to sute the compass of all occasions p. 14. I stand amazed how any Man of Sense can be a Papist when the only demonstration of his Religion must be his not understanding it p. 30. 31. In those frequent Bulls for Massacres which can no more be denyed than light at Noon day by which People have been stirred up upon the promise of forgivness of Sins redemption from Purgatory and Eternal Salvation or Dreadful Denunciation of Eternal Damnation to enterprise that Work of Murthering so many Hundred Thousands of Men Women and Children without any Legal Presentment Tryal or Conviction But the consideration of these things are out of fashion in England that many embrace them upon their present disguises and not in their true sanguinary Appearances p. 35. To conclude If we would not receive a Thief until he has Repented let the Papist first recant his voluminous Errors but above all let us have good Testimony of his hearty Sorrow for that Sea of Blood shed in England France Holland Ireland Spain Italy Savoy Switzerland and Germany of many Hundred Thousands of poor Protestants that for pure Conscience could not conform to their most exorbitant Practices as well as new Doctrine imposed upon them such inhumane and Barbarous Inventions and Cruelties as no Age could ever parallel and are the only demonstrations of their wicked Wit that lived in that Age and that not only upon the Parties themselves but their poor innocent Babes For that English Protestants should so far neglect these weighty considerations as to be gull'd and cheated out of their Religion purchas'd them by their Martyrs Ancestors
I deny and this Light to whom they say all Judgment is committed and which they have in them must be Judge of all controversies and consequently their President which deserves the casting Voice No marvel then that the Quakers are not concern'd to vindicate our Bible against the contempt cast upon it by the Papists as saith the same Josiah Coal ibid. p. 104. I find the rest of his Book i. e. A. S. the Roman Catholick consists of divers Arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers whose cause I am not engag'd in therefore it doth not concern me to Answer his Charges against them c. No what neither Sectaries their Bibles nor Ministers Surely tho' he thought himself not engag'd to vindicate the Sectaries nor their Ministers yet if as they pretend to the Parliament they do believe the Scriptures to be Divine and left us by Men Divinely Inspired and that they are a rule of Faith and Behaviour they ought to have vindicated the Bible at least Well but some may say what did this A. S. the Papists call the Bible that they the Quakers think themselves thus unconcern'd to vindicate I Answer 't is his 14th Chapter and which the same Josiah Coal hath printed as an Abettor and Co-workers with him in p. 113. to 116 of his Works The contempt the Papists cast on the Bible and which the Quakers are not at all concern'd to vindicate is viz. Protestant Sectarian Ministers and Preachers who stand in a Pulpit or Tub with such a brazen Fac'd Book as is their unjust corrupt and perverse Bible in their hand c. Oh the deceit of this People What do they pretend to own the Bible only for their own ends to obtain their Liberty and when the Papists vilifie and contemn it and call it a brazen Fac'd Book a corrupt and perverse Book and they not concern'd hereat Well I do still hope that some will be concern'd to vindicate the Holy Bible from the contempt of the Papists calling it a brazen Fac'd Book perverse Book and from the contempt of the Quakers who call it Death Dust Beastly ware Carnal Serpents-meat c. 2. That the Quakers at their Synods make Catalogues of Sufferers for their Religion and what they Suffer and by whom c. I have spoken to this Head largely in the 4th Chapter of the first Part and therein shewed how they boast of their Sufferings how they Augment and make them more than they are yea put them in their Monuments Sufferers 20 l. when they are so far from that that they have gotten 10 l. clear into pocket as in the case of Samuel Cater I have made it appear likewise as my Author says Gen. Hist p. 137. that they amplify their Sufferings viz. A scratch a pinch or a blue spot for a grievous Torment and bloody Wound which may be well observed in most of the Monuments which these Men have left of their Sufferings c. 3. That the Quakers inspect their Books to be printed after approved by their Censors c. From whence let it be noted that if their Books be thus inspected and approved by their approved Censors then are the whole answerable for the Errors contained in those Books and for all the horrible Blasphemies in them But their case is still worse for suppose any one or more of them be moved as he pretends to write a Message Warning or Exhortation to a Nation People or Society as the Word of the Lord God their frequent pretence This Book is first sent up to London for inspection and approbation to one of these Meetings or Synods where their Light is President and made infallible Judge having all Judgment committed to it in Heaven and in Earth this Synod thus Assembled shall afterwards vary the Title and change the Matter to make it harmonize with their design and when this Writer Dyes and leaves 20 or 30 Books thus approved and thus sent abroad the surviving Synod shall take these Books and again alter them put in and take out a second time what they please then re-print them again And what is become of their Infallibility now They had their President at their first inspection what could he not then see and discern clearly but that here must be a new inspection was not their President their Light the same For either the Quakers write as they are moved by the Eternal Spirit of God or they do not if they do then they are equal with the Apostles Writings and then the Judgment denounced Rev. 22. 