c. p. 14. That to say Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. But as I said We may sometimes see cause yea and great cause too otherwise to word the Matter yea contrary to our Ancient Testimony and yet mean the same thing c. The Counterfeit Convert c. p. 72. that is to say mean not a word we say And now to the Consequence and for which we prefer the Bible For Friends we no sooner Signed this Confession but we had our Liberty and we no sooner had our Liberty but all our London Preachers spread themselves like Locusts all over England and Wales * * Like Mice uncall'd for and like Flies unsent for and fall upon their Provision some went East some West yea North and South and being generally Tradesmen We not only got our Quarters free our Horses free and well maintain'd in our Travels a Silver Watch here a Beaver there a piece of Hair-Camblet and sometimes other Gifts Moreover by our Liberty obtained by the recited Confession we got into great Trades and by spreading our selves in the Country into great Acquaintance and thereby received Orders of the best of the Country Tradesmen for Parcels whilst the Protestant Tradesmen in London ††Londoners look about you for none like the Quakers but Jews and Jesuites as time will farther shew who had not this Advantage stood still and in their Shops had little to do whilst we fill'd our Coffers Witness Tho. Greene for one Instance whose Wife would scarce suffer him at home she being willing according to the Proverb to make Hay whilst the Sun shines insomuch that in a little time he raised his small Beginning to many Thousands Since I printed this Tho. Greene is dead and died worth as is said Six or Eight Thousand Pounds who was a poor Mason when he set up for a Preaching Quaker All which shew that the Scriptures are accidentally good c. And this leads me to the second Proposition namely The Authority of our Friends Books and Sayings c. First I shall shew you that as 't is Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God To all that would know the Way to the Kingdom c. p. 4. Mene Tekel c. p. 22. so I shall shew you that our Scriptures for as I told you in my Serious Apol. p. 48. Writings signifie Scripture are the Word of God and this you will find written in the Epistle of our Second Moses in these Words Friends to you all this is the Word of the Lord take heed of judging one another this is the Word of the Lord unto you I charge you in the Presence of the Lord God to send this Epistle among all Friends and Brethren every where to be read in all Meetings to you all This is the Word of God Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Again that I may corroborate and strengthen your Faith in the Exercise of our Ancient Testimony * * G. W. keeps to his Text. Read in the Gospel of our Great Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Geo. Fox where you 'll find these Words viz. You may said G. F. to the Priests as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Writings for our giving forth Papers and Printed Books it is from the IMMEDIATE ETERNAL SPIRIT of God Truths Defence c. p. 2 102. upon which our Dear Brother Thomas Ellwood saith That none can squirt any Filth on the Epistles of Friends but it will tend to be spatter the Apostles An Antidote against c. p. 1 44 57 125. And in Confidence thereof our Brother Robert Barclay hath these Words That as the true Principles of the Gospel by their i. e. Quakers Testimony are restored so is also the ANCIENT Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ re-established amongst them i. e. Quakers and settled upon its right Basis and Foundation that as thro' our Faithful Testimony in the Hand of the Lord that Antichristian and Apostatized Generation the National Ministry hath received a deadly Blow by our discovering and witnessing against their Forced Maintainance and Tythes so that their Kingdom in the Hearts of Thousands begin to Totter and lose its Strength and shall assuredly Fall to the Ground So on the other Hand we do weaken the Strength of their Kingdom who judge for Reward The Nation shall come to be disburdened of that deceitful Tribe of Lawyers as well as Priests * * Let all Lawyers Tradesmen Clergy and Magistrates guard against the Prevalency of Quakerism for they are all highly concerned I never knew any that left us prove steady to those to whom they go I find other Professors make but small Boasts of any Proselytes they get out from us I hear little of their proving Champions for the Principles of others against us The Anarchy c. p. 1 16 42. Thus Friends you see that upon Confidence of the Truth of our elder Brother Geo. Fox's Ancient Testimony viz. That it was Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and yet laudable to call his Papers sent up and down to be read in Meetings The Word of God the Word of the Lord God I say you see how stoutly our Brother Ellwood avouched that none could squirt any Filth on the Epistles of Friends but it must inevitably fall upon the Epistles of St. Paul and he was in the right on 't ††G. W. is no Changling he keeps to his Text. and likewise R. Barclay in confidence of the Truth of G Fox's Testimony viz. That to call the Scriptures The Word of God was no less than Blasphemy whilst his own Writings sent up and down to spread Truth and in order to it to be read in Meetings was The Word of the Lord and as such to be read and as such to be receiv'd You may see I say how he built his Hopes of our Restoration and the Downfal both of the Clergy and Lawyers insomuch that he did not once think any should ever go from us to prove Champions for the Principles of others against us And therefore I exhort you this Day to stand Faithful to your Ancient Testimony which is to throw down the Scriptures and exalt our own Books and so will the Work of your Light prosper in your Hands Besides for your Encouragement and that you may see my Sincerity and Seriousness which is the sign of my writing in every of my Epistles look into one of my Gospels and you shall find these VVords That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. VVherefore ye dear Lambs be ye encouraged and go on boldly and if any Apostate write against us besure you warn all our Friends in the Country not to
magnified be our Light within which hath thus exalted us above the Prophets above the Apostles above the Martyrs and above all Christians as our dear Brother G. W. hath most excellently made it out First In opening his Text and also in the two Branches proceeding from it but more especially in the Use and Application where he hath confirmed me in not making Confession of Sin nor regarding the Ten Commandments nor those two Ordinances of Baptism and Supper all which is ratified and confirmed by G. Fox's Journal laying there on the Table But yet I have a short Testimony to bring in touching the Priests which I think our Friend G. W. left out unawares for I take it to be as necessary an Ancient Testimony to be kept up as any other only a little more Privately and Prudently for they are as great Enemies to our Design of Supplanting Christianity as any the World afford But however though we are the same we were and are not changed yet besure you do not admit that we are the first Challengers or that we begin with the Priests But to shew you in private that we were always the Beginners of all Controversies and what Cause we had for it I therefore bring in my Testimony and my Proof for the Antiquity of my Testimony shall be out of Edw. Burrough's Epistle to G. F.'s Great Mystery Printed 1658. viz. And the Word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the Deaf to hear and the Blind to see and the Dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and Terror took hold on our Enemies And first of all our Mouths were Opened * * Then the Quakers began and our Spirits Filled with Indignation against the Priests and Teachers ††True every Word and with them and against them we first began to War as being the Causers of the People to err and the Blind Leaders that carried the Blind into the Ditch and against them as the Fountain of all Wickedness abounding in the Nations and as being the Issue of Prophaneness and against them we cried shewing unto all these People that they were not Lawful Ministers of Christ but Deceivers and Antichrists and we spared not Publickly * * Then why should you be spared and at all Seasons to utter forth the Judgments of the Lord against them and their Ways and their Churches and Worships and Practices and this was our first Work ††So it was my first Work to thresh down the Quaker Deceivers we entered upon to Thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all People may see their Shame and come and turn from them neither can we pray for the Priests but for their Destruction c. And this Testimony lay upon me to bear which is in all Parts according to our Ancient Testimony Truth 's Defence c. by G. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 15. Printed 1653. For my Dear Friends and Brethren read our great Apostle G. Fox's Primer W. Smith's Primer in which there is not a Verse of Scripture quoted by which you may be sure it is agreeable to our Ancient Testimony Again read Saul's Errand to Damascus and A Three-fold Estate of Antichrist The Quakers Challenge And from all these Books you may gather that by the false Ministry we mean such as Preach out of the Scripture such as Preach a Christ without and bid People believe on him as he is in Heaven above And you 'll see first by Reprinting Edw. Burrough's Epistle 1672. and by W. Smith's Works which render the Bishops Monsters and the Clergy Witches Devils Sorcerers Jesuits Blasphemers Bloodhounds Antichrists Sodomites and an Hundred such Names This Beloved is according to our Ancient Testimony only let us word the Matter so now as to make them believe we mean not the present Clergy but those in former Days Benjamin Bealing Clerk Let us sing an Hymn of Praise and Self-Exaltation and to the Confusion of our Adversaries as you will find it written in the Epistle General of that Son of Thunder Edw. Burrough prefixed to our Apostle George Fox's Great Mystery Printed 1658. The Waters have I seen dry'd up the Seat of that great Whore Who hath made all Nations drunk with her inticing Power And caused the whole Earth She hath Her Fornication Cup to take Whereby Nations have long time err'd on whom She long hath sate But now her Miseries are seen Her Witchcrafts are discover'd And She no more shall Men deceive for Day-Light is appear'd And the Bed woful I have seen of Torments great prepar'd Whereon She must be cast and Plagues must not be spared But Woe to Her the Cup of Wrath is fill'd Her to receive And as to others she hath done the same She shall now have And Drink She must of that full Cup of God's fierce Indignation And then shall all Her Lovers mourn and make great Lamentation For Fire in Her is kindled which must Her all consume Behold Her Smoak ascendeth Day and Night up to Heaven The Antichrists who hath put on and cover'd with Sheeps cloathing And long-rul'd King on Nations Inwardly Ravening Who hath devour'd God's Heritage and had a Kingdom great I have seen Him made War against and Truth give Him Defeat Behold the Whore Her Flesh is burnt Her Beauty doth now fall She that is all Harlots great Mother whose Daughters are Whores all The Close of the Meeting by George Whitehead Friends I have still one Word of Exhortation as you will find it in the Prophecy of our deceased Brother Samuel Fisher touching Magistracy and Government which being according to our Ancient Testimony I could not well omit viz. * * * Sam. Fisher's Works p. 19 20. observ'd by Mr. Boothhouse I will hold my Peace no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so prophanely commit and do daily against my Chosen but will utterly subvert and overturn them and bring the Kingdoms and Dominions and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven into the Hands of the Holy Ones †††Meaning the Quakers of the most High and give unto my Son and his Saints to reign over all the Earth And take ALL the RULE and AUTHORITY and POWER that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints and put it down among all the rest as one of his greatest Enemies under his Feet saith the Lord. For tho' the World take no Delight in them yet I take Pleasure in my People saith the Lord And I will beautifie my Meek Ones * * * Meek Quakers with Salvation and I will put my high Praise into their Mouths and a Two-edged Sword into their Hands †††Mark this is your Ancient Testimony as well as Prophecy writ 1656. and they shall execute Vengeance upon the Heathen and Punishments upon the People and shall bind their Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and execute upon them
as they say I should have proceeded to as many Instances of their Pretence to Spiritual Discerning but I shall mention but two viz. George Fox in his Great Mystery c. p. 89. viz. The Quakers can discern who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a Word Another Place like unto it is in Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. thus None need to give us Discerning or Judgment Christ hath furnished us already and doth on all Occasions But that I may do the Quakers Justice let me give one Instance where I may shew that the Quakers differ in Doctrine from the Romish Church and if I mistake not from all other Christian Churches And indeed that is one main Reason why I thus Unmask New Rome For as A. S. the Roman Catholick said so say I as in his Reconciler of Religions c. p. 2. The true Church Militant is composed of Good and Bad of Wheat and Tares c. To this Josiah Coale in his Whore Vnvailed c. p. 10. replies like himself i. e. like a right Quaker saying Which thing I do abominate to acknowledge And it is Blasphemy the true Church is not composed of Wheat and Tares of Good and Bad but of Good only * See pag. 254 to pag. 284. whether their Church be all Wheat Another of their Teachers in his Book A Rod to drive out the Wild Boars c. says There is no Hypocrite in the true Church they that say there are Hypocrites in the true Church do erre from the Spirit of Truth c. Read the Fourteenth Chapter herein and see whether the Quakers have not Erred or whether that Grain looks like Wheat nay not so good as Tares but meer Darnel And as to their Fling at me about my Compounding as in their Anguis Flagellatus c. p. 432. I shall say little of it in this place but referr to Chap. 15. herein pag. 295 to pag. 307. only thus much I may add That there was but about a Third Part of my Creditors that Compounded at 10 s. in the Pound the rest I have and must Pay the Whole Nay some of those that did Compound I have since Paid the Whole And this Offer I now make That if the Quakers will Engage that those of their Profession shall Pay me what they Broke in my Debt or that Died in my Debt and have not paid me I then will promise to pay every Man to a Groat and if so the Quakers have no great cause to boast And yet I can in good Conscience say that great part of my difficulties have been by and through the great injustice and implacable malice of my Adversaries the Quakers who have yet no reason since my labour have been for their good though against their Wills and for which they have by all their endeavours sought my Ruin And their resolutions herein have been very strong and prosecuted with great vigour For as on the one hand they have used all possible means to render me unworthy of the Clergies notice a hint whereof you have in p. 299. so on the other hand some of them have suggested by private insinuations to my Creditors that they need not to comply for that the Clergy would assist me nay one Quaker nearly Related to me by Marriage and for whom I have done divers good offices it may be more than any Man living no nearer related than I was yet he reported to a Kinsman of his in order to blast my Reputation when I had most need of his good word and assistance that I designed to Sell my Estate and leave my Wife and Children which thing I call Heaven and Earth to witness I never designed nor did it ever enter into my heart And much more to this purpose could I relate which I shall not but desire to pass by all their Unkindness and Ingratitude in the Day of my Adversity being truly thankful to God in the first place and to his Servants in the next who have enabled me to continue to this Day not only to live free from want but to maintain my Family with all things necessary even beyond what I could have expected for in all Humane probability had not God raised me up Friends I had been miserable enough by reason my Adversaries rage was so extensive who thirsted after nothing more than my utter Ruin as I could shew were it needful in many cases And thanks be to God through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose Cause I have been ingaged though a weak and unworthy Instrument and for whose Sake nothing has been to dear too part withal he has raised me Friends and made me able to say as one of old did That I have been able to run through a Troop and to leap over a Wall which I once thought would have been too high for me so that I will not fear what Man can do unto me for God will scatter mine Enemies and confound mine Adversaries and raise me Friends in despite of the Rage of Satan and all his Instruments But since in their late Prints and Appeals the Quakers do so magnifie their own honesty I shall as I have in the Cage of Unclean Birds p. 249. to p. 286. once more add to the number a third sort not at present thinking it needful to add the fruits of others that lye snuge in the Cage and which as yet have not seen it needful to shew their Feathers since the hint already given have had some effect and I hope may have more towards their Humiliation and Amendment But that they may see if yet they do not see that they are left like other Men and overtaken with the same Infirmities I shall set forth not only Ten of their Teachers of great Note but likewise Ten of their Hearers for I love to proceed by number and weight not that I shall this time put John Kilborn and some others into the Cage to their fellow Birds but as I said in regard they so often brag of their honesty in meum and tuum I shall therefore briefly observe to them and for their Humiliation if by any means they may be wrought upon to be Humbled a few of their miscarriages on that Account that their vain pretence to a Sinless Perfection may be retracted and at last come to make Confession of their Sins and Repent thereof and Amend their ways 1. The first I shall name of this sort is Gerald Roberts who was the greatest Entertainer of G. Fox in that Day a great Preacher and one who kept the Publick Stock into whose custody was put a Rich Orphan worth 4000 l. namely Abijah Trot who by the consent of G. Fox and Alex. Parker got her Married to his Son against the Executors consent i. e. R. Cannam and Fran. Camfield against which clandestine proceeding of Fox Parker and Roberts I have much to say which at present I forbear But he broke 2. Tho
