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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30035	The pilgrim's progress, from Quakerism to Christianity containing, a farther discovery of the dangerous growth of Quakerism, not only in points of doctrine, but also in their politicks, respecting their government, and opposite to it, together with their fund or common bank to support the same : with a remedy proposed for this malady, and the cure of Quakerism : to which is added an appendix, discovering a most damnable plot, contriv'd and carrying on by New-Rome, by an united confederacy, against the reformed religion and professors thereof, as will appear from the designs of their silent meetings, their monthly, quarterly, second-day, six-week, and yearly meeting, all which are particularly herein treated on / by ... Fr. Bugg.	Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724?	1700 (1700)	Wing B5383; ESTC R20744	232,865	530

Gulielmi Mariae Regis Reginae Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae primo May 24. 1698. this Act passed the Royal Assent N o 308. Provided always that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt any of the Persons aforesaid from paying of Tythes or other Parochial Duties or any other Duties to the Church or Minister nor from any Prosecution in any Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for the same Well after much struggling between the Foxonian Quakers that hold it Antichristian to pay Tythes tho' voluntarily paid yea a compleat Denial of Christ to be come in the Flesh quoting 1 John 4.3 yea downright Ranterism on the one Hand and the Storian Quakers who held it lawful to pay if the Supream Power gave it them nay not only the Tenth Part but even the Fifth Part if the Party thinks his Minister want it I say great Strugglings and Writings and Disputings were on both Parts about this so nice a Point and so necessary to be decided Wherefore at a Yearly Meeting held at London June 1693. and by the Authority of the same it was thus amongst other things Enacted And therefore that all due and godly Care be taken against the grand Oppression and Antichristian Yoke of Tythes that our Christian Testimony born (r) Soft Words and hard Names mixt and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all Respects and against Steeple-House-rates That Friends at all their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings be reminded to call for the Record of the Sufferings of Friends to see that they be duly gathered truly entered and kept and accordingly sent up to London as hath been often advised both of what Tythes c. are pretended to be due and for how long a time and the time when taken and by and for whom and what Goods are taken and the Value thereof as well those not exceeding as those exceeding the Sums or Quantities demanded it being a Suffering for both for Truth-sake they being in these Particulars found defective and imperfect in divers Counties which is an Obstruction to the general Record of Friend's Suffering And THEREFORE the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings are advised to take more Care for the future that all Friends Safferings for Truth-sake may be brought up to London as FULL and COMPLEAT in ALL Respects as POSSIBLE may be Thus Reader you see That this Act of Parliament being brought to the Quakers Light the Higher Power it is condemned as a GRAND Oppression and an ANTICHRISTIAN YOKE of Bondage suitable to the Doctrine of Fox Journal p. 400 to 478. R. Pye The Antient Test p. 2. T. Ellwood and Barclay The Anarchy of the Ranters c. p. 42. Ellwood 's Antidote p. 78 139. But still there is another Clause in the said Act of Parliament above-recited which they take as little Notice of as that of Tythes viz. Provided always and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Assembly of Persons dissenting from the Church of England shall be had in any Place for Religious Worship with the Doors lock'd barr'd or bolted during any time of such Meeting together all and every such Person or Persons that shall come to and be at such Meeting shall not receive any Benefit from this Law but be liable to all the Pains and Penalties of all the aforesaid Laws recited in this Act for such their Meeting notwithstanding his taking the Oaths and his making and subscribing the Declaration aforesaid Another Instance I may recite to shew the Presumption of the Quakers in their Yearly Convocations viz. In the xxii of K. Charles II. there was an Act of Parliament made Entituled An Act to prevent and suppress Seditious Conventicles In which it was said Be it Enacted c. That if any Person of the Age of Sixteen Years and upward being a Subject of this Realm at any time after the Tenth Day of May next shall be present at any Assembly Conventicle or Meeting under Colour and Pretence of any Exercise of Religion in other manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England c. at which there shall be Five Persons or more Assembled together over and besides those of the same Family c. shall suffer those and those respective Fines c. Now tho' it be well known that the Exercise of the Quakers Religion is not only