Remark at present I come next to shew what Slight and Contempt they have cast on the Scriptures in order to invalidate their Certainty and Authority and therein to shew G. W. how they value their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures both in words as well as in practice as I shall shew anon for I am not picking at the Rine now but plucking at the Root And tho I must confess they are sturdy Oaks yet the Ax that is laid will level them unless they repent which I pray GOD they may if it be his Will Amen First That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater Serious Apology page 49. By G. Whitehead in his Serious Apology p. 49. G. Whitehead's Ishmael p. 10. Secondly That which is written is the Letter which is Death and killeth Way to the Kingdom p. 8. Thirdly The Scriptures are a declaration of the Word the Husk Fourthly The Letter of the Scripture is carnal Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 7. and the Letter is Death and killeth In one of their Books * The Quakers Refuge fix'd on the Rock of Ages p. 17. they thus query viz. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these or not one Or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some words were not spoken by the grand Imposture some by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill expressed some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false Now Reader setting aside the Contempt George Fox George Whitehead and others anciently threw upon the Scriptures as Carnal Dust the Serpent's Meat Husk not of that Authority with what is said to be spoken from the Spirit of Truth and the like I say setting aside THAT what can be the natural Tendency of these Queries but to prejudice the weak Readers against the Authority of the Scriptures especially such who take Examples of them in that they never read a Chapter in their Meetings for the Worship of GOD. If what the true Prophets spake be FALSE If what good Men spake be ILL EXPRESSED If what wise Men spake be ILL APPLIED Then what is there left besides what was spoken by true Prophets good Men and wise Men If there be any as you seem to suggest that 't is spoken by the grand Impostor and by wicked Men and false Prophets c. And if there be some little left that was spoken by true Prophets and is true some by good Men well expressed some by wise Men rightly applied Yet you not having made any distinction who shall know what is true from that which is false that which is well expressed and rightly applied from the contrary since you have left these three wretched Questions unresolved and the Scriptures doubtful ambiguous and uncertain robbing them of that Authority which GOD's People from Age to Age have justly attributed to them As for the five Books of Moses who wrote them Moses or Hermes is now put into the world as a Question Yea whether either or neither be the Author of those Books Yea these very Writings of Moses which I never heard question'd before are now proposed whether Moses or Hermes be the Author of them Now if Moses and Hermes be all one then why is the Query put unless you would have Moses to be Hermes and not Hermes to be Moses And so Moses being lost and Hermes only a Philosopher in Egypt being found the Books going under the Name of Moses's shall be lost also If this was not your mind why do you fill the world with such Atheistical Queries c Christ himself often quoted the Writings of Moses * See Mark 12.16 Luke 16.29 Luke 24.27 Acts 3. Luke 26.27 44. and so did the Apostles I never till now took so much notice of this your wretched Design to bring the Scriptures into Contempt that so you might exalt your own unwritten Traditions and therefore there is Reason enough in this to shew that forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith CHAP. V. Shews that the Forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith IN my Book One Blow more at NEW ROME c. I gave six Reasons why I compared the Quakers to New Rome Rome's Sister c. Amongst which one was That they value their unwritten Traditions above the Scriptures five of those six G. W. never touches But that of their valuing their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures he says is a Lye without giving any one Demonstration c. And therefore to justifie my Charge That you value your unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures I prove thus First it never was from first to last your practice to read any one Chapter of the Bible nor any one Epistle of Paul Peter or any of the Apostles in your Meetings for Worship of GOD when as you have read the Epistles of Robert Sandyland Samuel Cater William Penn George Whitehead and Stephen Crisp with as much Attention and Devotion as the Papists do their Legends and this with what is writ in Chap. IV. is sufficient to prove the Point for I take all which is written in opposition to or in competition with the Scriptures to be unwritten Traditions Now if I can make it first appear that it is a principle of the Papists not to read the Scriptures in their Churches And secondly That it was and is the practice of Protestants to read the Scriptures in their Churches and