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 diâ—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
that good Joshua the Servant of the Lord and Successor of Moses he and his Wise Men and Counsellors were all deceived the best of Men mean well and thinking others do so too are oft-times the soonest deceived A Word to the Wise as the Proverb is should be sufficient CHAP. IX Sheweth the Quakers Fund Exchequer or Common Bank and the Vse and ill Consequences of it I Have considered that as Blood is to the Veins which by a frequent Circulation thro' the Body of Man both refresh the Heart and support the Head and that as the Sinews to the Joints both unite the Members and strengthen the Body so doth the Quakers Exchequer strengthen and support them in the carrying on their whole Design For as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so it may be called the Nerves of Heresie for Money answers all things And to shew it to be so with respect to the Quakers I shall briefly shew first Their Way and Manner of raising their Bank next Their Way of Distribution In both which it cannot be expected that I should be exact in their very Words having forgot great part of their Cant nor the Particulars to whom they dispose of their Money that 's a Secret kept under Lock and Key It sufficeth then that I give some sure Marks of both and which I hope I shall so infallibly do as never an Infallible Quaker shall be able to deny FIRST THEN I remember when I was Quaker we now and then had an Epistle sent to our Quarterly Meetings in the Country from the Second-Day Meeting in London for a General Collection for the Service of Truth This Epistle thus sent I have copied out and have read it in our Meeting at Milden-Hall I have both given to it and took what our Meeting contributed and have carried it to the Quarterly Meeting where I have taken all the Collections gathered quite thro' the Isle of Ely if not the County of Cambridge †Which I do think I also had to return to London to return to London for the Publick Use All this I know and if need were would depose it I do not say but the Yearly Meeting as in Chap. 7. sometimes do the like as also examine the Accompts constitute and appoint Feoffees and the like and to which the Second-Day Meeting is accountable But during the Intervals of their Yearly Convocation the Second-Day Meeting hath both Power to receive and to dispose as I shall shew hereafter Now whereas for many Years together the Quaker Teachers banter'd all other Ministers for taking Money for their Subsistence the National for the Tythes and other Dues the Dissenters for taking the voluntary Gift of their Hearers whilst the Quakers pretended to Teach freely yea to Write freely and to do the Lord's Business freely when alas this was all a Cheat as in the Story of Bell and the Dragon For they had not only their Charges for themselves and Horses free Cloaths Hats Linnen and Woollen oft-times free but now and then a good Watch free also besides out of the Bank they had their frequent Sallaries and Stipends 10 †Witness S. Cater and John Songhurst of whom I have a pretty Story When W. Mead was Purser i. e. Songhurst pretending want of Money G. Fox sent him to W. M. W. Mead deposited 12 l. and enter'd it in his Book This did not please Songhurst he goes to G. Fox and acquaints him with it Fox told him that was W. Mead's way Well Songhurst did not like to stand on Record a Taker of Money who had so many Years pretended to Preach freely away goes he to W. M. with his Money in his Sack 's Mouth W. Mead takes it and enters it on the contrary Page Receiv'd of Songhurst 12 l. This made it worse for now he had not the Money yet still stands Recorded c. 20 and 30 l. at a time yea I have been told That T. G. had once 100 l. at a time and J. Parke 20 l. per An. Yet when told of this Hypocrisie they have answer'd They did not Preach for Money tho' their Teachers did take Money And might not all other Ministers say so too That Money was not the end for which they Preached but the Good of Souls only what they had was to maintain them in that Station to which they were call'd and set apart But W. Rogers wrote a Scourge for Geo. Whitehead Anno 1685. where he hath these Words See a few Words out of W. Roger's Second Scourge For Geo. Whitehead an Apostate Quaker in a Poem Printed 1685. But bless'd be God Rome's Sister hath a Wound And 't is not Whitehead's Craft can heal it sound The Church her Practice which he oft defends Is most like Rome's so far as Power attends And yet when She Rome's Sister is but call'd She winces like touch'd Horses that are gall'd Confusion Her attends next follows WOE For thus She whirls but God knows where She 'll go When Fox had fram'd i' th' Church a Government Preachers approv'd by Man Beyond-Seas went Who when they wanted Moneys to proceed The Church Her Cash then did supply their Need And therefore when her Cash was empti'd SHE Crav'd Money for to serve the MINISTRY At length her Papers like to Briefs did cry For MONEY MONEY for the MINISTRY ††This Scourge smarted and made poor Ellwood confess all as you 'll hear anon And when that Practice was disliked by some She frown'd like one whose Downfal's near to come Else why must each one with his Key appear Where Cash is kept to shew what Money 's there This Church will fall Her Load will be Her Guile If you O Flock keep Purse-strings fast awhile And Woes may long attend such prating Preachers As for Preferment turn deceitful Teachers Some wonder Whitehead keeps so long in Favour Since Fox is more despis'd thro' Whitehead's Labour Fox is term'd Head yet Whitehead stear'd the Course Till both were scorn'd and they grew worse and worse Thus Reader I have given you W. Roger's Sence first That Rome's Sister got a Wound yea almost a deadly Wound that the Quakers Church are the most like Rome and this is true in Fact Next Their Preachers take Money for Preaching and for Preferment turn deceitful Teachers a certain Truth Next That they have a Fund which is most dangerous Next That their Papers and Epistles for Money did fly amongst us like so many Briefs craving Money Money for the Ministry Money Money to assist us in our Confederacy or we are not able to supplant Christianity I will next give you a Recital of a Letter sent me written about John Clemence c. bearing Date 26th of the Eleventh Month 1684. from Anne Docwra An antient Quaker who then testified against the Quakers Fund or Bank as well as their Preachers meddling with Marriages like the Jesuits viz. Dear Friends c. I understand that there is a new Controversie
Tythes that belong to them thrown down P. 65. You who are the Parliament of this Nation you should have thrown down Tythes which Abundance of the sober People of the Nation hath petition'd you †What Impudence is this Pretend to petition and beg yet teach the Parliament and tell them what they should do to have taken them away which you voting them up hath voted your selves out of the sober People's Affection of the Nation among the Brutes you should have sold all the Glebe-Lands and sold all the Bells saving one in a Town and Colledges and their Lands and given them all to the Poor of the Nation P. 68. And the Priests cry to you Magistrates for Tythes the Pope's Alms and lye begging with their Petitions at your Doors * It was highly necessary then as well as â—…s now foâ— some to oppose Quakeriâ—… And we would have you maintain these begging Priests some other way than by the Pope's Alms. P. 69. AND EXCEPT YOU TAKE COUNSEL OF THE JUST YOU SHALL NOT SIT †☞ Reader I have recited enough of the Quakers Petition against the Clergy to shew the Nature of their Ancient Testimony and pointed with a Finger ☞ to two Sayings which with the rest are full of Impudence And when against the Clergy I think I may take their Word their whole Carriage and Deportment both by Word and Writing do confirm it But when for themselves they have any Favour to obtain DISTRUST THEM IN ALL THEY SAY for they II stick at no Promise as in the Case of their Indulgence witness their Acknowledging the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given forth by Divine Inspiration That it is the Rules of Faith and Practice c. whilst they believe not one Word of what they themselves say and as a Demonstration thereof I shall recite one of their Epistles sent to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings shewing their Care of their own Books Nay them very Books which teach that the Scriptures are Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Food c. Therefore From the Meeting of Sufferings