Meeting held in London the v. vi vii and viii â—â—ys of the 4th month 1693. p. 2. Several other Epistles from forâ—ign parts as Barbadoes Maryland Pensilvania Virginia Scotland and Holland were read an Epistle from Amsterdam in Holland Ja. Dickinson and Tho. Wilson at this Meeting gave an account of their Travels in Barbadoes East and West Jersey Pensilvania Maryland Virginia New England North Carolina Rhoad Island Long Island Antego Nevis c. Four Epistles from Ireland one from the last year Meeting in Dublin another from Ulster Province another from Munster Province the fourth from Conought Province Meeting An account was given of Dantzick friends A Letter also from Jamaica that there are a People rais'd up and increased in Germany from among the Lutherans called Pietists by some called Quakâ—râ— persecuted by the Duke of Saxony and the Priests several of our Friends Books have been spread amongst them Again p. 3. Friends appointed to view the â—ccounts report that they find they are truly stated and right kept and friends are again advised to bring up with them the tâ—tal sum of each Counties Collection Query did Wm. Crouch not forget the 5 l. he disbursed Again p. 4. the six friends of the City appointed and intrusted this Year with the accounts are William Crouch John Staploe William Macket William Chandler William Beech Nathaniel Marks Observation Reader A small Remark will serve 1st 'T is plain they hold a Correspondency with and receive Letters from Foreigners return Answers spread their Books into foreign parts pretending to spread truth as if the Scriptures were deficient 'T is also plain that they have a Fund or Bank and a yearly Tax collected to maintain their Teachers Travellers and Spies both at home and abroad see my Books Battering Rams against New Rome c. p. 14. New Rome unm p. 60. 'T is also plain that they have Common Bankers with whom the keeping of the Exchequer is intrusted their Names are W. Crouch J. Staploe W. Macket W. Chandler W. Beech Nath. Marks See W. R.'s Second Scourge for G. Whitehead c. on this Head SECT XIV French King YOu are not to meddle with State Affairs or matters of Justice Protest Nor will we debate about State Affairs or make any orders in relation to them The King and Parl. of England An Act of Parliament made the first year Gulielmi Mariae intituled An Act for exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Laws c. Numb 308. Provided always that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt any of the persâ—ns aforesaid from paying of Tythes or other parochial duties or any other duty to the Church or Minister nor from any prosecution in any Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for the same Quakers Yearly Epist p. 1. And therefore that all due and godly care be taken against the Grand Oppression and antichristian Yoak of Tythes that our Testimony born and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all respects and against Steeple-house Rates as also against the burden and imposition of Oaths that Friends at all their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings be reminded to call for the Records of Friends Sufferings 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 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 by distress for non-payment and the value thereof as well of those not exceeding as those exceeding the sums or quantities of Tythes demanded it being a suffering in both for Truths sake They the said Monthly and Quarterly Meetings being in these particulars found defective and imperfect in divers Counties which is an obstruction to the General Records of Friends Sufferings and therefore the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings are desired to take more care for the future that all Friends Sufferings for truths sake may be brought up to London as full and compleat in all Respects as possibly may be A complaint being made that some that profess truth carry Guns in their Ships 't is therefore recommended to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings to deal with them c. Observations Reader the disparity between the Quakers and the Christians in their practice behaviour gratitude and duty is obvious 1st The French King commands his Subjects not to meddle with State Affairs the Protestants with all complacency answer him no they do not desire it neither will they so much as make orders about State matters as not being their present station being Dissenters from the Religion by Law established Thus you see the harmony of the French King and his Subjects and so much for that next you see in the first year of his present Majesty he with the advice and consent of his Parliament indulged the Quakers the free exercise of their perswasion from the penalty of poenal Statutes but in the same Act for their Indulgence there is a clause as above told which ratifies and confirms the payment of Tythes and all Church dues as firm as ever In the next place you see what the Quakers say of it They tell you That Tythes are a grand oppression and not only so but which is worse an Antichristian Yoak yea such a yoak as that whoever receives or pays Tythes does therein deny Christ to be come in the Flesh by their doctrine And thereupon by this Epistle which is to go through England and Wales and elsewhere they warn their Disciples to maintain their Testimony against the payment of Tythes in all respects the like against Church-wardens Rates and withal stoutly to oppose the Imposition of Oaths Nay this is not all yet but being sat in state to hear the grievances of the Nation there is a Complaint come up to the yearly Meeting that some who profess truth as if there were none who profess