Assemblies for the Worship of GOD then I hope Geo. Whitehead will not blame me for calling them New Rome who in almost every point follows their Example And also I hope it will be a caution to many of the Quakers to look about them who shall find themselves led by their Teachers into the very Road and High way to Rome before ever they so much as thought of it nay that they are in her very Borders and Territories when they thought all had been well and that they had been as their Teachers tell them and would make them believe even in the Heights of Sion in the Truth and none but THEY and that amongst them ONLY is God known elected before the world began and the like First Then to shew that it was against the principles of the Papists to read the Scriptures in their Churches Mr. HARDING against JEWEL By the Instinct of Satan Defence of the Apol. of Ch. of England p. 580. ye have brought the People from Devotion to careless Idleness from speaking to God with Hearts and Lips to a spiritual Dumbness from Prayers to Chapters from holy Think or silent meeting to unprofitable Hearing Thus much from one of the ablest the Pope had to defend his Errors by which the Reader may observe that
the Papists do account it a spiritual Dumbness and a Device of Satan and unprofitable to read the Chapters of the Bible in their Churches and that it prevents their holy thinking or to speak in their Younger Sisters Language prevent their silent Meetings the Parallel holds good Now let us hear what the Protestants and ancient Fathers opinion were in that case and the rather too because I am joined to a Church which proclaim the reading the Scriptures and perhaps it may be one of their reasons and none of the least neither why they call me an Apostate which is the second thing I promised to speak to in order to shew that the Quakers follow the steps of the Papists but will not once cast an Eye upon the Protestant Path in this particular For though they will not in plain words call the reading the Scriptures for worship of God Advice of Satan a spiritual Dumbness unprofitable Hearing and the like Yet they not reading one Chapter in 20 or 30 years together in their Religious Assemblies if so I may call them their Practice says Amen to the principles of the Papists in that point as well as bespeak their aversness to the Way Practice and Manner of the ancient Fathers Martyrs and Protestants to this day Now hear their sayings c. Secondly Origen saith Origen in Josua Homil. 15. The Books of the old Testament which are called the stories of the Jews were delivered by the Apostles to be read in Churches Justinus Martyr saith Vpon the Sunday the Christian People Justinus Mart. Apolog. 2. that dwell in Town or Country meet together in one place there the Epistles of the Apostles or the Prophets Writings are pronounced unto us afterwards he that is the Chief or Minister warneth and exhorteth all the rest that they will follow those good things that they have heard read THAT DONE we rise up all and pray together St. Cyprian saith Cyprian lib 2. Epist 5. The Reader findeth out the high and heavenly words he readeth out the Gospel of Christ he is seen of the Brethren he is heard with Joy of all the Brotherhood In the Council of Laodicea it is written thus Laodice concil Can. 16. Vpon the Sabbath day it is convenient that the Gospels and other Scriptures be read St. Augustine saith Ye heard when the Gospel was read August in 50 Homil. if ye give ear to the reading dearly beloved we have heard in the Lesson that hath been read c. Tertullian Apologitico lib. 2. Tertullian saith We come together to the reading the Holy Scriptures we feed our Faith with those Heavenly Voices we raise up our Affiance we fasten our Hope Where is the feeding of Faith that cometh by the open pronouncing and reading of the Scriptures St. Chrysostom saith The Minister and common Minister standeth up Crysostom in Acta Hom. 19. and cryeth out with a loud voice saying keep silence and give ear After that the Reader begins the Prophesy of Isaiah c. Isidorus saith The Lesson in the Church bringeth great profit to the Hearers Isidor de Eccles offic l. 1 c. 10. Therefore when singing is let all sing together when prayer is let all pray together and when the Lesson or Chapter is read let silence be made and let all hear together Now George I think I have made a full Reply and set you in your proper places and if you had medled with my other five reasons why I call you New Rome you might have heard more from me But since you thought it not for your Interest as indeed it was not unless Reason and Scripture back'd with the Authority of Antiquity might prevail upon you then I should think no Labour too much as much as you account me your Adversary However by this time I hope you are satisfy'd that forsaking the Quaker is no Apostate from the Christian Faith CHAP. VI. Shews that the forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith GGorge Whitehead in his Cont. Apostate c. p. 27. says But where are all required by Christ or his Apostles to pray for Kings and Queens by Names or charged as Offenders for not naming Persons in our Prayers The cont Apostate c. p. 27. may we not pray acceptably unless we tell GOD the Name of those we pray for c. Answ I only admonish you to pray for King William and Queen Mary as heartily and zealously as you did for the late King James but did not mention your addressing your selves too Gen. 20. Gen. 47.7 10. Exod. 1.6 to the end Cap. 2.23 24 25. Cap. 3.7 8 9 10. Acts 7.18 to 35 Psal 90.1 Josephus Ant. l. 6. cap. 5.67 1 Sam. 8 22. cap. 9.16 17. cap. 15.1.9 1 Tim. 2.1 2. 