in London ††Renewed Advice to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales for preserving and spâ—eading Fâ—iend's Boâ—ks for Trâ—th's Serâ—ice Priâ—ted 16â—9 Dear Friends With our dear Love in the Truth unto you all these are to let you understand that our Friends have at several YEARLY MEETINGS had under their serious Consideration how all those Books that are printed for the Service of Truth and in the Unity of Friends might MOST EFFECTUALLY be SPREAD for a general Service to Truth and at the last YEARLY MEETING it was left unto this Meeting who accordingly have taken Care and Pains therein and settled as followeth 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 Counties viz. For your County two Books of a sort for each Monthly Meeting in your County if under Six Pence and but one of a sort if above Six Pence per Book for these Reasons 1 st For Friends to have general Notice what Book is printed 2 dly That they may send for what other Quantities they see a Service for And 3 dly That the Printer may be encouraged in Printing for Friends 4 thly For a Quaker Library That one Book at least of a sort that shall be printed may be kept in each Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Service of Truth and Friends as there shall be occasion for the future And as 't was agreed at the last YEARLY MEETING 1692. in the Printed Epistle 5 thly It is agreed that for Encouragement the Printer will allow 2 d. in the Shilling for all such Books 6 thly It 's agreed that some here shall be appointed that two or three Weeks before each Quarter Day to examine the Printer to see that they send no Books but what are approved by Friends and no more than two of a sort as aforesaid except the Friends in the Country shall write for more which it 's hoped they will not fail in ††I have heard that they begin to fail and send but slowly as they see a Service for them 7 thly It 's agreed or advised that the Printer's Accompts be fully cleared once a Year at least by those Friends the Country shall send up to the Yearly Meeting 8 thly It 's agreed that the Name of the Printer imploy'd by Friends should be sent with Directions how to write to him And Dear Friends and Brethren It 's Tenderly and in Brotherly Love advised and recommended unto you that ye be careful and diligent in the Spreading of All such Books that are printed for the Service of Truth and are either written in Defence of it or Christian Doctrine or Holy Profession or by way of Epistle Warning Caution Exhortation or Prophesie Not a Word of the Bible that so we may not be any way or in any wise Remiss or Negligent in promoting that Holy and Eternal Truth it hath pleased Almighty God to bless us with the Knowledge of and hath raised us up to stand Witnesses for in our Age and Generation nor nothing may be wanting on our parts to promote it and the spreading of it Signed on the Behalf of the Meeting for Sufferings in London 18. 6. Mo. 1693. By Benj. Bealing Postscript And this Agreement and Account herein sent we think it needful you should record it in your Quarterly Book and sometimes read it for Remembrance and general Notice Observations from hence Reader From what hath been said you may observe First That there is such a Meeting as I have set forth both from their Yearly and the recited Six-Week Meeting in case the Quakers deny it Secondly That their Business principally is to take Care of the Sufferings of their own Friends and that how plentifully they reward such as are faithful to their Church-Canons as in the Instance of Sam. Cater who for pretending to suffer 20 l. tho' he suffered not a Groat yet had 10 l. sent him as a Reward for meeting boldly contrary to the Law in that Case made and provided Thirdly That they have a Fund or Common Bank and that the Accompts are examined by a Committee chosen out of the Yearly Meeting for that Purpose Fourthly That such as suffer for Non-payment of Tythes are to send to the Quarterly Meetings Correspondents left their Sufferings be delayed Fifthly You may also perceive what a Confederacy is held by the Quakers and how they are enabled by their Exchequer to hold Suit with both Priest and Impropriator †As in the Instance of Mr. Holeman who was a Justice of the Peace a Counsellor at Law yet tired Sixthly You also may see how the Quakers solicite the Parliament for Favours as also how they Petition against the Clergy the Churches the Colledges and Bells too Yea this is according to their Ancient
But to conclude or rather confirm this Head and to shew what Temporizers these Quakers have been as well as knowingly Wicked these Second-Day Meeters ever from first to last were let me add one Citation more as it lies dispersed in a Book of Ed. Burrough's Printed in Quarto 1659. containing several Letters written and said to be delivered to O. Cromwell Anno 1657. and some Letters said to be delivered to R. Cromwell Anno 1658. then Protector But I distrust all they say †So cannot believe they did deliver them as Printed since after Printed can thus alter them for having compared this Quarto Book I find many places which mentions the King or the Kingly Government left out in his Works in Folio which Words so left out you will find them in Capital Letters which as it shews their Temporizing so it discovers their Wickedness to stifle Prophesies if they believ'd them such to be if not still as wicked to let this Burrough in his Works still go for a Prophet and by Whitehead Coale Howgill and Fox c. recommended as such I do say it is such a Depth of Hypocrisie that I want Words to set it forth sufficiently P. 15. And these things are not right in the Sight of the Lord that such who have been for many Years faithful in the Service and in their Trust and hazarded Life and Liberty for Conscience-sake which they cannot now possess because of thee Dear Oliver but are cast out for the Exercise of their pure Conscience consider of it for this makes the Nation more unhappy and less blessed when such who delight in true Justice and Judgment are cast out of their Places * Oh! how the Quakers did flatter O. Cromwell to get into Offices yea Justices forsooth and so deprived of giving their Judgment amongst Men and absolutely this will make thy Army less prosperous when such who fear the Lord against whom thou canst not justly charge no Evil are cast out and despis'd and this in time thou may'st see to thy Sorrow and as thy Friend I lay this before thee and do in Plainness tell thee If thou thus utterly deny the People of God in the Day of thy Prosperity and thou thus wholly cast them out of thy Service they cannot stand by thee nor own thee in the Day of thy Trouble †Oliver did not much value his new Saints i. e. Quakers P. 16. When as such who feareth the Lord are cast out of Judicatories in thy Government and out of Defence in thy Armies What! Is this the end of that long Travel in Wars and of so many Promises of Liberty of Conscience that just Men should thus be dealt withal as one without Bowels of Compassion unto such who have truly served with thee in a faithful Service for the Common-wealth who many of them now are grievous Sufferers under thee P. 17. Many Enemies thou hast which watch over thee O. C. for Evil and not for Good First There is a People scattered thro' all these Nations who is full of Wrath towards thee EVEN OF THOSE KNOWN BY NAME MALIGNANTS * Oh! how careful the Quakers were of their dear Friend O. C. in whose Hearts to this Day there is continual Hatred against thee and all thy Off-spring Daily Advantage they seek against thee by secret Plottings of Maliciousness in their EVIL Hearts seeking by all Means if it be possible how to be avenged and to revenge themselves and THE CAUSE OF THEIR KING with no better Purpose than to destroy thee Such is the Cruelty and Desperateness of some of them their own Lives are not dear unto them to take away thine I have felt the Strength of their Rage against thee which carries them above Sense or Fear to undergo any Danger that they may see their desired End of thee their Malice towards thee is so seated in their wrathful Hearts that it cannot easily be quenched I know the Lord hath CURSED them and their Endeavours to this Day and thou hast had Dominion and Power given thee of God to break them in Pieces AND WHAT THOU HAST DONE TO THEIR KING SHOULD NOT BE RECKONED AGAINST THEE BY THE LORD †Murder acquitted if O. C. would but stand by the Quakers IF NOW THOU ART FAITHFUL TO WHAT HE REQUIRES OF THEE P. 20. Tho' we the People of God doth not envy thy Person nor Government yet Friend the Want of our Prayers to God for thee is worse to thee than the secret Plotting of all wicked Men And how can we mention thee in our Prayers to God for thee except it be to be deliver'd from thee Good Counsel and Advice rejected Printed in Quarto 1656. Reprinted in Folio 1672. To this agrees that Saying of G. Fox to Mr. Camelfeild a Minister in his Book i. e. Truth 's Defence c. p. 15. No Prayers can we send to thee but for thy Destruction thou Man of Sin and Enemy of Christ c. No neither to Oliver their Governour nor to the Priests no they cannot pray for their Enemies unless they do Kindness for them i. e. make them Justices or Commanders no no Penny