18 19. If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto them the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book c. This reward they must expect Again if they do not then are they most horrible Deluders and great Deceivers when they write thus this is the word of the Lord God to you the Inhabitants of Bristol or the like and they believe it not they do not believe the Author to be so moved and commissioned and forasmuch as they served the Works of Edward Burrow W. Smith George Fox Is Pennington so viz. altered added and diminished to my certain knowledge I do thereupon affirm that they are not the Works of Fox Burrow Pennington and Smith but the Quakers in general and they are answerable for their Errors notwithstanding each title assert the same Thus hath Quakerism been carried on thus hath it grown and taken its progress by Cheats Frauds and Hypocrisies 4. About their Womens Meetings and their manner and way of their Female Government Having by my Book de Christiana Libertate c. not only treated at large on this head but also been instrumental thereby in giving that Image a deadly blow insomuch as that in some part of the County of Suffolk as well as in divers other Counties in England there is not a distinct Womans Meeting to be seen nor heard of But yet since 't is mentioned in the Gen. Hist p. 50. They have likewise Meetings like those we call Classes and Provincial and National Synods or Councils These Conventions are celebrated oftner or seldomer as the number of their Churches is but so as to allot each Sex Men and Women their distinct and particular Meetings c. I say since the Relation of their Womens Meetings are here brought to light which many think are so dead and dying as that it 's hard to find one in many places and that by way of commendation as I take it I shall therefore briefly touch upon the principal Heads and Orders both of its novel rise and arbitrary Government and chiefly for this reason because in all the Orders there is not so much as one Scripture proof mentioned to confirm and to
and determine However they pretending they would do us equally Justice I gave them my Writings which I had drawn from the Records of Conviction and Warrant and other things to set forth my right to the restitution of the said 15 l. being Fined for my self for being at the said Meeting 10 s. besides this 15 l. for Sam. Cater as by the Books above quoted I have largely set forth Well the 12 Persons took my Writings and going up Rob. Letchworth's Chamber thorow the Kitchen one of the 12 threw all my Writings into the Fire and burnt them unexamined and unheard or so much as look'd on any one passage to demonstrate my right c. And about a quarter of an hour after they sent for us and we being come up the Chamber to them one of the self-chosen Arbitrators directed his speech to us that they had determined the matter and found Sam. Cater clear and my demand unreasonable and that they had acquitted Sam. Cater and hoped that I would be quiet for the time to come c. to whom I replyed that they had given away my right and that I was able to demonstrate the same if they would hear me they reply'd it was ended and that they hoped I would now sit down quiet and rest satisfied but they would not give me the Award and so me parted but going home one Dan. a Quaker call'd me to him and said Francis I am grieved to behold what foul play thou hast had to day wherein said I What dost thou mean Why reply'd Dan. I sat in the Kitchen as thy 12 Arbitrators came thro' the House to go up the Chamber and I saw one of them throw all the Papers thou gav'st them in the Meeting to peruse and did burn them all without looking on any one of them Whereupon I sent the said Arbitrators a large Paper call'd a Prescript and Postscripts with Summons to appear at the next Quarterly Meeting concluding them accountable for their actions upon their own Principles in Ed. Burrow's Works p. 442. viz. And we believe that all Governors and Rulers ought to be accountable to the People and to the next succeeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquired into upon occasion c. My charge to them was 1. In that they did not pursue the Terms of the recited Agreement 2. That according to the said Agreement they ought to have chosen Men and not to Arbitrate the matter themselves when by the condition thereof they were only to chuse and elect 3. That contrary to all rules of Law in that case they refused me a Copy of their Award and thereupon I looked upon my self at liberty from their Award 4. In that they burned my Evidences which set forth my Title to the restitution of the said 15 l. without any examination and thereupon condemned me upheard all which put me upon writing the said Prescript in Prose and Postscript in Verse the latter follows in these words 1. In Ages past