truth but the Quakers carry Guns in their Ships Well they hear this Complaint but refer that business to the Country Sessions I mean their Quarterly Meetings for they have business of great moment and thus instead of thankfully enjoying the Governments kindness they are privately undermining it by alienating the Kings Subjects from their active obedience to the known Laws of the Land for this Epistle alias Edict is to go through England and Wales and elsewhere this elsewhere is through the world for as Rome is the Papists Metropolis whose Decrees reach to the ends of the earth where Papists live so is this yearly Meeting in London the Quakers Metropolis and from thence goes forth their Law which is obliging and binding as far as there are any Quakers And if any desire to stay until they be convinced Oh no! says W. Pen away with this loose plea for it is a dangerous principle and pernicious to the true Religion And which is worse The Examin
Christ c. Which is as large an Excommunication as the Pope himself or his Infallible Council ever pretended to for they have not only by their Bull of Excommunication cut him off as they dream from the fellowship of the Quakers in London Wales c. but off from the whole Church of Christ And as this is a great arrogancy in the Quakers and presumption too so do they thereby differ from the French Protestants And in regard this their Bull of Excommunication was denounced against G. Keith for that he did not effectually call in his Books writ against the errors of the Quakers and thereby clear the body of the Quakers from those errors charged upon the Quakers in Pensilvania which in Conscience he could not do in regard he knew them Guilty thereof This is a plain demonstration that W. Pen's averring that they never endeavour to hinder the sale of their Adversaries Books is a great untruth See the next proof Instance III. In the year 1693. I put forth a Book entituled New Rome Arraigned c. which the Quakers by an Officer seized and carried 60 of them to a Quakers house and Indicted me in the Old Baily London An Abstract of the said Bill of Indictment is as followeth London ss At the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden for the City of London at the Guild-Hall of the said City on Monday the ninth of October 1693. before Sir J. F. Knight Mayor of the said City Sir P. W. Kt. Sir J. M. Kt. Aldermen Sir S. L. Recorder of the said City the King and Queens Justices to hear and determine the transgressions of Felons and other enormities committed within the said City The same Sessions is adjourned by the foresaid Justices until Thursday the 12th of the same month of October 1693. at 7 of the clock in thâ— forenoon at Justice-hail in the Old Baily London to be holden before the foresaid Justices and their Associates according to Custom c. And now passing by most of the form I come to set forth the Aggravating terms of their said Indictment c. Ut supra A certain Bill of Indictment against one Francis Bugg then and there brought before B. B. G. B c. Jury-men then and there sworn and charged to enquire for the said King and Queen and the body of the said City And was returned by the Jury thus Indorsed Ignoramus Which Bill follows in these words The Jury for our Lord the King and Queen do present upon their Oaths That Francis Bugg late of London Yeoman being a person of an unquiet and turbulent disposition devising practising and intending falsly unlawfully seditiously and maliciously Geo. Whitehead Ja. Park Ben. Antrobus Sam. Waldenfeild c. faithful Subjects of our Lord and Lady the King and Queen now of this their Kingdom of England extremely to scandalize to prâ—curâ— and bring to Infamy and Reproach amongst their Neighbours and other Subjects of our said King and Queen As also to move stir up and cause discords tumults and miserâ—â—â— slaughters between the Subjects of this Kingdom of England on the 18th day of September in the 5th year of our Lord and Lady c. And upon divers other days and times as well before as after at London aforesaid to wit in the Parish Church * * T is not a Steeple-house it seems now however neither I nor the Quakers wear there of St. Christopher in Farringdon-Ward he falsâ—y maliciously seditiously and illegally made composed and printed published and dispersed amongst the Subjects c. a certain scandâ—â—ous mal cious and defaming Libel against the said G. Whitehead c. The same English Book or Pamphlet not being first Entered in the Register-book of the Cmpany of Stationers of * * No more do the Quakers of London and also not being Lycenced by Act of Parliament ††Why does not G. W get his Books Lycenced by Act of Parliament Proclamation or added to the Book this may be Printed by vertue of any Warrant under the Seal c. or one or both the principal Secretaries of State c. nor Lycenced * * I hope the Quakers will Lycence their Meetting-houses now they thus severely persecute me for not Lyceâ—cing my Book Canes timidi vehementius latrant nor Authorised by any person whatsoever against the form of the Statute in that case lately made and provided to the bad example of all that shall offend in that case and against the Peace of our Lord and Lady the King and Queen their Crown and Dignity Ignoramus Goodfellow Reader I have transcribed enough to shew their indicting me and that for no other crime than not Lycencing my Book If they say I put up a mock-Pillory to shew what they in reality deserved who as in the same Book I have set forth offered to suffer as in the case of Perjury if they falsify their word which they did do in the Case of Evidence and that in the Name of the Lord which amount to an Oath But suppose the form of a Pillory was not easy to