1 Chron. 28.4 onwards 1. Kings 18.25 Jer. 33.20.21 Psalm 132.11 12 13.14 2 Sam. 7.25 Psal 72 1 2. 2 Sam. 16.16 2 Chr 29.18 on Ezra 6.3 to 14. Josephus Antiq. l. 11 c. 4. Exod. 22.26 1 Pet. 2.13.14 Ezek. 19.10 and praying publickly for him whilst he was seated on the Throne as an evil or irreligious practice as such For it is my Judgment that we ought to pray for ALL KINGS which GOD in his Providence sets over us without disputing their Titles whether they be Pagan or Christian bad or good Hetrodox or Orthodox Persecutor or Protector if you deny it I am able to make it appear from the practice of many of Gods faithful Saints and Servants from Abraham downwards to this day see the Scriptures in the Margin But if you do not deny it then I ask why do you not as publick and heartily pray for King William and Queen Mary by Name as you did for King James by Name that in short is the Question For you are a considerable People for number and 't is requisite you should be plain hearted and declare your selves what you can do or what you can not do in this point That you did publickly pray for and address your selves to King James I shall make appear by part of two of your Addresses and the remainining four for there were six Addresses presented to him during his short Reign c. are of the same Nature viz. The Humble Address of the People called QVAKERS to King JAMES II. WE cannot but with grateful hearts both admire and acknowledge the Providence of God that made the Kings Retiring into our Native Country i. e. Scotland in 1679 give a happy Turn to his Affairs to the defeating and disappointing the designs of his Enemies We do justly conceive OVR selves obliged by a special Tye Looking-glass p. 11. to praise God for his Goodness in carrying the King through and over all his Troubles since by the same Providence and at the same time by which the LORD began in that more observable manner to evidence his care of him He made him the happy Instrument to deliver us from our troubles so
their Quarterly Book in Hadenlam in the Isle of Ely viz. It is ordered and agreed upon at this Quarterly Meeting that no Friends for time to come may permit or suffer Marriages without the Consent of Friends at two Mens and Womens Meetings and the Man and Woman to come both to the said Meetings to receive the Answer of Friends c. as more at large in my Book de Christ Libert p. 60 c. And it was against this and the like Orders which they imposed upon their Brethren as terms of Communion which had no Authority from Scriptures nor yet a President from any Christian Church the Papists only excepted that I brought this Testimony not to accuse the Martyr no surely but approving of his Doctrine I quoted him in vindication of Christian Liberty For if the leaving out the word SUCH being but an over-sight be so ill what art Thou that in thy Books leave out the word OTHER which is the distinguishing word c. and that knowingly and as such G. W. opposed the same and called the said Quotation Ranterism Loosness And for which I charged him as an Enemy to the Doctrine of the Martyrs which maintain Christian Liberty against Implicit Faith and Blind Obedience which they like the Papists endeavoured to introduce tending to enslave the People See a Recital out of G. W's Book Judgment Fixed c. p. 259 260. viz. I must tell thee Francis that this Position makes void all Christian Discipline Good Order and Church-Government leaving all loose and uncertain and we are sure thou hast here asserted corrupt Doctrine tending to practical Ranterism itself See now if this be not sordid Ranterism this loose gain saying Spirit leads thee into Come G. W. is it not plain That thou hast accused the Martyrs recited Doctrine to be loose to be sordid Ranterism to be practical Ranterism Thus have I Re-charged thee and leave it upon thy head until thou dost retract the same Object But some may say That tho' the Quotation of Dr. Barnes is sound and Orthodox in itself fairly quoted and rightly applied the recited ORDERS of the Quakers consider'd and their Imposing them and Recording or Excommunicating such as do not conform to them c * See my Book de Christ Libert p. 36. to p. 70. where the said Orders and the Authority given them at a yearly Meeting 1675 is at large recited c. And that G. W's terming it Ranterism as by the last Recital is manifest and thereby have accused the said Martyr according to my Charge c. yet possibly G. W. passed this Sentence on the said Martyr and his Doctrine as a Man in his own single capacity Answ No that he did not tho' possibly he upon occasion may so pretend for it came forth in Print in his Book styl'd Judgment Fixed c. which was printed as their Books generally are viz. by the Authority and