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
this heigth it is now arrived at But when I came to view it and seriously to consider the Contents of it as I find it in many things very well done with respect to the former particulars and thereby will spare me some pains and cost so with respect to the latter viz. to set forth their pernicious Doctrines their horrible Blasphemies their dissembling Cheats and religious Frauds by which they have not only deceived Thousands but almost perswaded many well meaning and worthy Gentlemen to have a better esteem of them and their Tenets than they deserve I found it very deficient viz. In shewing the methods by which they have risen and their Hypocrisie and wretched ways by which they have spread their blasphemous Errors and pernicious Principles and how they have unchurched all but themselves and thereupon it seemed to me that the said History rather tends to strengthen them in their Errors then to help them out of them for it bends too much to the left hand and reflects on our English Magistrates as Persecutors and on our Church as not well disciplired which I charitably presume was occationed by that Learned Authors giving too much credit to the Books and Manuscripts and his conversation with some of them for saith he p. 5. Since therefore I have had the fortune of a long time to be familiarly acquainted and much conversant with these men call'd Quakers and that in many places and besides many of their Writings and Manuscripts of which some are in print some not having fallen into my hands I thought it would be an acceptable Enterprise to write upon this Subject leaving it for every Man to judge as he thinks fit of their Actions Tenets c. And since I find the said History as above observ'd to be deficient in the main Part at least in many main Points I shall write something by way of Correction which I hope neither he nor any other indifferent Person will take amiss since I pretend to have as much experience and knowledge of the Quakers as he can pretend too having the misfortune to be many Years conversant with them and their Teachers as also the good fortune to know their Methods to have of their Writings and Manuscripts by me some in print some not whereby I have been able to derect them and to confute their Errors and so I shall leave it to every Man as he saith to judge as he pleaseth of their Actions Tenets Customs way of Church-Government and principles of Religion and Doctrine which I shall produce from Book and Page of their most Authentick Authors First then that it may appear I have reason to know the Quakers as well as this Learned Author and thereupon as warrantable a Motive to write on this Subject In the Year 1657. I went first amongst the Quakers and in 1659. became one of their Society and continued amongst them about 25 years and since that time I have been a narrow observer of them and much acquainted with many of them I have near 300 of their Books by me besides Manuscripts and old Records and besides all this I was Clark to their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Isle of Ely and County of Cambridge at Haddenham Sutton and Chatterise for about 16 years and more in all which Service I served gratis without Sallery as others had My House was a place of Entertainment for their Teachers for many years together I suffered Imprisonment at Ely and Nislech for their cause in which I was then Embark'd 3 Years and about 4 Months I suffered the loss of more than a hundred Pounds for Meeting contrary to an Act of Parliament made the 22 King Charles II. besides many other affairs in which I was concern'd whil'st with them Sometimes chosen to go to London-Meetings sometimes chosen to end some differences which happen'd amongst us sometimes to assist in Marriages about settlements of Estates in that case as in the Instance of William Read Widower and the Widow Brewster of Brund and divers others as Stephen Clackson and the Widow Young I say put all together and I think I may venture upon my own experience to say as much as the Author of the said Hist and yet notwithstanding I shall not impose upon my Reader but in the main of what I shall write I shall prove from matter of Fact and then as he says shall leave every one to judge as he thinks fit being at all times ready to appear and maintain what I write according to G. W.'s own proposition in his printed Sheet stiled The Quakers Vindication c. And when I meet Mr. Croese I shall go along with him in this History as far as he goes my way and when he turns aside to the right Hand or to the left I shall part friendly with him and deal kindly by him as we us'd to do to strangers But since his Book came over the Water and reflects upon the Government Implicitly charging the Magistrates with the crime of Persecution a thing they are much averse to I shall therefore endeavor to Rectifie it and shew him 't is not persecution but prosecution and to shew that I am not alone in this matter I received a Letter