otherwise than according to the Liturgy but directly contrary to it yet all must be Persecution that limit them As first the Liturgy teach the Practice of the Ten Commandments the Lord's Prayer and Apostles Creed which the Quakers have not the least Shadow of either in their Meetings or in their Families the Church Liturgy teach the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Prayer together with Confession of Sin which the Quakers reject as Idolatrous and Superstitious See the Picture of Quakerism p. 94 to 100. Well no sooner did this Act take place and some did forbear meeting in this Riotous manner but their Preachers came thro' the Nation and gave out their Epistles or Mandates commanding rather than exhorting the People to meet in great Numbers in spite of Law and Law-makers I receiv'd many Letters to that Purpose one whereof I may recite to shew how presumptuous they were in Summoning the King's Subjects to meet and transgress this Law which allow'd a moderate Tolleration considering how Retrograde their Religion runs to all Instituted Religion For there might Four meet besides those of the same Family and 't is probable that many Families have 12 or 15 in a Family Here then might have been Satisfaction to such as only mean to meet for their more private Edifying eitheir by Reading or Expounding some Portion of the Holy Scriptures and which is practised by the users of the Church Liturgy but alas this was too mean too low and contemptible for these proud Boasters to submit to The Letter is as followeth viz. This for Joshua Bangs † † Poor Joshua felt the weight of their Entertainment as well as Ben. Antrobus and many others Dear Friend BY this thou may'st know that God willing Jonathan Johnson and I do intend to be at Milden-Hall Meeting the next First-Day and shall be glad Friends GENERALLY may know thereof that we may have a good LARGE MEETING I mean Friends that are afar off in the Country R. S. The like I had from John Hubbard and others to appoint Meetings for Geo. Whitehead and others tho' often therein precaution'd not to mention the Names of the Speakers no they must go like di●guiz'd Ahabs and the poor silly Sheep must suffer for them and their own Transgressions too insomuch as that in the Loss of 13500 l. by Fines and Distresses our Teachers never lost 50 l. where they were Strangers and they had more Wit than to Preach at home where they were known Well but as these Letters as well as their common Practice was bottom'd upon an Edict made at a Yearly Meeting

in Answer to my Modest Defence where you say p. 7. But sure we are and always ready to make it appear that neither are our Books Blasphemous nor our Principles Pernicious Again p. 11. We are ready to undertake the Proof of every Doctrine we hold by and from the Scriptures this is False in Fact and a Notorious Lie in the Face of the Government First In that you knew I had presented to the Parliament the Reprint of an entire Book of yours stiled Ishmael c. which is both pernicious to the Fundamentals of Christianity and horridly Blasphemous Secondly In refusing to prove any one Doctrine you held at West Dereham Thirdly In refusing to meet Geo. Keith upon any of his Invitations Again p. 10. We sincerely own all that is written in the Scriptures concerning Christ respecting his Conception Birth Life Miracles Doctrines Death Burial Resurrection Ascension Mediation and Future Coming to Judgment when in reality you own not one of those Articles rightly nor as all Orthodox Christians own them as G. Keith's 4th Narrative has from your Books made evidently to appear Again p. 6. ibid. That we assume Rules of Discipline in Church Matters they are for our selves only Powers in Matters of Religion for and among our selves only Nor say they do we see how those Acts could be truly called Acts of Toleration to Dissenters if they did not tolerate each sort of Dissenters to assume Rules of Discipline Power in Matters of Religion and Forms of Church Government for and amongst themselves c. Again p. 11. And if it relate to Religious Performances as it seems to do by the next words i. e. having their Monthly Quarterly and Yearly Meetings c. From whence it is plain that these Monthly Quarterly and Yearly Meetings then when it suit their turn they own to be Religious Meetings and as such tolerated by the Act of Toleration and without allowing them the Act could not be called An Act of Toleration Yet to shew that Liars had need to have good Memories they in Contradiction to themselves when pinched from another Quarter for keeping their Doors Lock'd Barr'd or Guarded to prevent Inspection they in their Just Censure c. p. 26. confess saying These Meetings are not intended for Worship what then What For Government and to assume Rules of Discipline and Forms of Church Government which is more than the Establish'd Church can legally do without His Majesties Licence and therefore worse and more dangerous their Doors being kept Lock'd or Guarded and expresly against the very Act of Toleration in which is this Clause viz. Provided always and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Assembly of Persons Dissenting from the Church of England shall be had in any place for Religious Worship and such only the Act tolerates with Doors Lock'd Barr'd or Bolted during any time of such meeting together all and every such Person or Persons that shall come to and be at such Meeting shall not receive any Benefit from this Law but be liable to all the Pains and Penalties of all the aforesaid Laws recited in this Act for such their Meeting notwithstanding his taking the Oaths and his making and subscribing the Declaration And likewise as the Learned in the Law say Such Meetings with Doors Lock'd c. to assume Rules of Discipline and Forms of Church Government are expresly against the Rights of Parliaments the King's Prerogative and Liberty of the Subject and these Statutes following viz. 28 H. 8. c. 19 21. 