them must I therefore be tried and judged to move stir up cause discords tumults and miserable slaughters c. Well however as this shews what the Quakers would do had they power so it is a sufficient proof that they did endeavour to hinder the Sale of my Books also this their indicting me shows what an envious and lying spirit they G. Whitehead and his Brethren are of SECT XVIII AS I have shewed how contrary the Principles and Practices of the Quakers are to the Principles and Practices of the French Protestants and indeed to all other Christians I am now about to shew their disparity in the Articles of their Faith setting forth an Abstract of the French Protestants Confession of Faith containing 40 in number which was presented to several French Kings as judging it a most proper way to obtain their Liberty as at large in the 1st Volume of J. Quicks History stiled Synodicon in Galia Reformata p. 6. to 15. And likewise what the Quakers believe if they believe as they write for by reason they have not given forth distinct Articles of their Faith like the Christian Churches in all ages I must collect some select passages out of their Books in one Column and the French Protestants in another viz. The Quakers Faith A Declaration to all the world of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers Concerning God and Christ Burrows works p. 439. We believe there is one only true God who is a Spirit and his presence filleth heaven and earth and he is eternal and everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things Sauls Errand to Damascus c. p. 8. He that hath the same spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with God The Sandy Foundation p. 12 16. The vulger doctrine of satisfaction being dependent on the Second Person of the imagined Trinity of distinct persons
any Prosecution in any Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for the same And I knowing these things and considering their calling part of the Parliaments proceedings in the very same Act of Parliament grand oppression yea an Antichristian Yoak of Bondage and as such warn their Disciples not to pay them thereby acquitting and absolving the Kings Subjects if the Quakers be such from their active obedience to the Laws of the Land and which is still worse to cause them to bring up to London a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the distresses taken for their non-payment of Tythes Church-Wardens Rates c. and all this disobedience is in a great part owing to the usurpation of this Anti-magistratical Synod or Convocation Nor is this all but if their yearly Epistles which they keep as close as possibly they can were all seen you would see a hundred Instances of the like kind one more I may shew viz. In the 22d Year of King Charles the 2d there was an Act of Parliament made to prevent seditious Conventicles and that no Meetings above the number of four besides the Family were to beheld under pretence of Religious Worship in other manner than according to the Liturgy of the Church of England But in direct opposition to this the Quakers made a Law at their Yearly Meeting or Convocation held at Devonshire House the 27th of May 1675 viz. So it is our Advice and Judgment that all Friends Gathered in the Name of Jesus keep up those publick Testimonies meaning their Meetings in their respective places and not decline forsake or remove their Publick Assemblies because of times of sufferings as worldly fearful and politick Professors have done meaning the Presbyterians Independants and Baptists because of Informers and the like Persecutors Signed per G. Whitehead William Pen c. Whereby it may be seen that their Principles and Doctrine are Anti-magistratical and Unscriptural too for said Christ If they persecute thee in one City flee to the next And his Desciples met privately for fear of the Jews as more largely handled in my Book The Painted Harlot both stript and whipt c. Thus much by way of Apology for my Impeaching the Quakers presumptuous Proceedings in their Synodical Assembly 4. That what I have wrote hithetto or great part of it is not of my own doing but by the Assistance of Learned Persons Answer I know it has been the way and manner of the Quakers from the first day I wrote against their Errors to use all the ways and means they can to blast my endeavours and by lies and false insinuations to weaken my Testimony sometimes I write say they like a Fool a Boy of 11 Years of Age will laugh at it when that will not do then I write so much otherwise that it cannot be my own but some of the wicked Priests as they account the Clergy help me c. And this being bruted abroad several Gentlemen have desired me to give some account thereof which is as follows When G. W. in his charitable Essay p. 2. charged me with Socinianism saying Why did not thy Minister stop thee from running into such Socinianism c. I went to Mr. Archer our Minister and shewed him the passage and desired his assistance all answering that particular He read Whitehead s Essay and my Book to which his was pretended to be an Answer and he told me that what I had wrote was found and he immediately took his Pen and wrote part of the 3d and 4th pages in the Introduction of New Rome Arraigned c. And which I also in the same page acknowledge in these words And this my Minister tells me is not Ignorance nor Socinianism but your Books teach it c. And except this I do not know that ever I had any Clergyman or other Scholar by me an hour in all I have wrote nor six lines added or diminished by any such a one nor has any Man so much as seen this before I sent it to London for the Press I do say that my Book New Rome Unm. c. and New Rome Arraigned c. I did show