wrot by a dignifyed Clergy-man of the Church of England to a Neighbouring Minister An Abstract thereof is as followeth viz Worthy Sir Since I had the happiness of your good Company here I read over the general History of the Quakers which came from Holland I find it wrote so much to the advantage of that pestilent Sect and so much to the disadvantage both of the Government and Church of England that I think it necessary to be again done by some other hand whom we may confide in for a better performance of it and I know none better sitted for it respecting matter of fact than your Neighbour Mr. Bugg and I doubt not but with your Assistance he may be able to give the World satisfaction in this matter I earnestly desire you would perswade him to it and in Truth the daily growth of that Sect makes it necessary to have it thorowly laid open that Men may thereby be warned the more to beware of it This will be a Service to God and the Church Your humble Servant And so I enter upon my Work SECTION I. The Reason of their Name GEorge Fox was born Anno 1624. in a Village call'd Draton in Leicestershire his Father's Name was Christopher Fox his Mothers Name Mary who gained their Living by Weaving This George afterwards learned the Trade of a Shoomaker and wrought Journy work with George Gee of Manchester who having gained so much Learning as that he could read print pretty well but writing he could read but little of neither could write except very rudely And this was the only piece of Learning he attained too all his Life long For neither then nor any time after did he apply himself to any Liberal Study So that he not
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
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
People may be heartily thankful yet it plainly appears that your Leaders and Teachers and Anniversary Synods are of another mind for had you been as hearty and zealous for the present Government as in point of gratitude you should and ought to have been your People had not been so divided and so confused touching the Protestant interest as now they are the sad and evil Effects of which must and will be laid at your doors Consider what is said repent and amend your ways for this Government and the Protestant Interest are so link'd together that those who are not true to the one cannot be true to the other whatever their pretences are or may be This I wrot and caused it to be printed and dispersed as a Testimony against their lukewarmness to the present Government and their Zeal to and for the late Reign as this Section and Sections 5 6 do make plainly appear Obj. But possibly some may object that these are private Addresses by some few particulars and be ready to demand whether they ever made a publick Anniversary Address that thereby they might in all Kingdoms shew their Loyalty to the late King c. Ans Yea that they did and that it may more evidently appear that William Penn's Books mention'd in Section V. VI. run in the same channel I will write part of their said Anniversary Address Anno 1688. viz. The humble Address of the People call'd Quakers from their yearly Meeting the 6th of the Month called June 1688. viz. We the Kings peaceable Subjects from divers parts of his Dominions being met together in this City after our usual manner to inspect the affairs of our Christian Society throughout the World think it our Duty humbly to represent to him the blessed Effects the Liberty he has graciously granted his People to worship God according to their Consciences hath had both on our Persons and Estates for whereas we formerly had long and sorrowful Lists brought to us from almost all parts of his Territories of Prisoners and the spoil of Goods by violent and ill Men upon account of Conscence We bless God and thank the King the Goals are every where clear except in cases of Tythes and the repairs of Parish Churches and some few about Oaths and we do in all Humility lay it before the King to consider the hardships our Friends are yet under for Conscience sake in those respects being in the one chiesly expos'd to the present Anger of the offended Clergy who have therefore imprisoned some of them till death and in the other they are rendered very unprofitable to the publick and themselves for both in reference to Freedoms in Corporations Probats of Wills and Testaments and Administrations Answers in Chancery and Exchequer Tryals of our just Titles and Debts proceeding in our Trades in the Custome house serving the Office of Constables c. They are disabled and great advantages taken against them unless the King's Favour do interpose and as we humbly hope he may relieve us so we confidently assure our selves he will ease us what he can Now since it hath pleased thee O King to renew to all thy Subjects by thy last Declaration thy gracious Assurances to pursue the Establishment of this Liberty and Property upon an unalterable Foundation and in order to it to hold a Parliament in Nov. next at farthest we think our selves deeply