or what 's Equivolent no Pater Noster from the Quakers See the Margin †Is that the Reason they 'll not pray for King William III P. 21. And this I have written to thee out of perfect Love in the Fear of God And if thou could'st own them i. e. Quakers they would own thee in the Face of all thy Enemies P. 35. To Richard AS CONCERNING THY WAR AND ARMIES ABROAD IN SPAIN SOMETHING THERE IS IN * Something yea who knows not that this is like a Gypsie-Prophesie IT KNOWN TO THE LORD MAKE NO COVENANT WITH IDOLATERS BUT TREAD DOWN THEIR IDOL GODS WHICH THEY HAVE SET UP AND HEW DOWN THEIR MOUNTAINS IN WHICH THEIR CONFIDENCE STAND AND PLOW UP THEIR GROUND THAT THE SEED MAY BE SOWN AFTER THEE IT 'S HONOUR ENOUGH TO BE THE LORD'S PLOWMAN P. 44. And if thou walk with the Lord and preserve his People i. e. Quakers that fear him then shalt thou prosper and thy Name shall be greater than was thy Father's and the numberless Number of this now distressed People will be unto thee a Strength and stand by thee in thy Day of Trouble and defend thee and thy Just Government †Then R. Cromwell's Government was Just in the Quakers Account and their Hearts shall cleave unto thee and thou shalt prosper for their sakes and none of thy Enemies shall have Power over thee P. 53. And as for thy Father the late Protector great things did the Lord do for him in raising him up and casting out his Enemies before him and giving him Victory Renown and Power * O brave Oliver the Quakers Champion thro' Nations and we know the Lord shewed Favour to him and gave him Strength Wisdom and Valour and a right Spirit and he was called of God into that great
in the nature of them and such intolerable Scandals as had they not had more Patience than the Quakers notwithstanding the loud Noise they make of Patience Humility and Meekness c. they would never have lain under such Public Scandals And therefore when in the next Chapter I come to touch their tender Part as Erasmus once said to a Monk I shall see how patient they 'll be when they are paid in their own Coin nay I hope far better at least to a better Purpose CHAP. XIII The Quakers Convocation George Whitehead's Sermon explaining their Ancient Testimony Reader THink not the following Sermon a Romance or Fiction for the Design of it is good and intended for their Conviction Read the Books in the Margin and you 'll find it fully proved to be the Sum and Marrow of their Ancient Testimony which by their Contempt of the Scriptures shews their Antichristian Principles and how their Doctrine carries all Iniquity in the Womb of it and opens the Flood-gates to all Atheism Deism Socinianism Arianism and all other vile Errours And therefore in hopes that this following Illustration of their Principles may be of use to their Hearers I proceed in this unusual Method But with my Lord Bishop of Lincoln in his Advice to his Clergy Second Edit p. 25. I will say ' Not that this can be expected from the Leaders of that Party they have Ends to serve in the Conduct of that deluded People that will engage them notwithstanding Confutation and Conviction too QUAKEâ—… SYNOD A SERMON for George Whitehead to hold forth at their Convocation or Yearly Meeting Friends I Beg your Attention to what shall be spoken this Day upon this Solemn Occasion being met to inspect the Affairs of our Society throughout the VVorld The chief Subject upon which I shall treat is our Ancient Testimony as you will find it written in our Gospel viz. God is the same Truth is the same his People the same and their Principles the same For our Principles are now no other than what they were when we were first a People The Quakers cleared c. p. 7. so we cannot but recommend unto you the holding up the Holy Testimony of Truth which had made us to be a People Prim. Christ continued p. 6. and that in all the Parts of it for Truth is one and changes not amp c. Their Yearly Epistle Printed 1696. Beloved in the opening the VVords of my Text I am to tell you First That as God is the same so are his People the same and according to our Ancient Testimony as unchangeable Secondly That our Principles are now no other than they were in the Beginning in all the parts of our Ancient Testimony whether relating to Monarchy Magistracy the National Ministry and all Points of Doctrine News coming up p. 18 19 20. Thus having opened the VVords of my Text I shall now let you know the Doctrinal Parts I intend to discourse of and then proceed FIRST The Scriptures which the Christians profess to be their Rule shewing their great Mistake therein and the Uncertainty thereof SECONDLY The Authority Certainty and Infallibility of our Friend's Books and Sayings and both Affirmatively THIRDLY and Lastly I shall apply the same by way of Use and for your Consolation Negatively and these in their Order First then As to the Christian's Mistake about the Scriptures look into the Epistle General of our Great Apostle Geo. Fox viz. And therefore all People that are here Christ is not in the Letter nor the Life is not in the Letter nor the Word is not in the Letter This mediate Stuff has reigned long in the Cage of unclean Birds you get the Letter for the Light a Steeple-House for the Church Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel c. To all the People who meet in Steeple-Houses c. p. 4 5. Printed 1657. Thus Beloved you see what great Mistakes are hapned to this People of England who by following the Doctrine of their blind Guides have taken Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel that is Glad-Tidings No no 't is Beastly VVare yea Dust and Serpents Meat and this I can prove by Two Books wrote by our Apostle Geo. Fox the one stiled News coming up c. p. 14. the other Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth c. p. 3 4 44 45 46 viz. So Dust is the Serpents Meat their Original is but Dust which is Death so these Serpents feed upon Dust and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter c. Thus Friends have I shewed you the great Ignorance of the VVorld's Teachers who first take Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel and now see what they have got for their Rule VVho would think they should hear such a Teacher as hold a Bible in his Hand and tell People it 's the VVord of God and bid them hear it and obey the Doctrine of it at their Peril for it 's the Law say they by which you shall be judged another Day VVhen alas my dearly Beloved as I have more than once in Print affirmed saying That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any meaning our selves is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater c. And I still affirm the same and do tell you that it is according to our Ancient Testimony and you know we cannot change nor alter being as unchangeable as our Light within See G. W. Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. Printed 1657. A Ser. Apology p. 49. Moreover the Scriptures are so uncertain that 't is questionable who was the first Pen-man thereof whether Moses or Hermes yea either or neither How then can any Man depend upon them as a Rule to walk by Thus you see how the Christians are mistaken for have not I my self told you as well as my dear Brother Christopher Atkinson That Friends do not call Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel and New Testament as the Ignorant Priests do David 's Enemies discover'd c. p. 7. And is it not written in the Gospel of my said Brother Christ Atkinson That for any to say that Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. What Ground then hath any Body to hold a Trinity of Persons Nay my Brother Penn and I have jointly said in our Apology Dedicated to the King's Lieutenant-General of Ireland That we deny the Terms of three distinct Persons in the Godhead whereby we do positively deny the Creeds called the Apostle's Athanasian and Nicene Creed A Ser. Apol. p. 20. If any Object Why we refuse to acknowledge them in Words not altogether of tho' agreeing with the Scriptures seeing we our selves use many Words not Scriptural as those of calling the Scriptures Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Meat c. those of our calling the Clergy Monsters Bloodbounds Grinning Dogs