Approbation of the 2d second days Meeting viz. by their Church Authority And to confirm that they in this their Doctrine of imposing the Observation of and exacting Conformity to their Orders whether their People believe it a Duty incumbent upon them yea or nay agree with the Papists See a Book put forth by W. Penn Intituled A brief Examination and state of Liberty spiritual * It might rather have been styled An Antidote against his former Book Intituled An Address to Protestants For 't is as much contrary to that as Popery is against Protestantism or Imposition to Christian Liberty c. c. where he says p. 3. It is a dangerous Principle and pernicious to true Religion and which is worse 't is the Root of Ranterism to assert that nothing is a Duty incumbent upon thee but what thou art persuaded is thy Duty c. The Papists say viz. We tell you that you ought to eat Fish and Flesh on those days the Church appoints on pain of deadly Sin You ought to have shaven Crowns long Beards c. And the Quakers now say Womens distinct Meetings as set forth by their Church that the rise practice setting up and establishing of Womens distinct Meetings is according to the Councel of God and done by the leading and ordering of his eternal Spirit †See de Christ Libert c. p. 36 43 44. to p. 70. And this tho' we produce not one Verse of Scripture to confirm it you ought to believe for we viz. the Quakers and Papists agree in this fundamental Point i. e. THAT YOV OVGHT TO BELIEVE AS THE * See your 12th Principle in Chap. 1. but more largely amplified in the first Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 9 10 11 12. CHVRCH BELIEVES And if you refuse Conformity on pretence you are not persuaded that 't is your Duty to obey the Church and shall dislike our Position That Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion And shall tell us That Conformity ought not to precede or go before Conviction nor Force before Persuasion We now tell you that it is a dangerous Principle and very pernicious to our Design and therefore and for that very Reason we will and have given it out That it is Ranterism sordid Ranterism tending to lay waste our LAWS and GOOD ORDINANCES as our Brother Solomon Eccles called Womens Meetings Thus Reader thou mayst perceive my Charge made good upon and against G. W. First by the Quotation I brought of the Martyrs words against their Impositions 2dly that the said Quotation as it is sound in itself so it is fairly done against which he brings his heavy Charge and grim Sentence OF CORRVPT DOCTRINE TENDING TO PRACTICAL RANTERISM YEA SORDID RANTERISM c. 3dly that it is rightly applied against their unscriptural Traditions and then imposing the observation †See The Quakers Detected c. p. 5. of their Womens Meetings which as John Hogg in his excellent Book Intituled An Answer to several material Passages in a Book published by W. Penn call'd A brief Examination of Liberty Spiritual c. p. 12. says MAY NOT WE SAY THIS BEARS FOR ROME c. Yea surely and the very Complexion of Rome too in many Parts Principles and Practices to which excellent Book which overturns all their Popish Subterfuges and unlocks all their secret Mysteries and close Juggles relating to their Impositions and displays their Errors to every Capacity I refer the Reader * This J. Hogg is a Minister amongst the separate Quakers a Man of good Parts and of good Repute It s true G. Whitehead makes a noise at the word SUCH being left out by my Printer or Compositor as a distinguishing word but then G. W. is more to blame in leaving out the word OTHER as I have said which word OTHER with the foregoing and subsequent words did sufficiently distinguish and set forth that I only intended them as a Protestant proof against their Romish imposing different things as necessary and as terms of Communion And
to be passed over with silence yea and such a thing as I do hereby challenge G. W. to give me one Instance in all the Religious Controversies extant amongst all that profess Christianity the Papists and Quakers only excepted that ever a Man 's own Wives Testimony was brought against him publickly in Print That the Quakers do practise it I grant when it is for Holy Church or as they term it for the Truth 's sake For let this be noted where the Papists say they act for the Church and for Holy Church c. There the Quakers frequently say for Truth 's sake for the Honour of Truth And that if any own them they own Truth if any write against them they then are reputed or write against Truth And on this foot and bottom what ever is said or done in favour or against this People 't is construed to be done for or against Truth And upon this foot doubtless do they in their blind zeal follow the steps of the Jesuits whose great business is to divide Families Kingdoms and Nations to set Wise against her Husband and Husband against the Wife c. which in the Passage before cited must be their design or else they would never publish my Wives Testimony in Print against me for my writing against them c. which as it is their Practice so it harmonizes ONLY with the Practice of the Papists so on the other hand it is against express Scriptures the Practice