engaged to renew our assurances of Fidelity and Affection and with God's help intend to do our part for the effecting so blessed and glorious a Work that so it may be out of the power of any one party to hurt another upon the account of Conscience And as we firmly believe that God will never desert this righteous cause of Liberty nor the King in maintaining of it so we hope by God's Grace to let the World see we can honestly and heartily appear for Liberty of Conscience and be inviolably true to our own Religion whatever the Folly or Madness of some Men on that account may suggest to the contrary These are the sayings of their Anniversary Synod Here you see is nothing wanting but bended knees here is in all Humility in all Fidelity with all Affection yea all all all all Prayers for him for long Life for a prosperous Reign Laud and Praise in the highest for his Deliverance for the defeating his Enemies the excluders yea it would be too long to enumerate them Besides Book after Book in favour of the Government and Letter after Letter printed and dispersed a first a second and a third for the repealing the Penal Laws and Tests that so the Papists might sit in Parliament to Establish them a new Order even St. George's Order as compleatly as their Grandfather Ignatius Loyola had his Order confirmed by the Popes Bulls October 3d. Anno 1540 as at large set forth in a Discourse concerning the Idolatry of the Church of Rome c. p. 281. But God in his righteous Judgment deserted their King their Cause and will in time more fully discover their Order to be of the same tendency and carried on by the same Holy cheats that Ignatius Loyola's Order of the Jesuits was And so much briefly to shew how Quakerism grew and after what manner it made its progress and how they bent their strength against the Protestant Interest Church of England and all Orthodox Religion But Reader did you ever hear of an Anniversary Address to King William No such matter Did you ever see a Book put forth in favour of the present Government No such matter no no 't is as in my printed Letter 1690. above recited No Salutation no Message no Prayer for nor no Address to King William III from this their yearly Synod nor a Book wrot in favour of the Government no in all Humility no in all Affection no publick Prayers for his long and prosperous Reign no Laud and Praise that his Enemies are defeated here is no no no no. Come George Whitehead and foreman of your Anniversary Synod what can you say for your selves Why are you mute Why have you not brought forth one publick Anniversary Synodical Address this seven years nor publick Prayers or are you still like those we read on 1 Sam. 10. 27. But the children of Beliel said how shall this man save us and they despised him and brought him no presents no Prayers no Addresses but the King held his peace But that I may not leave out one cluster of the Quakers Vine by which Quakerism has been nourished I shall now mention a notable passage to discover the Quakers aversion to the present Government viz. The Widow Whitrow formerly a Quaker wrot a Book in favour of the Government about four years since but it did so cross the Quakers current that they made an Order for the calling it in and suppressing the same the which I have together with their not addressing His present Majesty more largely handled in my Book New Rome unmask'd p. 26.
by any legal constitution a body Politick therefore they should not meddle in State Affairs viz. to condemn Acts of Parliaments as Antichristian and Oppressive to the Subject and thereby absolve their Disciples from their obedience to their Lawful Magistrates whom they ought to obey as the higher Powers set over them by God entrusted with the supreme Authority and their part is to yield a dutiful subjection and faithful obedience as whereunto they stand oblig'd by the commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of God's faithful Saints and Servants holy Apostles and Martyrs in all Ages by their Birth as natural born Subjects of these Realms by the dictates of their Consciences and the many Favours they daily receive in being defended and protected in their Liberty and Property and by all kinds of consideration both general and particular c. 4. That they print no Books but what are licens'd by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty for that purpose under pain of forfeiting the whole impression this would be a great means to restore England to its Pristine Glory which once it had when it was famous for extirpating Heresie whereas of latter years 't is reported by the Historian of the Quakers History to be a Nurse for Heresie c. 5. That they do not arrogate to themselves the power of excommunicating such as dissent from them and conform themselves to the Establish'd Religion nor treat them Reproachfully but that they study to be quiet and mind their own business 6. That they be not permitted in their Books and Sermons to call legal Punishments Persecution calling the