to Mr. Archer and to another neighbouring Minister a very worthy and learned person in Manuscript and both of them might alter here and there a word which in the whole in both Books might contain 3 or 4 lines but they altered no matter neither by adding or diminishing but very well approved of what I had done considering my capacity as to Learning and my business as a Tradesman But what if I had assistance I am not the first better men than I am and fitter for such work have had assistance I could if it were for my present purpose shew that the very Quakers who pretend they write by the Eternal Spirit immediately from Heaven they not only have assistance but when their Books come at their second days Meeting in London for Approbation they then will take out and put to what is said to be thus wrote in the Name of the Lord which is a most horrible cheat for their message so wrote is either so or not so if so how unfaithful are these Seers to alter what was given forth in the Name of the Lord if not see what Impostors are these Elders to approve of what they believe is false And yet how frequent is it with their Quaker Teachers to question the truth of all mens sincerity but their own charging the Clergy to be False Prophets c. And now I do challenge G. W. and W. P. to produce one Clergy-man in the Nation that ever prophesied in the Name of the Lord and the thing came ot to pass But G. W. and W. Pen know that 't is frequent with their Preachers so to prophesy and are found false Prophets in that the thing comes not to pass witness Sol. Eccles who prophesied that John Story should dye within a year he being at that time ill yet it pleased God he lived about 4 years after But why should they render me such an Ignoramus as that I should not be able to deal with the Quakers who are not such Conjurers themselves I know they did not always account me so when they chose me to be their Representative to go to the London meeting about Sufferings about the year 1670. Nor when I was Clerk to their monthly and quarterly meetings 16 or 18 years together Nor when they had their Register-book to new model and to add Ely sufferings to it which old Records being by me serve to shew me many of their Intrigues particularly Sam. Cater's sham-suffering for preaching at Plakenham in Norfolk where pretending he lost 20 l. yet got 10 l. clear by it See Sect. 17. c. as this Licence shews viz. Fra. Bugg we desire thee to draw out the sufferings out of the monthly Book and record them in the Publick Register-books and add Ely and Littleport sufferings to the rest Let them be done carefully and
and shewed by what arts they have come on and advanced their Errors I am now coming to shew the way of Lucius the first Christian King as History saith that the world ever knew to propagate the Christian Faith he did not stay at this place and that to write Papers and Books to spread truth nor did the Bishop of Rome at that time order him so to do as was the practice of Geo. Fox no to the Law and to the Testimony this was the way that every planter of the true Christian Faith took of which I will give you a noble instance * Eng. Chron. by John Heath p. 19 20. This Royal King Lucius being mindful of Religion that dearest part of Government more than any other consideration the better to prosper the work so prosperously begun sent two learned men to Elutherus then Bishop of Rome to be farther instructed in the Christian Faith who thereupon sent him Fagarius and Damianus with his Letter in the following words as saith the Historian viz. You have received in the Kingdom of Briton by Gods mercy both the Law and Faith of Christ you have both the Old and New Testament out of the same thro Gods Grace by the Advice of your Realm take a Law and by the same through Gods Sufference rule your Kingdom of Brittain c. Having such a good example from this Learned Bishop and Religious King I shall first set down some Scriptures which have been both by Kings and Subjects thought special commands and binding and obliging all men whether all have been so perswaded yea or nay yet I say the faithful Christians in all ages and generations have taken them as their Rule of Obedience and to be of that authority to quell and subdue all those diabolical delusions which will suggest the contrary viz. Mat. 22.21 Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods St. Paul to Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates to be ready to every good work 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well Honour all men love the brotherhood fear God honour the King Rom. 13.1 2 3. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation for rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil Wilt thou * G. F. heed not a Cart Load of Warrants then not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same †W. Tyndals works i. e. of the obedience of a Christian man p. 111. For God hath made the King in every Realm judge over all and over him there is no Judge he that resisteth the King resisteth God If the Subjects sin they must be brought to the Kings judgment if the King sin he must be reserved unto the judgment of God and as it is to resist the King so is it to resist his Officers which are set or sent to execute the Kings commandment for it is written let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers * G. W. what think you of this Doctrine here is no man exempt but all souls must obey Thus I have given a brief account of the Christian Faith First what Christ who is the Head of the Christian Church and Author of the Christian Faith he said Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and his Apostle Paul bid Titus put the believing