as I heard tell Some Men did judgment hate And it abhorr'd I know full well So woful was their State 2. And equity they did pervert Which made the good Man cry Justice and Right do not pervert For that 's Iniquity 3. A parallel you see alas As plain as plain may be Which answereth as in a Glass Face answers Face you see 4. Even in a Tryal now on foot Where Justice finds no place But will and power bear it out This is the very case 5. But witty witty William Penn Hath drawn a fair scrowl ' Gainst arbitrary force of Men Which none can back recal 6. Where property he vindicates And each Man's right maintain And partial dealings there he hates As nothing worse so vain 7. But why should I or any one Proceed to Tryal then If judgment true be fled and gone And loathed by such Men 8. Surely 't is vain for to expect A full and ample hearing When Evidences they reject As good for nought but fearing 9. Yet put on courage once again And call them to account Who gave away what 's not your own Who chose themselves to mount 10. The place of Arbitrators great 'Twixt those that differ much As if resolved to do right But it was nothing such 11. Wherefore do not conceive I pray That there is any Treason In calling you up to the Bar Because it 's now in season 12. But how dar'st thou or any one Thus speak thus write or say Yea some may query hereupon Saying is their cause I pray 13. For any one thus to rebuke Men who pretend to judge Infallibler than ever Luke Paul Peter James or Jude 14. Let such receive an answer short And search the matter well If President then they find not There 's cause enough to tell 15. And to be bold for to unfold Such falsifying tricks As Man thereof hath not been told Nor read the like in Hicks 16. So why should I or any other Such partial dealings hide Or such in justice go and smother Such things I can't abide 17. Neither could Micah Paul nor John The Scripture witness bear Silent keep but must go on Saying House of Jacob hear 18. Wherefore let no Man think I pray That such a fool I am As to be scar'd or fray'd away For wrong me no Man can 19. As I keep to the truth in which I preservation have And therein trace a constant path Where none can me bereave 20. Of blessings and of peace also Whatever some may fear Tho' sufferings great and many too I therefore must endure 21. Like them of old which practic'd not Soft pillows for to sew Who witness'd suffering their lot From the self-saving crew 22. Whereof sometime the leaders they Great'st polititions be Tho' they profess another way More noble just and free 23. Yet do but look within the Vail And there you may behold Of being valiant some do fail Which seemeth to be bold 24. Thus false thus base and proud Are these aspiring Judges Who for justice crys aloud Whil'st others they make drudges Upon this the said Arbitrators met me at the next Quarterly Meeting where we had a large Conference and to convince my Author that they condemn Persons unheard contrary to his relation I shall cite so much as will demonstrate the same and for more of the same nature I refer him and others to the Books quoted Proceedings at the Quarterly Meeting Meeting We desire thee Fra. Bugg to give up the matter F. B. Nay hold you have done me wrong by perverting Justice burning my Writings and detaining the Award all which I shall make appear if you please to hear me J. W. We have judged for Truth and so there must be no more of it F. B. Is your judgment so infallible as that you cannot err if not why may not my cause be reheard S. Fulbigg No no we will not hear any more of it we have heard enough of it already F. B. I desire to
this very Testimony from this Great Prophet of theirs Printed 1659. and Reprinted in 1672. by Whitehead and the Chief Quakers Approbation and at the same time too when the Quakers were seeking Favour was such a piece of Impudence as Arius never had But to proceed to my 4th and last Head proposed viz. Who are in the Quakers Account True and Orthodox Preachers since all that Baptise with Water all that Study the Scriptures and Preach out of them all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above all that take Receive or pay Tyth's are false Ministers Witches Devils c. In a word all not Quakers for so they affirm The Quakers Challenge c. p. â— Come Protestants Presbyterians Independents and Baptists the Quakers deny you all p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they c. And therefore 't is highly necessary to know who they account true Preachers which are these that follow viz. 1. Such as Teach that the Name of Christ belong to every Member of the Body as well as to him that Suffered at Jerusalem that his Body was but a Vail a Garment c. and which they can never call Christ that his Person was no more to his Disciples then another Person but for the sake of the Spirit Frame and Temper that dwelt in him his Disciples loved him that Christ is not God and Man in one Person For Proof hereof see Is Pennington's Question to Professors c. p. 20. to 33. Will Bayly's Works p. 300. 307. The Sword of the Lord Drawn c. p. 5. 2. Such as deny the Blessed Trinity see W. Penn's Sandy Foundation c. p. 15. to 20. and W. Penn's Christian Quaker and his Dev. Testimony p. 98. 3. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are Dust Death Serpents Food that the Sacraments are Dust that Matthew Mark Luke and John are Serpents Meat Dust and Beastly Ware and such as propose it doubtful whether Moses or Hermes was the 1st Pen-man of the Scripture and whether some of it was not spoke by the Grand Imposter some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill Applyed some by Good Men ill Expressed some by False Prophets and yet True some by True Prophets and yet False for Proof see The Quakers Refuge Fixed c. p. 17. News coming out of the North c. p. 14. David's Enemies Discovered c. p. 7. 4. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are not the Word of God and that so to Affirm is Blasphemy See G. Fox's Book Stiled Firebrands c. 2 part p. 159. Printed 1678. and his Great Mist c. p. 240. Printed 1659. 5. Such who Teach that the Quakers Writings are the Word of God given forth by the Eternal Spirit of God that we may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Papers and Queries That if ever we own the Prophets Christ or the Apostles we will own their Books that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater for Proof See Truth 's Defence c. p. 2. 104 107. Fox's his Answer to the Westmorland Petitioners c. p. 3. both Printed 1653. likewise G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. A Brief Discovery c. p. 8. Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 40. 6. Such as Teach that Water Baptism is no Ordinance of God but an Institution of the Whore of Rome And that the Practice of it is Idolatry and that such are bewitched to accept of those two Institutions of Christ Baptisme and the Lord's Supper For Proof News coming up out of the North c. p. 34. 35. A Musick Lecture p. 25. Burrough's Works p. 51. 518. William Smith's Primmer p. 36. 7. Such as Teach that the Quakers Sufferings are greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and all the Marters since That the Sufferings Inflicted upon Christ his Apostles and Martyrs were chiefly done by a Law and in a great part by the due Execution of a Law see Burrough's Works p. 273. Behold Reader not only how they Magnifie their Sufferings the Blasphemy of their Doctors But the horrible Lye far exceeding that of Mahomet's Journey to Heaven as at large in that Learned Treatise Wrote by Dr. Prideaux Arch-deacon of Suffolk Entituled The Nature of an Imposture in the Life of Mahomet c. Printed 1697. Sold by W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet London 8. Such as Teach and leave it upon Record to Posterity that they Suffer 20 l. at a time for Preaching when they not only not suffer a penny but get ten pound clear by the Bargain as in this Book at large shewed in the Instance of that Self magnifying Teacher of theirs Samuel Cater of Little Port in the Isle of Ely See The lamentable Cry of Oppression c. p. 40. to the end Hadenham old Records c. 9. Such as Teach that the very Christ of God is within us his Sufferings within us that his offering himself as a Sacrifice is within us and by the scope of their Ancient Testimony deny him that was nail'd to the Cross Pierced c. to be Christ which their Light never was c. See Burrough's Works c. p. 149. W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 9. and his Catechism p. 57. to 60. 10. Such as Teach that the Quakers have a a Spirit given them beyond all the Fore-fathers and thereby know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a word and that none need to give the Quakers Discerning or Judgment for Christ i. e. their Light doth furnish them at all times and on all occasions see G. Fox's Great Mist. p. 89. Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. 11. Such as Teach and that truly too that the Quakers are raised contrary to all Men yea ever since Noah's Flood and that they have given their Power only to God and that they cannot seek that 's a grand Lie the Parliament can bear me witness to outward Authority But stand Witness against Parliaments that 's true Judges Justices and to such Laws Customs Courts c. they cannot yield Obedidience that the Quakers Kingdom is from above and that they reject the Beasts Authority i. e. the Parliament and the Dragons Power And that the Quakers are gather'd up into the Life which the Holy Men of God lived in That they i. e. Quakers are fallen from the World and it's Ways and Nature That even the Father oh dreadful Blasphemy bears Witness of them and therefore their Witness is true Alluding as in many other Cases to Equalize themselves to Christ John 5. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me and I know the witness which he witnesseth of me is true that Teach saying What have you the publick Ministry lost the Lord to be your Strength that you must flee for Help to Men Must they make Laws to Establish