Magistrates Persecutors thereby rendering them odious to the common People 7. That they be not permitted in these Synods to approve of such Books nor to teach such Doctrine as call the national Ministry Witches Devils Antichrists nor the Parliaments Judges Justices and other Magistrates the Beasts that carry the Whore Persecutors of the Saints nor to impeach their judicial Proceedings 8. That they be not permitted to Summons Try Judge Arraign Condemn and Dyalogue the national Ministry Magistracy and People and thereby lift up and extol themselves as the only Catholick Universal Church of the First-born which cannot err and Curse Damn and Reprobate all other Christians This has been their frequent practice and a main Pillar of their Heresie for when they gain upon the common People that the Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ is re-establish'd only amongst them and that all other Societies are Apostates Antichrists Heathens and Infidels they then have gained the point and will soon claim the Chair and reach at the Scepter 9. That they be forbidden to make Collections and Tax the People and lay by Funds as their manner is for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so may it be call'd the Nerve of Heresie but let each Society of Quakers maintain their own Teacher and not have a common Bank at London and Feoffees entrusted therewith to give 8 10 or 20 l. at a time to their Travelling Teachers who range all the World over bantering all other Ministers who have a settled maintenance and are far less chargeable to their Hearers than are the Quakers Teachers who come uncall'd for like Flies and Mice eat up the provision of others as saith the Historian 10. That they be not permitted to call the Scriptures of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles by those contemptible Names of Death Dust Beastly-Ware Serpents-Food and the like 11. But that they be compell'd to condemn those Books of theirs which so teach for thus do they bring the Christian Religion into contempt in order to raise Quakerism as the most excellent of all Religions 12. Let them not be permitted to call the Church of England an Adulterated Harlot nor to charge her with Witchcraft and Sorceries to be an Adulterous Womb which brings forth monsterous Births neither let them be permitted to call the Book of Common Prayer which is grounded on the Holy Scriptures composed and professed by our Martyred Ancestors and confirmed by Authority of King and Parliament a branch which proceeded from the Pope and from his Loyns say they it draws its Strength Neither let them be permitted to print and publish to the Nations that they have ript up the Bowels of the Church of England and discovered her Adulterous Womb and all the false Conceptions conceived by her and that without any fear of her or her power 13. Neither let them be permitted to teach Schools for there they read W. Smith's Primmer and Geo. Fox's Primmer and a certain portion every day of Geo. Fox's Journal all which enveigh bitterly against the Church of England and all instituted Religion which tends to instil corrupt Principles whil'st the Bible and other good Books are laid aside These things ought to be noted and for the Generation of years sake to be guarded against 14. Upon the whole matter these sayings contained in the 12 particulars being great contempt upon the Magistracy and Ministry upon the King and his People and upon the whole Nation Yet thus do their Books Teach thus do they print and publish even in so many words if they deny it I am ready to prove it And notwithstanding this and much more that might be said of the same nature yet they are so high and rampant that when I printed my Book New Rome Arraign'd c. and laid open some of these Errors they indicted me and prosecuted me at Law to my great cost and damage seized my Books and prosecuted me with all the aggravations imaginable And that it may yet further appear how tender they are of their own Church their own Ministers their own Writings and Epistles I shall recite one of their Anniversary Injunctions viz. From our Yearly Meeting in London 27 of 3d Month 1675. To all our Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England c. Concerning Mens and Womens Meetings it is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of God's Wisdom that the rise and practice setting up and establishing of Mens and Womens Meetings in the Churches of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit And it is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and in the Authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as calling Mens and Womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burdensome that faithful Friends Papers which we Testify have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Mens Edicts or Cannons Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them c. Behold what Names and Expressions are contained in the recited 12 particulars given by themselves to the Scripture Bishops and Clergy Ministry and People