Christians in mind to obey Magistrates and to confirm this point St. Peter is very express Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake not so much that he favours us or is kind and governs gently by wholsome Laws these things indeed are good and great mercies to a people but our submission ought to be for the Lords sake who hath ordained Magistracy and Government for so saith St. Paul the powers that be are ordained of God and whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God Likewise you may read the Doctrine of W. Tyndal in his Book entitled The Obedience of a Christian man and see how the blessed Martyrs espoused and maintained the same delivered by the Apostles SECT XI NOW in order to give a right understanding and that from plain matter of fact of the difference between the faith and practice of the Quakers of the one part and the faith and practice of the Christians in all ages since the days of Christ I have a purpose to set forth as a particular instance the practice of the Reformed Churches of France in regard they live under a Popish King rather than the Church of England and chiefly for this reason beeause the Quakers are so prejudiced against our Clergy Tho I believe there is not sounder men nor a better disciplined Church in the world yet I say they having always been so prejudiced against them as to call them Beasts Dogs Baals Priests Witches Devils Antichrists Blasphemers and a thousand such unchristian and horrible names on purpose to beget an ill opinion in the people of them as Burrough in his Epistle to Fox his Mystery confesseth that so they might leave and forsake them also considering how frequently they have in their Books arraigned impeached and condemned the Magistracy of England under the odious names of the Beast which carry the Whore the Persecuters of Gods People the Antichrists c. That I think it more proper to take a foreign parallel that if possible they may at last be brought to a confession of their Errors burn their Books renounce their Religion and bethink themselves where they have been what they have been doing and how scandalous their antimagistratical principles have been to the Christian Religion not that I have leisure or parts to set forth this matter as it ought to be done but am content to be as a Carpenters Man to hew off the knots and make the work fit for better Workmen to compleat what I leave imperfect and in order to this I shall abstract some few passages of the 28th Synod held at Charenton in France viz. The Acts of the 28 Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by his Majestys Permission at Charenton near Paris on Monday the 26th day of December 1644 and ended Thursday the 26th of January 1645. See the Acts Decisions and Decrees of the Reformed Churches of France per John Quick vol. 2. p. 425. First Monsieur Drelincourt opened the Sessions with Prayer and then the Lord Marquis of Clermont General Deputy presented
of receiving them and their Testimony you have caused them * Here Sam. thinks to blind the poor Quakers and make them believe he was a 20 l. sufferer when he lost not a groat to suffer And them also that did receive them and their Testimony The Lord forgive you is the desire of him that chuses rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God than to live in the pleasures of this world Sam. Cater I have laid a snare for thee and thou art taken O Babylon and thou wast not aware thou art found and also caught put your selves in array against Babylon round about all you that bend the Bow shoot at her spare no Arrows for the Lord hath opened his Armoury and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation for this is the work of the Lord God of Hosts Jer. 50.14 24 25. SECT XVI Fr. King WE do forbid you to print any Books in any place whatsoever concerning Religion which are not Attested i. e. Licensed by two Manual Certificates at least under pain of losing the whole Impression Prot. Nor as his Majesty hath demanded of us will we suffer thâ—se Canons of our National Synod concerning the Approbation i. e. Licensing of Books that shall be pâ—inâ—â—d on matters of Religion to be violated it being our sincere and most fixed Resolution to obâ—erve in the precisest and strictest manner their Majesties Edicts and under the benefit of them to lâ—ad a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Quak. Epist ibid. p. 3. It 's desired that the monthly and quarterly meetings respectively takes notice of all Friends Books that are or may be sent to them according to former agreement and take care for the dispersing the same for the service of Truth c. and take care to advise the Correspondents for the Counties to write only to your Correspondents in London about their sufferings lest their suffering case be delayed Renewed advice to the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and for the preserving and spreading Friends Books for Truths service Dear Friends THese are to let you understand that our Friends have at several yearly Meetings had under their serious consideration hw all those Books that are printed for the service of Truth and the unity of Friends might most effectually be spread for a general service to Truth and Information unto Friends and others And at the last yearly Meeting it was left unto this meeting who have settled as followeth viz. That those that print friends books shall the first opportunity after printed within one month at most send to one of the Correspondents in the several Counties viz. For each Monthly Meeting two Books of a sort if under Sixpence and one of a sort if above Sixpence for these reasons 1. For Friends to have general notice of what Books are printed 