Sodomites Witches Devils c. those of calling Christ A Garment A Vessel The Sandy Foundation shaken p. 5 to 65. I Answer The reason why we call them so and Translate the Words of Christ John 5.22,27 from the Son of Man to the Light within us * * The Quakers Reason for denying the Blessed Trinity Is because we believe there is no other Son of Man than the Light within us which was in the Jews Gentiles c. before his Incarnation according to my Gospel and the Gospel of my Brother Jeffrey Bullock where we say Therefore the Man Christ Jesus was before He came in the Body or Flesh Judgment fixed c. p. 316 356. For to be plain with you according to our Ancient Testimony we own no other Trinity nor God than is within us for the Light is God the Light is the Son of Man the Light is the Holy Ghost and we having obtained the Repute to be a well-meaning People and tell the Priests in Answer to their Demand Do you own the Trinity Do you own the Sacraments c. We tell them we deny their Unscriptural Terms Where is the Words Trinity and Sacrament in the Scriptures Tho' we are not such Fools but we know the Word Trinity came from the Latin Word Trinitas and Sacrament from Sacra or Sacramentum a Holy Institution or Sacrament yet to hide our selves from the Dint of their Arguments we tell them They are not Scripture Terms Nay even this Sessions of Parliament when the House of Commons were preparing a Bill against such as denied the Trinity we soon perceived what might follow and we gave in a Paper intituled Some Considerations upon the Bill for the more effectual Suppressing of Blasphemy and Prophaneness Humbly offer'd saying Whereas the Bill enacts That if any Person or Persons c. shall deny any of the Persons in the Holy Trinity to be God and make it punishable by the same Bill were it not more safe and plain to put it in Scripture Terms as instead of Deny any one of the Persons to be God to insert If any one shall deny any of the Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word or the Holy Ghost to be God 1 Joh. 5.7 Now if we can keep the Parliament to these Words we shall hide our selves and retain our Ancient Testimony unshaken Again If any of you should yet Object that notwithstanding we according to our Ancient Testimony call the Scriptures Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Meat c. News coming up out of the North c. p. 14. A Brief Discovery of a three-fold State c. p. 9. and say That whoever Preach out of them are Conjurers c. Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 7. Yet notwithstanding all this we profess to prefer the Holy Scriptures above all other Books extant in the World The Counterfeit Convert c. p. 26 27. To this I Answer That you must observe the Context as well as the Text and then you shall see we do not interfere for in the same Book p. 72. viz. I may see Cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same Besides Beloved I would have none mistake me for tho' I am the Man that did say we prefer the Scriptures above all other Books extant in the World which in one Sense is true yet not in another The Count. Conv. c. p. 26. First I hope you do not understand it of its Intrinsick Value of its Real Authority so as to be a Rule of Faith and Practice and that the Commands therein are Obligatory upon Us if you do you are greatly mistaken and that for these Reasons following And First That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. Secondly That is no Command from God to me what he commands to another Neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scriptures act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves c. Burrough's Works p. 47. Thirdly No Command in the Scriptures is any further obliging upon any Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man Quakerism a New Nick-name c. p. 71. Fourthly To this triple treble Cord which I think is not easily broken let me add our constant Practice ever since we have been a People and it will not only confirm these Proofs but shew our Sincerity to our Ancient Testimony I say as a Proof that we do not prefer the Scriptures above our own Books let it suffice That this Forty-eight Years never an Apostate that ever went from us can prove nay not once say if they 'll do us justice * * George what you say is true I am a Witness to thy Sincerity herein that ever we read any one Chapter in the Bible or any one Epistle of the Apostles in our Meetings whilst it hath been our frequent Practice to read our own Epistles And surely if we deemed the Scriptures best most certain and more edifying for us respecting our Ancient Testimony you may depend on 't that we would read the Scriptures in our Meetings nay we challenge all our Adversaries to shew us one Book of our Friends in the Unity that ever so much as recommended the reading any one Chapter or any one Epistle of the Apostles in our Meetings Thus much in Answer to one part of the Objection with respect to the Truth Certainty Value and Worth of the Scriptures But still I say they are occasionally good and in one Sense I do prefer the Scriptures above our own Books and then you may lay your Lives on 't above all Books in the World for sometimes the Scriptures as the Case may stand are like the Philosopher's Stone what they touch they turn into Gold And in that Sense our Confession to the Parliament with the Consequences are a Demonstration viz. I believe with my Heart and confess with my Mouth the Sacred ††Sacred an unscriptural Word yet it now will down with these new Saints to serve a turn c. Scriptures to be Divine left us by Men inspired of God as an exact Rule of our Faith and Behaviour and I profess to believe in One Only God who is the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son very God and very Man and in the Holy Spirit one and the same God with the Father and Son Blessed for evermore The Gen. Hist of the Quakers p. 112. Now my Friends tho' this Confession be as contrary to our Ancient Testimony as Light is contrary to Darkness as by our Books quoted you may see yet we kept our Meaning to our selves we mean'd at the same time The Scriptures to be Dust Death and Serpents Meat News coming up
read a Page thereof but to tell them all are Lies all is Malice c. and they are bound to believe you * * True for never were a People held more Captive but the Blind lead the Blind according to my Doctrine in these VVords It was for your sakes and the Truth 's that I was pressed in Spirit thus to appear against this deceitful Worker VVilliam Mucklow which hath shewn his Enmity against the Truth and Us the Church of Christ and Elect People of God called Quakers And p. 16. I affirm That the true Church as above described is in the true Faith that is in God And we must believe thus as the true Church believes or else it were but both a Folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members thereof c. The Apost Incendiary c. p. 3 16. So that my tender Lambs you see first That we are the true Church of Christ next That you are to believe as the Church believes and there lyes G. Fox's Journal on the Table which you have in all Quarterly Meetings and ought to have it in all Schools ††They have got it in some Schools already where their Youth read a Portion of it every Day c. yea in private Families for as our Brother Mead hath well express'd himself it is the best Book in the VVorld for our keeping up our Ancient Testimony yea better than the Bible said he And now to conclude this Head look into the Book of Canons * * Look into the Book of Church-Canons made Anno 1675. which lyes before you on the Table and turn to those Church Canons which were made Anno 1675 at a Yearly Meeting or a Convocation where in order to corroborate all that hath been said on this Head it is thus written It is the Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and the Authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings That no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as calling Men's and Women's Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burdensome that Faithful Friend's Papers which We TESTIFIE have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Men's Edicts or Canons or Imbracing them Bowing to Men Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with sueh scornful Sayings be permitted among them but let God's Power be set upon the top of that Unsavoury Spirit that uses them Subscribed by us W. Penn Steph. Crisp Tho. Salthouse Jo. Bunyeat G. Whitehead Alex. Parker c. Thirdly and Lastly Let me apply what has been said Friends I am now come to the last thing proposed to speak to on this solemn Occasion and it shall be by way of Use and Application for your Comfort and Consolation and that by way of Inference drawn from the foregoing Two Heads And First Respecting Confession of Sin shewing your Exaltation above the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Primitive Christians Saints and Martyrs and all the Christian Churches to this Day Secondly Respecting the Observation of the Ten Commandments which are not binding to you unless you receive them anew as the Inspired Prophets and Apostles did Edward Burrough's Works p. 47. Quakerism a New Nick-name c. p. 71. Thirdly Respecting the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper And First You being the true Ancient Apostolick Church of Christ and as Quakers elected thereto and that the Quakers are in the Truth and none but they as our Brother Sol. Eccles from the Spirit of Truth hath written See the Quakers Challenge c. p. 3. hath no need to make any Confession of Sin in our Prayers to God as our Practice for near Fifty Years do confirm nay nor all the Apostates that ever went from us nor all the Priests our Adversaries cannot prove from any one of our Books wrote by my self G. Fox Ed. Burrough Fr. Howgill Father Penn Sam. Fisher W. Smith W. Baily Richard Hubberthorn and others of our Friends in the Unity that ever we made Confession of Sins to God and asked Pardon for Christ's sake nor that ever we recommended such a Practice to our Disciples notwithstanding our Books wrote by our Friends above-named contain more than 5555555 Pages in Folio Quarto and Octavo Now Friends VVhat cause have we to Rejoice and to Magnifie our Light within which hath led us to