yet none must say why do they so but it must be accounted malicious and yet how tender are these Men of their own blasphemous Books and defamatory Libels insomuch that as I am willing to note some things from the French King so would I have some observe the Quakers method in this matter for their example and not suffer the Holy Scripture the Book of Common Prayer the Christian Magistracy and Ministry to be thus contemned vilifyed and set at naught by this irreligious spawn of the Jesuits and so I conclude this matter and subscribe my Name Fra. Bugg Sen. January the 28th 1696. A Supplement to the former History containing a further correction of the learned Croese's General History of Quakerism GEN. Hist p. 62. ' They the Quakers condemn no Man till they hear him c. My Author the Historian is now so far besides the matter and gives a Relation so contrary to their practice that He and I must part again for I may not keep company with him at present but I must shew him his mistakes 1st In general They Summons all Archbishops Lordbishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars Curates and all Prelaticals as this Book sets forth at large not personally but fictiously and when this is done they Arraign Try and Judge them unheard to be Monsters Witches Devils Antichrists Bloodhounds Conjurers and false Prophets but to come closer to matter of fact viz. Particularly about the Year 1676. A difference happen'd between me and Sam. Cater and one of their Speakers touching a Fine of 15 l. which I suffered for him for that his Name and Habitation was unknown to the Justices so as to levy a Fine upon his Goods and Chattels and in regard I thought it but reasonable that he should make me restitution and also finding by their Books that in the loss of 13550 l. by Fines and Distresses by an Act of Parliament made the 22 of King Charles II. Entituled An Act to prevent and suppress seditious Conventicles c. The Preachers where strangers never lost 50 l. and thereupon not barely for my own sake but my Fellow Hearers I prosecuted Sam. Cater for restitution of the said 15 l. suffered for him as aforesaid in that he did not declare his Name and Habitation when he saw the Informers convicting the Meeting as at large set forth in my Book The painted Harlot both Stript and Whipt c. and that Entituled Reason against Railing c. and to which I refer the Reader for further satisfaction Yet to shew that they condemn Persons unheard and that their judicial proceedings are Arbitrary and Partial as well as Illegal and therein like the high Court of Justice which would not permit King Charles I. to give his Reasons nor to be heard in his just defence as at large in The History of Independancy c. I shall transcribe some passages of that Transaction viz. Anno 1676. I went to the Yearly Meeting in London and in the Face of their Assembly I proposed this Question viz. Whether Friends in the Ministry where they are strangers ought not to tell their Names and Habitations upon their apparent sight of Informers coming into the Meeting taking the Names of Friends in order to convict the Meeting that so they may stand in the same capacity relating to sufferings with the Hearers and not the Ministers in one capacity free from Sufferings and the Hearers in another capacity i. e. always lyable to Sufferings and not for themselves only but also for the Meeting-houses for the Poor and Indigent for Strangers and Forreigners and for the Preachers unless they declare their Names and Places of Abode c. This was such an unexpected and terrifying Question that it set the Synod on Fire and startled the most Eloquent Orator of them all insomuch that W. Penn steps upon a Form and adjourned the Meeting to Horsly-down Meeting-house in Southwark the next day at 7 in the Morning where after some private debate it terminated thus that unless a Magistrate or a Constable with his Staff came to a Meeting to demand the Speaker's Name and Habitation he was at his liberty whether to declare it or no upon which finding which way the Hare run I came home and the Month of September following I gave Sam. Cater a personal Summons to appear at our Monthly Meeting next following at Chattirise in the Isle of Ely where I demanded Justice against Sam. Cater but the Meeting refused and rejected my Reasons and then I appealed from thence to the Quarterly Meeting as Superior but that Meeting also thro' the influence of Sam. Cater refused to do me right Then I appealed from thence to the Yearly Meeting Anno 1677. as Superior to them all and as a preparatory for my matter I wrot seven sheets of Paper to W. Penn called Speeches and Passages grounded upon an Edict made at the Yearly Meeting Anno 1675. Whereby the Hearers were obliged neither to forsake decline nor remove their Meetings like worldly fearful and Cowardly Professors and on that bottom and for divers reasons grounded thereupon I set forth the reasonableness that the Preachers who thus advise and enjoyn