2. That they may send for what other quantities they may see a service for 3. That the Printer may be encouraged in printing for friends 4. That one Book at least of a sort that shall be printed except Collections may be kept in each Monthly and Quarterly Meeting for the service of Friends and Truth as there shall be â—ccasion for the future 5. It 's agreed that the Printer will allow two pence in the shilling for all such Books 6. It 's Agreed That some here shall be appointed to examine the Printer to see that they send no Books but such as are appointed by Friends 7. It 's Agreed and Advised that the Printers account be fully cleared once a year at least by those Friends the Country shall send up to the yearly Meeting 8. It 's Agreed That the name of the Printer imployed by Friends should be sent with directions how to write to him Dear Friends and Brethren it 's tenderly advised and recommended to you that you be careful and diligent in the spreading of all such Books that are printed for the service of Truth and are written either in defence of it or Christian Doctrine or Holy profession or by way of Epistle Warning Caution Exhortation or Prophecy that so we may not be remiss or negligent in promoting the holy truth that nothing may be wanting on our parts to promote it and the spreading of it that the Nations may be informed and brought into the knowledge of it that in the end we may give an account with joy An ancient friend the Printers name is as follows to whom direct thus For Andrew Soale at the Crooked Billet in Holy-well-lane in Shoreditch London Or to Thomas Northcoat at his Shop in George-yard in Lombard-street London And this we think needful you should record in your Quarterly Books and sometimes read it for remâ—mbrance and notice Signed in the behalf of the Meeting the 18th of the â—â—th mâ—nth 1693. by Benjamin Bealing The yearly Meeting Epistle the 27th of the 3d month 1675. It is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and the authority of his Power and Sprit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible names and expressions as calling men and womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burthensome And that faithful Friends Papers which we Testifie have been given forth by the Power and Spirit of God are mens Edicts or Canons or embracing them bowing to men Elders in the service of Truth Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them But let Gods power be set upon the top of that unsavoury Spirit and them that use it Signed by George Whitehead William Pen and others I am the larger in this Citation to convince the world that the Quakers prefer their own Books before and above the Scripture contrary to their pretence in their sheet they delivered to the Parliament as also to shew the impudence of some amongst them that tell people they have no Epistles read amongst them as Francis Bugg sets forth which I know they can no more be ignorant of than of the Suns shining at noon-day And in order to a further discovery thereof I shall recite the Titles of some of their Epistles as I did in New Rome Arraigned p. 41. which to this day they have not denyed c. 1. Two General Epistles to the Flock of God where-ever they are dispersed by M. Fell and J. Park printed 1664. 2. To Friends in England Ireland Scotland Holland New England Barbadoes or any where else where the Lord shall order this to come c. 3. A General Epistle to be read in the fear of God in the Assembly of his people by W. D. 4. The word of the Lord to Syon the New Jerusalem the Bride the Lambs Wife the excellency of all the Glory that is amongst the people by W. D. printed 1664. 5. An Epistle to Friends every where to be read distinctly in their Meetings by K. W. printed 1681. 6. All Friends every
and your practice of it is Idolatry and no part of the Worship of God p. 51. have you been bewitched from the obâ—dience of the truth within to obey the Letter without Will. Smiths Primmer c. p. 36. Quest How is it concerning these things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine Answ As to those things they arose from the Popâ—s Invention who hath had power in the night of Apostacy and hath set up his dâ—viâ—es which are yet continued in England tho he seemingly is denied and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their Institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ Quest How may I know when Christ is truly preached Answ They that are false Ministers preach Christ without and bid people believe in him as he is in heav n abâ—ve but they that are Christs Ministers preach Christ within See my Sheet to the Parliament p. 5. A Musick Lecture c. p. 25. For where they are I was in Performances in Ordinances in Family Duties in Hearing in Reading in Fasting but when I came to bâ—nd my mind to that of God in me then I began to learn to be a Fool insomuch that I durst not give thanks for the victuals that were set before me Concerning Election and Reprobation Truths Defence c. p. 92. We Quakers are elected to Salvation we have the witness within us praised be God who hath elected and chosen us before the foundation of the world but thou the Priest art ordained of old for Condemnation and for Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates Christ and art blind Reader I have at large proved out of their Books that all Ministers that sprinkle Children with Water all that preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above at the right hand of God all that take a Text and preach out of the Scriptures all that either receive or pay Tythes as at large in my Second Summons c. p. 7 8. And now I am willing to give you the Quakers Faith and Perswasion concerning