of the Primitive Christians and Blessed Martyrs as anon I shall GOD permitting make appear First That it is their Practice I prove from the Practice of John Feild c. who published Mr. Crisp's Wives Testimony against her Marriage with her Husband by a Public Minister according to Law about 18 Years after they had been so married See the 5th Part of Babels Builders unmaskt p. 9 10 c. John Feild * One of the Preachers of the FOXONIAN PARTY goes on says T. C. Inquisitor like and asks Why did thy Wife condemn your Marriage But may not those that pretend to sell Pardons and pray Souls out of Purgatory your Brethren say That if their Prayers and Pardons be not effectual why have and do so many give so much money for them If a Woman gives all she hath to have her Husband out of Purgatory an effectual proof of the worth of the Popes Pardons But to answer this busie Inquisitor John Field Take a View if your Brethren all the wicked Crew of Confessors that belong to your ELDER SISTER ROME and see how many of them to whom Confession is made that will so many Years after divulge it in Print For if any such Monsters be amongst the Romish Priests they be accounted very abominable And so much higher as your Pretentions be beyond theirs the greater is the aggravation of your baseness And I fear the wicked ONE was so great with you to instigate you to the publication of this in hopes thereby to make a DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VS viz. my Wife and me that so you might have your desires on us some of George Fox's Reformado's having said None thrive or prosper that speak against him But I bless GOD I fear not G. Fox's whole Black Guard of Lyers J. Feild R. Richardson Chr. Taylor c. Reader here I have shewed that it is their Practice And this is enough together with my Case to shew that they follow the steps of the Jesuits T. Crisps's Case is full and plain against them I shall next proceed to shew that this their Practice is contrary to the Scriptures for it is said Numb 30.13 Numb 30 13 14. But if her Husband disallowed them the same day that he heard them nothing that proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her bonds shall stand in effect for her Husband hath disallowed them and the Lord will forgive her See ver 14. So every vow and every oath or bond made to humble the Soul her Husband may establish it or her Husband may break it c. By which 't is apparent that GOD hath placed the headship in Man and given him the Dominion over his Wife And yet contrary to Scripture * For they know that I did disallow of her Testimony the day I heard it and contrary to the Practice of the Primitive Christians and Protestant Martyrs you have exposed her Testimony against her Head and Husband which admits of no other Construction but to make a difference between Man and Wife as Mr. Crisp well understood you in his Case Secondly I shall shew that it is against the Practice of the Protestant Martyrs See William Tindall's Book intituled The Obedience of a Christian Man p. 108. After that Eve was deceived of the Serpent God said unto her Gen. 3. thy Appetite shall pertain unto thy Husband and he shall rule thee or raign over thee GOD which created the Woman knows what is in that weak Vessel W. Tindall's Works p. 108. as Peter calleth her and hath therefore put her under the obedience of her Husband 1 Pet. 3. Wives to be in subjection to their Husbands he exhorteth Wives to be in subjection unto their Husbands after the Example of Holy Women in old time which trusted in GOD And as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord which Sarah before she married was Abraham's Sister and equal with him but as soon as she was married was in subjection and became without comparison inferior for so is the Nature of Wedlock by the Ordinance of God Paul saith Ephes 5. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the LORD for the Husband is the Wives Head even as Christ is the HEAD of the Congregation therefore as the Congregation is in subjection to Christ likewise let the Wives be in subjection to their Husbands in all things let the Woman therefore fear her Husband as Paul saith in the said place c. Thus I have shew'd both by Moses's Writings and the Apostles Writings and by the Judgment of William Tindall that worthy Protestant Martyr that as Women should be in subjection so are their Sayings concluded by the Authority which GOD hath given their Husbands over them Now hear his Opinion of the Practice and Principles of the Papists and their Politics * The Jesuits and Quakers practice agree in one who had laid by reading the Scriptures in their Churches as the Quakers have done pretend to be infallible in their Councels as the Quakers do Pray hear the Martyr what he says farther viz. On the other side I have saith William Tindall †Pag. 180. also uttered the Wickedness of the Spirituality the Falseness of the Bishops and Jugling of the Pope And how they have disguised themselves borrowing some of their Pomp of the Jews and some of the Gentiles and have with subtle Wiles turned the obedience that should be given to God's Ordinance Marriage unto themselves * So do the Quakers who