the Hearers and exhort them to stand valiant and give up all should likewise stand the brunt and not shrink and turn back like Cowardly Officers and become the same worldly and politick Professors they advise us not to be like I also wrot a Letter to W. Penn J. Crook and R. Barkley referring the matter in controversy to them Thus being prepar'd I went to the Yearly Meeting Anno 1677. and after some discourse with W. Penn to give him his due he used great diligence to get me a Meeting which was at Ed. Man's House in Bishops-gate-street June 9th 1677. and there we came to this Agreement viz. Memorandum That on condition that Friends of the Quarterly Meeting do chuse and elect 10 or 12 Friends to hear and determine the controversy between F. B. and S. C. relating to the 15 l. Fine c. They the said F. B. and S. C. do hereby promise to stand to their final determination witness our Hands this 9th of June 1677. Fra. Bugg Sam. Cater Witnesses Jo. Whitehead G. Barnadiston W. Whaley Jo. Burnyate Amb. Rigg Leo. Fell and others But when the Quarterly Meeting came which was the 5th of Sept. 1677. I call'd for the written agreement but Sam. Fulbig with whom it was entrusted being Sam. Cater's Creature would not produce it neither would Sam. Cater allow that the Meeting should chuse any but themselves Moreover the Meeting resolved against any other Election but themselves by which I perceived their design but being tired with an endless prosecution I at last tho very unwillingly submitted to the Meeting who chose 12 out of themselves to examine the matter and to put an end to the controversy contrary to the condition of the recited agreement which only impower'd the said Quarterly Meeting to chuse and elect and not to judge
profess true Religion It is that which hath made the Jesuits to be abhorred amongst some of the honestest of the Papists themselves so that they would not let them come into their Houses If the Maid be a wise Woman and of Age to dispose of her self she will not let any of our Preachers meddle wiâ—h her concerns of chusing a Husband for her that is none of their business they should only meddle with their own business and let honest Friends make their choice themselves we have no Law nor Custome among us for such as defame lawful Marriages or obstruct lawful Marriages The Church of England is honester upon that account than we They make such as obstruct or defame Marriages either to make good their charge or to make sufficient satisfaction to the Parties wronged c. Again see W. Rogers second scourge for G. Whitehead who has been many years acquainted with their private way of raising Money and hoarding up Common Banks which indeed is as bad as hoarding up Arms and Ammunition for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so have I often said it is the Nerve of Heresie For this Dagon Money raised by the Common Bankers amongst the Quakers has an ill tendency many ways Well let us hear W. Rogers opinion thereof and Ellwoods answer thereto And yet when she Rome's Sister is but call'd She winches like touch'd Horses that are gaul'd Confusion her attends next follows wo For thus she whirls but God knows whether she 'll go Who when they wanted money to proceed The Church her cash then did supply her need And therefore when her cash was emptied she Crav'd money to supply her ministry And when that practice was dislik'd by some She seem'd like some whose downfal's near to come This Church will fall her load will be her guile If you O Flock keep Purse-strings fast a while When that Spring fails by her you 'll not be priz'd Usurpers then o'er you you 'll see despis'd And woes may long attend such prating Preachers As for preferment turn'd deceitful Teachers Fox is term'd Head yet Whitehead steer'd the course Till both was scorn'd and they grew worse and worse Thus Reader you see Testimony after Testimony against their raising Money for their Teachers in a clandestine way pretending they do all things free without Money or without Reward Now hear Tho. Ellwoods Answer by his Book stiled Rogero Mastix where instead of denying matter of plain Fact he confesses all what is said and laid to their charge viz. But that Christ's Ministers should be supply'd With necessaries by his Church his Bride Is such a known and certain truth as none Perhaps has e'er oppos'd but thee alone That 't is the Churches duty to supply The needful wants of all her Ministry And truth it is too plain to be deny'd Christ's Church should for Christ's Ministers provide What carps thou at then William would thy muse Plead that St. Paul did not this priviledge use That what was lacking to him privately The Macedonian Brethren did supply Thus it appear'd the Apostle did partake Of that Provision that the Church did make Christs Ministers to furnish and their need Supply when they want money to proceed Pretend thou can'st not that this Stock is given To such as have no need thereof but even Thy flurt at Richardson for taking pay For what as Clark he writes