such a State of sinless Perfection And therefore I exhort you to keep up our Ancient Testimony in all its Parts of which this is not the least For let me tell you that Jacob that worthy and godly Patriarch he was so sensible of his sinful Imperfections that when he prayed to God he acknowledged himself unworthy of the least of God's Mercies Gen. 32.10 And Isaiah the Prophet said But we are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and we all do fade as a Leaf and our Iniquities like the Wind have taken us away Isa 64.6 And Jeremiah the Prophet cried under a sense of his Sins We have Transgressed and Rebelled Lam. 3.41 Yea Job that Man of God said I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of Men Job 7.20 Yea David a Man after God's own Heart said For I will declare mine Iniquity I will be sorry for my Sin Have mercy upon me O God according to thy Loving Kindness according unto the Multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions wash me thorowly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin for I acknowledge my Transgressions and my Sin is ever before me against thee thee only have I sinned and done this Evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me c. Psal 38.18 and 51.1,2,3,4,5 Again Solomon said For there is not a just Man upon Earth that doth Good AND SINNETH NOT Eccles 7.20 Prov. 20.9 adding by way of Interrogation Who can say I have made my Heart clean I am pure from my Sin * * Besides the Quakers and the Gnosticks Yea that good Man Nehemiah Fasted Prayed and VVept before the Lord God of Israel saying O Lord God of Heaven the great and terrible God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments * * Not G. Fox's Commandments Let thine Ear now be attentive and thine Eyes open that thou mayest hear the Prayer of thy Servant which I pray before thee now Day and Night for the Children of Israel thy Servants and confess the Sins of the Children of Israel which we have sinned against thee I and my Father's House have sinned Nehem. 1.5,6,11 Yea Daniel that Beloved of the Lord he said And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my Confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the Covenant and Mercy to them
that love him and to them that keep his Commandments WE have sinned and committed Iniquity and have done Wickedly and have Rebelled even by Departing from thy Precepts and from thy Judgments and whilst I was Speaking and Praying and Confessing my Sins and the Sins of my People Israel and presenting my Supplication before the Lord my God c. Dan. 9.4,5,20 Yea John the Evangelist said If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 Moreover St. Paul himself cried out of a Body of Sin saying For the Good that I would do I do not but the Evil which I would not that I do I find then a Law that when I would do Good Evil is present with me O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am Chief Rom. 7.19,21,24 1 Tim. 1.15 All which Practice is according to Christ's Command and Precept Matth. 6. Luk. 11. who said Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 6.23 And when our Brethren the Donatists and Pelagians who professed a sinless Perfection as we do told the Ancient Christians that a constant Practice of Confession implied a constant Course of Sinning St. Augustine replied to them saying Confess always for thou hast Matter always to confess Augustine in p. 99. Tho. Bilney confessed that he was a miserable Sinner And said he therefore with all my Power I teach that all Men should first acknowledge their Sins Fox's Acts and Mon. Ps 467 468. Dr. Robert Barnes said The whole Church prayeth Lord forgive us our Sins Wherefore she hath Spots and Wrinkles but by acknowleding them thro' the Merits of Christ her Wrinkles be scratched out See his Works p. 254. Martin Luther saith But thou wilt say the Church is Holy the Fathers are Holy it is true notwithstanding albeit the Church is Holy yet is she compelled to pray Forgive us our Trespasses So tho' the Fathers are Holy yet are they saved thro' the Forgiveness of Sins See Luther's Commentary upon Gal. p. 36. Next hear what Humble Bradford said to his London Friends John Bradford an Unworthy Servant of the Lord be merciful to our Sins for they are great Let us heartily bewail our Sins repent us of our former Evil Life c. Fox's Acts and Mon. p. 1167. Thus my Well-beloved Friends and Brethren I have shewed you many Instances both of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Primitive Christians and Martyrs who have all along confessed their Sins to God and begg'd Pardon for Jesus Christ's sake and go you but to the Windows or Doors of the Churches and other Christian Assemblies but besure you go no further and you may still hear them i. e. Episcopal Presbyterians Independants and Baptists crying out of a Body of Sin saying They have erred and strayed from the Ways of God from Seven to Seventy as our Brother Father Penn has well observ'd we have done Despite to the Spirit of Grace we have broke thy Commandments we have added to the Guilt of Original Sin by our many and repeated Actual Sins and therefore we prostrate our selves and humbly beg thy Pardon for the alone sake of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ our only Advocate and Mediator to whom with thee and thy blessed Spirit be all Honour Glory and Dominion for ever Amen Truth exalted in a Short but Sure Testimony c. p. 9. Now Friends what a happy thing is this that you need not trouble your selves with any Confession of Sins since you are not like other Men nor like these Publicans And therefore I exhort you to keep to your Ancient Testimony in all the Parts of it make no Confession of Sins nor besure you do not recommend the Practice of it by Word or Writing but keep to our Ancient Practice nor is there any need for our Hearers to follow those Christian Precepts viz. And whatsoever you do in Word or Deed do all in the NAME of the LORD JESUS giving Thanks to God the Father BY HIM whether therefore ye EAT or DRINK or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God Col. 3.17 1 Cor. 10.31 Matth. 15.36 First Because the Name Jesus belongs to every Believer I should say Quaker as well as to him that suffer'd at Jerusalem according to our Ancient Testimony A Question to Professors c. p. 20 27 33. Secondly Because you know that we our selves to be seen of Men do make a kind of a Prayer to our Light within when we are at their Tables when Company is present but if alone either at Home or Abroad we seldom give Thanks for our Food and seldomer with our Eyes towards Heaven as Christ did as Stephen did or as the Martyrs did No you know we are of another yea of a different Faith and Practice from all the Ancient Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Holy Confessors and all Christian Churches to this Day being exalted above them for we sit in Heavenly Places singing the Songs of Sion in the Beauty of Holiness without Sin or any Imperfection which all the Recited were chargeable with as imply'd by their Confessions and their relying upon the Merits of another to wit The Man Christ Jesus as believing they shall one Day appear before his Tribunal and be judged by the Law of God recorded in their Scriptures but for our parts we differ from them in all Respects having our whole God within us as safely as the Papists have their Crucifixes in their Pockets And thus much to shew you the great Happiness and Excellency of our Dispensation so no need of Confession according to our Ancient Testimony The Second Inference i. e. The Ten Commandments And Friends whereas the Christians propose to us sometimes the Use of the Ten Commandments whether we own them as a Rule to a Christian Life look into one of my Gospels and you will find it thus written Thou may'st as well ask if the Moral Law or Ten Commandments be a Rule for Christ c. Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 18. Again Ed. Burrough one of our Prophets said That is no Command from God to me what he commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was to another not having the Command to themselves I challenge to find an Example for it they obey'd every one their own Command Burrough 's Works p. 47. And in Defence of this Position hear what Father Penn says i. e. No Command in the Scripture is any further obliging upon any Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in a Man Quakerism a new Nick-Name c. p. 71. And now that none