27 H. 8. c. 15. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 3 Ed. 6. c. 10 11. 1 Eliz. c. 12. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 1 K. W. Q. M. Magna Charta c. 29. Pet. Right and that such as so meet run themselves into a Premunire But the Quakers being a united Confederacy a Body Politick Incorporated and having a Fund or Common Bank to support and propagate their Principles they are too powerful for any single Person and thereupon the Government is prayed to take it into their Consideration And that these Meetings are not within the Act of Toleration but obnoxious to the Laws and of a dangerous Consequence I have more fully shewn in my Pilgrim's Progress from Quakerism to Christianity c. 2d Edit in Octavo wherein I have more largely set forth their Monthly Quarterly Second-day Six-week and Yearly Meetings shewing they are not only for Government as themselves now confess but a Government Imperium in Imperio But one thing I cannot but observe in these Meek Harmless Quakers viz. in their representing the Justices Grand Juries and Burgesses of Norfolk and Suffolk as a Bloody-minded sort of Tyrants and that to the Right Honourable and Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament then no wonder they treat me at that disdainful rate they do and the Reverend Clergy for my sake but as hitherto Thanks be to God the Protestant Magistrates and the Episcopal Clergy have been a Bulwark against Popery so I trust they will against the prevalency of Quakerism and the danger of them which seems to threaten both them and the Nation A just Censure c. p. 12. And consider say they whether it was decent in the Aldermen and Burgesses of Bury c. thus to Impeach the Wisdom and Conduct of the Government P. 13. That all those high Charges in the Petition exhibited against us are grounded but upon their own groundless Jealousies they how mannerly say they let others judge offer the Parliament Hobson 's Choice cut our Throats or knock out our Brains And would they have the Honourable the House of Commons undertake this Inhumane piece of Butchery to defile their Hands in the Innocent Blood of so many Thousands of harmless People to Enact such a Barbarous Tragedy only to remove the groundless Fears of a few Jealous-headed Aldermen Justices Grand Juries c. of Bury c. P. 15. God forbid they should swim into it i. e. a peaceful Life and the Enjoyment of their Religion through a Sea of Innocent Blood c. But why is all this Why 'T is only that they prayed the House of Commons to take these things into their Consideration and that the Principles and Practices of the Quakers might be Examined and their Errors Censured and Suppressed whether by obliging them to Retract their Errors or if not to order their Books to be Burnt by the Common Hangman or any other Method as to their great Wisdom shall appear to deserve c. and for this Noble Act this Generous and Christian Undertaking with that Modesty which highly became them to be thus Censured by the Quakers to Impeach the Wisdom of the Parliament to excite them to a Barbarous Tragedy to cut their Throats that they may swim through a Sea of Blood is not only a False Pernicious and Scandalous Representation of the Petitioners and their Right of Petitioning but it is Imperious in

Eminent Quakers I can mention if need be But I understand the World so well as not to make these things the Subject of my Discourse nor did I ever mention any such thing in Print only G. W. gives now Occasion for it 3 dly As to the Author of the Snake in the Grass c. I am sensible G. W. does as much abuse him and indeed what Opponent ever had G. W. that he did not abuse However he has been and still is a Gentleman a Man of great Learning and Piety and cloathed with Zeal as with a Garment for the Christian Religion and well accomplished every way to display the Errours of the Quakers and is preparing an Answer to G. Whitehead wherein he I believe will trace him step by step in all his crooked and by paths But G. Whitehead I have not done with you yet you tell us in the History of your Call to the Ministry saying The Lord hath called me from my Native Country and from my Father's House and from outward Riches and the Honour of the World c. Jacob found in a Desart Land c. p. 8. I do well remember that when I came first amongst you this was a great part of your Cant as if you had been some Lords Sons yea Men of Breeding Riches and Honour and left