them as in their Book A brief Discovery of a threefold Estate c. p. 7 8. with the same Title set thus over their heads viz. Of the false Ministry The Priests of the world are 1. Conjurers raising dead Doctrine out of the letter which is death raising death out of death notable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichrists the Priests of Baal cannot shew any Scripture for their heathenish ways and beastial worships 4. Witches blind Guides 5. Devils the Serpent is head in them 6. Liers the Commission and Call of Baals Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge A poysonous-fountain the Sir Symons of the age run to Oxford and Cambridge they run with Simon These are not Ministers of Christ but Stewards of the Devils Magazines Dissemblers and Liers 7. A viperous and serpentine generation going about to murder the Child Jesus hâ—lding a worm-eaten beastly form 8. Blasphemers yea of the Devil fearful Blasphemers 9. Scarlet coloured Beasts a Harlot full of abomination and filthiness 10. Babilons Merchants selling beastly ware for a large price the Letter which is dâ—st and death the day is coming when these Idol Merchants these costly Sermon-makers shall cry c. 11. Whited Walls prosessing nothing but poysonous stuff 12. Ravenous Wolves 13. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood Hounds still hunting and gasping after their prey like the mouth of Hell barking and raging like Sodomites 14. Eminent and ambitious Pharisees of the Devil wo wâ— wo was the portion of those Pharisees then and wo wo wâ— is the portion of these Pharisees now and wo and misery is the portion of the Upholders whether King or Parliament of that treacherous and decâ—itful generation The Guide mistaken c. per W. Pen p. 18 And whilst the idle germundizing Priests of England run away with 1500000l a year under presence of being Gods Ministers and that no sort of people have been so uâ—iversally thrâ—ugh ages the banc of soul â—nd body of the Universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of Gods mâ—st dreadful vengeance is reservâ—d to act their eternal Tragedies â—pon c. About Goâ—ernors and Government Burrows Works c. p. 442. We believe that all Governors and Rulers ought to be accountable to the people and to the next succeeding Rulers for all their actions which may be inquired into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the people p. 507. But as for this people the Quakers they are raised of the Lord and established by him even contrary to all men and they have given their power only to God and they cannot give their power to any mortal men to stand or fall to any outward Authority and to that they cannot seek p. 501. We stand Witnesses against Parliaments Councels Judges and Justices who make and execute Laws in their wills ever the consciences of men to punish for conscience sake to such Laws Customs Courts or arbitrary usurped Dominion â— cannot yeild obedience p. 621. Nay their the Quakers Kingdom is from above and they reject the countenance of the Beasts authority and they reject any confidence that the Dragon and unjust power can repose in them p. 53. For we say the Quakers are gathered up into the life which the holy men of God lived in and are faln from the world and its ways and nature p. 50. for even the Father bears witness of us and therefore our witness is true p. 52. A running to the powers of the earth what have your Ministers lost the Lord to be your strength that you must flee for help to men must they mâ—ke â—aws to estaâ—lish you and set you up is not this the Where that rode upon the Beast and that the Beast carried And p. 524. to the Parliament thus viz. You do but cause people to drink of the Whores Cup and you are but them which carry the Whore viz. the false Church and this is plain dealing to tell you the truth c. reprinted by the order and approbation of G. Whitehead and others Anno 1672. For more of this see Geo. Fox to the Councel of Officers p. 7. Oh what a sincerity was once in the Nation what a dirty unto thing it would have been to have heard talk of a Hoâ—se of Lords Edw. Burroughs Advice to the Parliament c. It was through Ignorance that the people subjected themselves to hereditary Government or to the Government standing in a single person successively and our Nation hath been under the bonds of slavery in this respest c. See Fox's Papers to the Presbyterians p. 8 9. All Kings and Emperors have sprung up in the night since the days of the Apostles among the Antichrists There was no King owned among the true Christians but only among the Apostates since Christs
Manual Certificates of two Ministers at least under pain of Confiscation of the whole Impression nor may you denounce any Excommunication against any Ministers and others who shall change their Religion for that of the Roman Catholick nor treat them reproachfully neither by word nor writing †{inverted †} †{inverted †} Hark G. W. then they were not to call such Beasts Dogs Wolves Children of the Devil Devils incarnate Enemies of all Righteousness Apostates self-condemned Apostates as you have called me and others for our forsaking you and conforming to the Religion Establisht Moreover when they speak of the Pope they are not to call him Antichrist ††But you call both Ministers and People Parliaments and Magistrates who either pay or receive Tythes Antichrist Oh hetrodox in all points c. nor to treat him disrespectfully nor shall they tax the Roman Church with Idolatry nor the Sacraments and Ceremonies thereof us humane Inventions and Idolatry c. * * But you tell the Protestants their Sacraments are dust and that they rose from the Pope c. And treat the Dispencers thereof as Witches Devils