Synod the King may have his Commissioners present to Inspect and even to Regulate their Proceedings That nothing may be their Transacted prejudicial to the Government How much more reasonable is it to have the Quakers Synods Inspected who have given such demonstration of their Antimagistratical Principles If Christian Emperors and Princes have had their Ambassadors and Ministers present in general Councils If the Hugonots in France have submitted nay desired and requested to have the Kings Commissioners present in their Synods which by His Majesties Grace and Favour they have been suffered to hold If the Presbyterians in Scotland tho' now Establish'd as the National Religion have a Commissioner present in their general Assemblies why should the Quakers not be oblig'd to receive a Commissioner from the Government to recide in their Anniversary Synods If at their beginning they were too Inconsiderable for the notice of the Government they are now become a numerous and wealthy People and in all respects worthy not to be neglected especially if their Principles be as their Writings set forth And their not meeting G. Keith and others who have in like manner challeng'd them is not the least demonstration of their Guilt The Postscript to the Map Being told that the Quakers had Answer'd my Book The Qua. Set I went yesterday to their Booksellers Shop in White-hart court for one but found it not but seeing G. Whitehead's Antidote against the venome of the Snake c. I found two Passages which being Reply'd to may indifferently serve for an Answer to the Book For no Charge can be undenyably true upon them Why Because they can deny any Charge how true soever it be Again if they will not Determin a Point in Controversie being proved out of their most Authentick Authors unless we can produce the Original Manuscript Copy which is impossible for us to do then farewel all Answering Books Behold the Quakers run and are ready to give up their Cause the Passages are these viz. The Author of the Snake c. said That Mr. John Pennyman was an Ancient Worthy and most Sincere Gentleman as indeed none that know him can with any Colour of Justice say the contrary who had been invegled with their False Shew and Pretence to Piety till he discovered their Gross Immoralities which being complained of tho' the Fact could not be denyed yet they could not Sensure any that remained in their Unity for which Reason he at last left them G. W's Antidote 252. Answer as his Character of John Pennyman is in the Superlative Degree appears Flattery and his Scandalous Story 's on his behalf and reason of leaving us appears neither True nor Impartial I never had any undeniable Proof of the Matter of Fact heard from John Pennyman c. Reply Well done George thou art in the right on 't for I never knew any Matter of Evil Fact Charged on the Quakers and their Errors but thou hast had the Impudence to deny it at least as Stated or in some other Sophistical manner So that 't is Morally Impossible to prove Matter of Fact against the Quakers undenyably True Why because they have a Face of Brass to deny any Matter of Fact against them how true soever it be of which this Antidote is not the least Instance and for which Reason I could wish the Author of the Snake may not trouble himself to Reply Again 2dly p. 254. G. Whitehead has Cited a Passage in the Snake c. viz. Quakers Registring their Sufferings for the Truth as they call it would make them exceed all the Ten Persecutions and to be more Undescerving than the Sufferings of Christ himself or the Apostles c. To which G. Whitehead Answers These are False Suggestions we have no such hopes he i. e. Snake Cites Edward Burrough's Unfairly and Partially in this Point And yet the Comparison of the Quakers Sufferings as Greater and more Unjust than in the Days of Christ and his Apostles or any time since is a mistake And whether it was so first Verbally Stated by Edward Burrough's or some time since I shall not Determin unless I see the Original Copy c. Reply I do positively Affirm and before any Ten Ministers of the Protestant Churches viz. Episcopal Presbyterian Independent or Baptists will prove that the from Recited Authors Charge is undeniably true Matter of Fact But what then G. W. still complains of Evil Suggestions of Unfair and Partial Citations tho' poor Heart he is so Stung with this Snake that he is forced to acknowledge a Mistake some where but dust not determin where oh horrible what a Book Wrote in 1657. by one of their Inspired Prophets as the Word of the Lord and dispersed 15 Years up and down the Nations and then Reprinted by thy own Approbation dear George with thine and G. Fox's Epistles of Recommendations And now to tell us of a Mistake but know not where and to call for Original Manuscripts Wrote 40 Years since is such a piece of Fallible Infallibility that had I room I should farther enlarge upon it Francis Bugg Sen. May 13. 1697. BOOKS Wrote by Fra. Bugg Sen. 1. DE Christianae Libertate c. in 8vo bound 2. The Painted Harlot both Strip'd and Whip'd c. 3. Reason against Railing c. 4. Innocency Vindicated and Envy Rebuked c. 5. The Quakers Detected and their Errors Confuted 6. A Lette to the Quakers shewing their Frequent Addresses to K. J. 2. 7. Battering Rams against New Rome c. 8. One Blow more against New Rome c. 9. New Rome Unmask'd and her Foundation shaken c. 10. New Rome Arraigned and out of her own Mouth Condemned c. 11. A Sheet delivered to the Parliament Dec. 1693. Entituled Something in Answer to the Quakers Allegation c. 12. Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving c. 13. Quakerism Annotonized c. 14. A Sheet Entit The Quakers Yearly Meeting Impeached c. 15. A second Summons to the City Abel by way of Metaphor to deliver up Sheba the Son of Bichri 2 Sam. 20. i. e. G. Whitehead c. 16. The Quakers set in their true Light c. 17. A Brief History of the Rise Growth and Progress of Quakerism 18. The Picture of Quakerism drawn to the Life c. FINIS