all for the sake of Souls when alas upon a strict Enquiry of which I have not been wanting I find you in this as well as in almost every thing else horrible Deceivers for you left your poor Country for a Richer and like Yorkshire Hostlers are observed seldom or never to return thither again You came from Penury to Plenty from Labour and Toil to Ease and Pleasure you came from your Father's poor Cottage which I have been told by them that saw it that it is not worth 50 s. to Houses worth 500 l. a good Exchange believe me and you were so far from being possess'd with outward Riches that you came a poor Boy on Foot and liv'd upon Alms amongst us sometimes a Month here Six Weeks there more or less as you could find Entertainment the mean time improving that little Learning you had as well as to instruct the Children in the Family But George thou left thy Honour too how came that to pass What Worldly Honour wert thou endued with Was it to carry a Letter to a great Person sometimes for a piece of Victuals Very well I think that is as much as ever during thy Dwelling in thy own Country thou didst arrive to and for this in time thou hadst the Honour to send thy Servant and ride thy self on Horseback with a London Linnen-Draper riding before thee Benjamin Antrobus and John Kent worth some Thousands for ought I know riding behind thee carrying thy Portmantle and thy self George in the middle like some Peer Thus George instead of leaving thy Riches thy Honour c. thou left thy Penury and Contempt and by Deceit like thy Brother Sam. Cater who pretended he suffered 20 l. when he suffered not a Groat but by that Pretence got 10 l. clear into Pocket Picture of Quakerism drawn c. p. 106 to 111. at large But HARK George I find you so deceitful that I fear thou hast laid a Foundation in this thy Jacob found in a Desart Land and with Design too to have thy Friends after thy Decease when they collect thy Works to magnifie thy Call to thy Ministry out of thy Father's Country for the sake of Souls when alas it was for filthy Lucre-sake in leaving thy outward Riches when alas it was to get Riches and Honour Object 2. But may some say What will the Quakers give such notorious Accounts of their Call to their Ministry And are they generally of such a mean Abstract and yet so advanced Where is the Self-Denial they so often boast of And why do they debase the Clergy as a Tribe of Covetous Worldly Teachers Since if others be like Whitehead none exceed the Quaker Teachers in Worldly-mindedness Answ First Well to Answer this Objection take G. W. for one Instance 2 dly Sam. Cater who was a poor Journeyman Carpenter and when he led James Naylor's Horse into Bristol crying Hosannah to the Son of David and put in Prison he was well acquainted with Vermin Rags and Penury however 't is believed he is worth now besides Portioning out his Children some Hundreds 3 dly John Kilborn another Journeyman Carpenter as poor as either Whitehead or Cater when they first set up for Speakers now a Wealthy Man 4 thly William Bingley a poor Taylor wrought for 4 d. or 6 d. a Day in the North with Tho. Denison or others now a Rich Man 4 thly Samuel Wallingfeild a Glazier formerly but since a vast Rich Draper in London 6 thly Tho. Green a Mason or Bricklayer now a Man worth many Thousands 7 thly George Fox a poor Journeyman Shoemaker died worth Abundance and liv'd in as much Plenty as most Knights in England 8 thly Stephen Crisp formerly a poor Weaver but died very Rich. I have known most of these Eight Persons near 30 Years some longer and setting the Glazier and Mason aside which possibly might make up jointly 100 l. if need were but the other Six I do verily believe was not all worth 100 l. unless they had sold their Axes Saws Thimble and Needles Beds Stools Shuttle and Awl But such is the Art of their Preaching how much soever they decry Gifts and Rewards in others that put what Geo. Fox and Steph. Crisp died worth to what the other Six living for ought I know together and by the most modest Account that I can get together with my own Estimation their Estates thus got by Preaching is not so little as Twenty Thousand Pounds but some think nearer Thirty Thousand Pounds Now then I dare engage to produce 500 Clergymen whose Fathers were Men of Estates who brought them up at Schools and Colledges with great Expence and Charge and that since they came into the World have been frugal Men and liv'd as many Years in their Office of Preaching and yet have not advanc'd their Fortunes to this degree And yet to behold how their Books are fill'd with reproachful Language as well as their Sermons against the Clergy as a Tribe of Mercenary Hirelings Lovers of filthy Lucre Followers of Balaam for Reward seeking their Gain from their Quarters Greedy Dogs Babylon's Merchants Covetous Devils Thieves Robbers A Brief Discovery of a threefold State c. p. 5 7 8 9 10. Yea says W. Penn And whilst the Idle Gormondizing Priests of England run away with above 150000 l. a Year under Pretence of being God's Ministers and that no sort of People have been so universally thro' Ages the very Bane of Soul and Body to 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 Guide mistaken p. 18. And