do much bewray Thy folly and injustice is' t not fit Who works for others should be paid for it And that by them who him to work desire The labourer is worthy of his hire Thus has Ellwood confest the whole matter and tells us 't is too plain to be denyed as indeed it is Thus you see they confess their Ministers take Money their Clarks take Money Why then do they so bitterly enveigh against the Clergy for taking Money and pretend that their Ministers take none But if Mr. Mead would open his Books of Accounts we should see how many Thousand Pounds their Speakers have in a Year besides their private Quarters who comes like Flies and Mice uncall'd or unsent for and so live on the Provision of others And this I may say that their Ministry hath cost me as much in 4 Weeks as the publick Ministry has cost me in 4 Years and yet these are the free Preachers free Writers and free People if you will believe them But having been more large on this Head in my Book Battering Rams against new Rome c. And that Entituled New Rome unmask'd c. I shall conclude this Head since they are first charged to preach for Money write for Money contrary to their pretences and that T. Ellwood whether at unawares or no I will not here determine has confessed to be matter of fact and thereby puts the thing out of doubt c. I find the Author of the Gen. Hist p. 63. treat about their Marriages and also a few days after a Child is born of their calling the Midwife Of the first he seems only to speak by way of commendation not mentioning so much as one of their Orders and as to the latter as if he were wholly a stranger to them there being no such matter as calling the Midwife or Neighbours on such an account However that he may the better be informed I shall shew several of their Forms for Marriages which are at large treated on in my Book Innocency vindicated and Envy rebuked c. The First Order for Marriage by George Fox printed by Tho. Symons the 7 of the 11th month 1659. Somewhat abstracted viz. And if any Friends go together in the power of the Lord after the thing hath been made known between themselves and laid before able Friends and nothing appear to the contrary they may declare it in the end of the next general Meeting or as they are moved they may declare it in the midtime of the Market on the Market day in the next Market Town or they may not as their freedom is And if they are moved they may declare it to the next Magistrate if they will or they may not then after in an Assembly not less than 12 they may speak their Testimony and then a Certificate may be given of the Day Month and Year and Recorded but that nothing be Recorded for money in these things but freely a free People serve one another in love c. A Second Order for Marriage by George Fox Anno 1662. And when they take one another in Marriage let not less than a dozen Friends and Relations be present according to your former Order having first acquainted your Mens Meeting and that it be Recorded in a Book c. A Third Order for Marriage Anno 1667. That as any are moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage let it be made known to the Children of Light and being by the Light made manifest to be of God let them be joyned
beginning And therefore in order to draw a perfect Map of Quakerism I shall consider 1. Who the Quakers Account False Ministers 2. How they pass Sentence on them as such 3. And particularly what bitter Enemies they are against Episcopacy 4. Who the Quakers account true Ministers and the true Church the Bride the Lamb's Wife And first who they account False Ministers 1. Such as Sprinkle Infants and tell People it is an Ordinance of Christ George Fox's Primer p. 84. 2. Such as Preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 3. All that do study the Scriptures and Preach out of them c. Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 7. 4. All that either Receive or Pay Tyth's c. Thomas Ellwood's Antidote p. 78. I could give a hundred Instances of the like Nature by these Primmers and Books they Teach their Children and Inculcate these horrible Principles into their Disciples viz. That all that Baptize with Water all that Preach out of the Scriptures all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above at God's right Hand making Intercession for us As our for ever Blessed and Adored Advocate In short all that Pay or Receive Tyth's And thus have they Sentenced not only the Ministers of the Church of England But Presbyterians Independents and Baptists and the Deceased Martyr's and Christians in all Ages and they are the same still they are not chang'd and by this they shall be proved to be the same in that 1st They so Profess to be in all the Parts of Quakerism and 2ly In that they refuse to Retract and Condemn these their Antichristian Principles Again Thirdly How they i. e. the Quakers pass Sentence on them as such see their Book A Brief Discovery of a Three-Fold Estate of Antichrist c. p. 7. 