Antichrists and what not that is odious nor to make collections of Money c. And now I come to shew you the Christian Frame and Temper of the French Protestants in their Obedience to the Kings Commandment by their Moderator c. The Lord Commissioner having ended his Speech the Deputies returned their Answer by their Moderator Monsieur Garrissoles The Moderator's Answer WE thankfully acknowledge the great Goodness and Mercy of God Almighty in answering the Prayers of his poor Churches with his heavenly Blessing and their Majesties Condescention in accepting our most humble Petitions presented by the Lords of our General Deputies and granting us this Privilege of holding this Synod and committing the Inspection of it unto a person most illustrious for his Vertues and well deserving that high place of Dignity and Honour in the first and chiefest Parliament of the Kingdom all these and many other considerations more do enforce our Souls with a sweet and pleasing violence to break forth into enlarged Praises and enflamed Thankfulness unto their Majesties yea and in most ardent supplications unto our God for the preservation of their sacred persons his Benediction upon their Government the Glory of their Crowns under whose comfortable Shadows the Churches enjoying a sweet Peace will never have any other desire or thought than to practice faithfully and conscientiously that most express Command of our Lord and Saviour by his Apostle St. Peter To fear God and honor the King and that with a most entire and sincere Obedience And as we have no design to do it so we shall never admit any person to sit as a Member of our National Synod who hath not a Deputation c. Nor shall we hold any Correspondency nor receive any Letters coming from Foreigners ††See G. W the Quakers practice and how different herein as anon I shall shew nor return any Answers to them unless that my Lord Commissioner who represents his Majesties person shall have first perused them nor will we debate about Matters of State nor make any orders in relation to them * * Hark G. W. read your Edicts and compare them which resemble theirs as black does white nor shall we set up Proivincial Councels in opposition to his Majesties will Nor as his Majesty hath demanded of us will we suffer those Canons of our National Synods concerning the Approbation of Books that shall be printed on matters of Religion to be violated ††See and behold an Example the Protestants have regard to the Laws the Quakers none nor shall we excommunicate any of those persons who quit the Communion of our Churches for we do not arrogate to our selves any Jurisdiction over them from that minute in which they left us nor shall we tollerate any Sermons fraught with any injurious and reproachful Language against the Members of the Church of Rome whether in general or particular nor suffer that Moneys be collected c. From all which 't is self-evident from Scripture Reason and approved Authors that Christ and his holy Apostles commanded subjection and obedience to the higher powers their Commands are positive and not with a Proviso i. e. until you be convinced of this your duty c. No they are Scripture Commands and as such ought to be obeyed and so the Martyrs believed and practised and set examples And you see how these worthy Christians the French Protestants obeyed that wholsom doctrine they did not answer the French King that no Commands in Scripture are obliging unless a man be first convinced that what is there commanded ought to be obeyed as Burroughs and Pen teach and as the Quakers practice who run counter to the practice of Christ his Apostles Martyrs and all Christians to this day c. SECT XII AND thus the Quakers may see as in a Glass That first the French King was humbly sought by the Protestants to grant them leave to hold a National Synod upon which he answered their request provided first that he might have a Commissioner in whom he could repose trust and confidence to be resident there to hear and observe that their discourse did not tend to alienate the hearts of his Subjects from their obedience to him as their King and Governor Secondly That they did not meddle with State matters tending to beget disobedience to the Laws of the Land all which they as readily submitted to they promised they would not meddle with State matters nor excommunicate and revile his Magistrates and Ministers nor hold a Correspondency with Strangers to let other Nations espy the Fashions and Customs of their Government and thereby take measures against it that they would observe his Laws in not printing Books without Licence nor gather up Money to weaken the Subjects to carry on designs against the Government But how far the Quakers differ in this point from the Christian both at home and abroad I leave the Reader to judge and that not from my bare say so but from plain matter of fact But still to make it more plain if more plain can be I shall in a few instances set 1st The French Kings method in commanding his Subjects 2d The manner of his Subjects Obedience and ready Compliance altho not of his Perswasion as to his Religion 3d. The Quakers Practice and Principles relating to Government 4th Some brief Observations from the Premisses SECT XIII French King YOu shall have no Communication with Strangers you shall neither read Letters from them in your Convocation nor return Letters to them other than what my Commissioner approves of Protest Nor shall we read any Letters coming from Foreigners nor return any Answer unless my Lord Commissioner approve thereof ut supra Quak. 〈◊〉 Epistle to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings of Friends in England and Wales or elsewhere from our yearly