8 9 10. In Manner and Form thus stand their Superscription viz. Of the False Ministry 1. The Priests of the World are Conjurers Raising dead Doctrine dead Uses dead Motives dead Reasons out of the Letter which is Death raising Death out of Death notatable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichrists the Priests of Baal who cannot shew any Scripture for their Heathenish Ways and Beastial Worships 4. Witches and blind Guides who Bewitch poor Creatures 5. Devils the Serpent is Head in them 6. Lyers the Commission and Call of Baal's Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge these are not Ministers of Christ but Stewards of the Devils Magazine Dissemblers and Lyars a Vaporous and Serpentine Generation going about to Strangle the Child Jesus holding a Worm-eaten Beastly-form 7. Blasphemers yea of the Devil 8. Scarlet-coloured Beasts a Harlot full of Abominations and Filthiness 9. Babylon's Merchants Selling Beastly Wares for a large Price the Letter which is Dust and Death the day is coming when these Idol Merchants shall cry c. 10. Whited Walls Painted Sepulchers professing something possessing nothing but Poisoned Stuff 11. Ravening Wolves evermore Persecuting the pure Truth that the Saints live in Ring-leaders of that Wicked Design 12. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood-hounds still hunting and gasping after their Prey like the Mouth of Hell Barking and Raging like Sodomites 13. Eminent and Ambitious Pharisees living in the same Antichristian Steps that the Pharisees did of the Devil wear Gowns wo wo wo was the Portion of those Pharisees then and wo wo wo is their Portion now and Wo and Misery is the Portion of the Upholders whether King or Parliament of that Treacherous Crew and Deceitful Generation Reader I have shewed how the Quakers Arraign Try Judge and Condemn the Clergy And now I have fairly Recited their Sentence of Condemnation Pronounced by an Eminent Quaker Thomas Lawson and Witnessed too in York castle by three other of their then Principal Speakers viz. Thomas Aldam Benjamin Nicholson and John Harwood In which is a Letter Wrote by Ja. Nailer to George Fox and George Fox's Blasphemy and too much of that Nature But least these five should not give Sentence sufficient pray hear what my Lord Chief Justice W. Penn says who tho' he came in late yet he drives the Nail to the Head in his Witty Windy Wordy Book Stiled The Guide Mistaken c. p. 18. And whilst the Idle Gormandizing Priests of England run away with above 1500000 l. a Year under pretence of being God's Ministers and that no sort of People have been so Universally through all Ages the Bane of Soul and Body of the Universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of God's most dreadful Vengeance is reserved to Act their Eternal Tragedy upon c. The next Head I am upon is to shew what Enemies the Quakers were and still are to Episcopacy But having shewed already out of their Famous Smith's Works how they Dialogue their Clergy rip up the Bowels of Episcopacy charge the Book of Divine Service Established by Law and Confirmed by His Present Majesty's Royal Declaration to spring from the Pope c. And many other Quaker Testimonies I have Cited so that it seems needless yet that I may leave nothing without Presedent or Proof see Edward Burrough's Works p. 618. 619. In Answer to the Baptists Declaration Printed about the Year 1659. which also was Answered by Richard Hubberthorn as in the Dialogue But in regard that this Burrough's was a Prophet among them of the first Form even one of their three Worthy's A Son of Thunder one of whom 't is Written in the Volumn of the Commendatory Epistles prefix'd to his Works That he Burrows was endued with the Almighty Power of God and his Works Printed by the Approbation of G. Whitehead G. Fox and others of their Chief Leaders Anno 1672. when Episcopacy was Settled by Law and even when they Flock'd to the Parliament every day begging Favours yet then was this Re-printing And the like may be noted of Richard Hubberthorn's Answer to the Baptists Recited Declaration well to the Matter In Answer say E. B. to the Baptists Declaration Whereas you Baptists speak of the Publick Ministers of the Nation that you will not destroy them but stand by them and preserve them from Violence and Injury c. To which saith Burrows I answer what are you Baptists about to make a League and a Covenant with Antichrist Have you been opposing them in Words and are you now Recanting of what you have have done when you are sensible of a Danger upon you And will you now bind your selves to stand by them and preserve them from all Injury and even as they are Ministers too But let me ask you say this Innocent Quaker do you look upon them as Ministers of Christ or of Antichrist If Ministers of Christ wherefore do you oppose them Oh ye Hippocrites But if they are Ministers of Antichrist then how is it that you will stand by them and preserve them as such Is not this a League with Hell and Death c. I think
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