of you may think that these Doctrines of ours point to or aim only at extraordinary Commands as Moses going to Pharoah with some other Temporary Commands my very Doctrine shew it to be the Ten Commandments First By telling the Priest they might as well carry the Ten Commandments to Christ the Consequence of which is that Christ had as much need to learn them as we have Secondly in that we never Recommended the Ten Commandments to our Hearers that they should teach them to their Children and so from Age to Age one Generation after another as the Churches do and ever did both Jewish and Christian Thirdly Because we never read them in our Meetings nor in any one of our Books Recommend them to be so read This therefore may confirm you in our Ancient Testimony which have been to lay them by as a dead Letter Dust Death Serpents Food and Beastly Ware c. and I exhort you to be Bold and Valiant to maintain our Ancient Testimonies and this leads me to the third and last Inference namely Touching Baptism and the Lord's Supper Dear Friends I am now come to give you the Arguments of the Christians for Baptism and the Supper which is founded upon the Letter which our Apostle G. Fox said was Dust and Death viz. Their Sacrament is Carnal their Communion is Carnal a little Bread and Wine so Dust is the Serpent's Meat Their Original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter Again p. 35. A Word to all you Deceivers who deceive the People and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemy and Hypocrisie That tell the People of a Sacrament and tell that it is the Ordinance of God Blush blush and tremble before the Lord God Almighty for dreadful is he that will pour forth his Vengeance upon you You who live in the Witchery and bewitch the People c. News coming up out of the North c. p. 14 35. Dear Lambs I first told you that the Authority the Christians make use of for these Two Ordinances is bottomed upon the Letter I have now shewed you a greater Authority for the disannulling them namely what is said by the Spirit of Truth through our Second Moses And to prove it read the Gospel wrote by me 1659. viz. * * Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any then to be sure in Geo. Fox is of as Great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and Greater Thus Friends I first told you what Authority the Christians pleaded for these two Institutions of Baptism and the Supper namely the Scriptures I have likewise told you by what Authority we have laid them aside but lest all of you should not remember the Words the Christians quote not being much used to Scripture they are these Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you always even to the end of the World Matth. 28.19,20 Again And he Christ took Bread and gave Thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying This is my Body which is given for you THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Luke 22.19,20 Again Matthew hath it And as they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave Thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood of the New-Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins Matth. 26.26,27,28 Again Paul hath it For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread And when he had given Thanks he broke it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood THIS DO YE as oft as ye drink it IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25 Beloved I cannot but allow that if the Letter viz. the Scriptures were of greater Authority than our Sayings or that the Words of Matthew Luke and Paul were of greater Authority than our Sayings I should be of the Christians side for nothing in the World is plainer said nor more possitively commanded But Friends in the beginning we were convinced by G. Fox that Matthew Mark Luke and John were Death Dust and Serpents Meat that the Scriptures were Beastly Ware that all that preached out of them were Conjurers that the Letter of the Scripture is Carnal Death and Killeth that such as once told the People of a Sacrament were Witches News coming up c. p. 14 35. Printed 1655. A brief Discovery of a Threefold State c. p. 9. Printed 1653. Saul 's Errand to Damascus c. p. 7. Printed 1654. And that therefore they ought not only to blush but tremble that such as preached Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above were false Ministers Witches Devils c. Smith's Primer p. 8. That it was Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God Fox's Great Mystery p. 240. Printed 1659. That Circumcision is as much of Force as Water Baptism and the Paschal-Lamb as Bread and Wine for says my dear Brother W. Penn the Continuance of those Two Ordinances as the Lord's Supper and Baptism would have been a Judaizing of the Evangelical Worship and to assert their Continuance would be as much as in us lies to pluck up the Gospel by the Roots Hence says our dear Brother that Appellation Ordinances of Christ I do renounce as Unscriptural and Unevangelical and can testifie from the same Spirit by which Paul Renounced Circumcision that they to wit Water-Baptism and the Supper are to be rejected as not now required c. W. Penn's Reason against Railing c. p. 108 109. And therefore I warn you all to take heed of Apostatizing from our Ancient Testimony as you have it in my Text for what we were convinced of by our Light in the beginning to be Evil to be Death Dust Serpents Meat 't is so still to be Beastly Ware and Conjuration 't is so still and therefore keep up to your Ancient Testimony my dear Lambs in all the Parts of it Ha ha ha hme hme hme silent After a little Silence Will. Bingley c. Friends Friends I am filled I am filled as with new Wine I am ready to burst at the joyful News I have heard to Day respecting our Ancient Testimony And oh
all its Parts A small Treatise wrote in Alisbury Prison the 3d. Month 1661. by J. Whitehead Jo. Whitehead the Fourth Bird. where he saith In the Year 1648. God who had Compassion on his People did cause a Branch to spring forth of the Root of David which was filled with Vertues for the Covenant of Life and Peace was in him Jo. Whitehead the Fourth Bird. 'T is well Calculated for about 1648. Fox first rose in the North only did not spread forth his Branches till about 1650. And he Fox spread and shot forth many Branches which did partake of the Fatness of the Root and the Weary came to Rest under his Fox 's Branches and in him Fox was also the Word of Reconciliation which turned the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just And in the Year 1652. I John Whitehead being a Branch of this Tree Fox the Life of its Root caused me to Blossom and bring forth Fruit for the Spirit as a Key opened his Fox 's Treasure and shewed me for he was before Languages were that which was from the beginning Read p. 4 5. of the same Treatise Thus then has this J. Whitehead put all out of Doubt and quite confuted G. Whitehead and overthrown all his Arguments by confessing Matter of Fact If I have made Whitehead oppose Whitehead 't is no more than in other Cases I have done for the Quakers having no Bottom no Solid Foundation but all speaking as their Light move them it 's casie to see how they interfere and jarr only G. W. has this Faculty he can otherwife word his Matter and yet mean the same A right Jesuit a Doctrine first coin'd in their Mint and only serve to their Ends whose Work has been to sow Divisions make Rents and beget Schisms c. The next Bird shall be John Audland in a Letter of his to G. Fox from the West of England an Abstract thereof is as follows viz. John Audland the Fifth Bird. Dear and Precious one in whom my Life is bound up and my Strength in thee stands by thy Breathings I am nourished by thee my Strength is renewed Blessed art thou for evermore and Blessed are all that enjoy thee Life and Strength comes from thee Holy one daily do I find thy Presence with me which doth exceedingly preserve me for I cannot reign but in thy Presence Fox and Power Pray for me that I may stand in thy Dread Fox for evermore I am thine Fox Begotten and Nourished by thee and in thy Power Fox am I preserved Glory unto thee Fox Holy One for ever Reader These are the Birds in the Cage tell me are they not all of a Feather Do they not all agree in the main That G. Fox was the Quakers Branch and Star yea their All in All the Bottom and Corner and Top-Stone of their Building Pray spare me the Pains of a large Comment I think there is no need he that runs may read and he that reads may understand the Foundation of Quakerism no marvel then if it wither no marvel if it fall like a Millstone into the Bottom of the Sea never more to rise But let me add another Bird since I have Plenty c. Jo. Blaikling the Sixth Bird. Here followeth the Testimony and Certificate of John Blaikling to the clearing of the Aspersions that William Rogers c. cast upon G. Fox that 's blessed with Honour above many Brethren and that Thousands will stand by him in a Heavenly Record unto the Integrity of his Soul to Truth that still lives with him That his Life Reigns and is Spotless Innocent and still retains his Integrity whose Eternal Honour and Blessed Renown shall remain yea his Presence and the dropping of his Tender Words in the Lord's Love was my Soul's Nourishment c. The Christ Quaker disting c. 5th Part p. 77. Come George Whitehead give me thy Hand ☞ ☜ I 'll take thee out of the Cage and do thee this Honour not to be a Partner with the last Six Blasphemous Birds but as a Witness for them that we may hear what thou canst say on their Behalf But I 'll put thee in again and keep thee there lest thou flyest up and down the Nation and do more Mischief Oh George thou art a plump Bird thou' rt grown fat I find well what canst thou say I affirm that G. Fox does deny the same i. e. these Divine Attributes in reference to himself as a particular Man or Person whose Days and Years are limited only the Truth of the Immortal Seed Christ in him he stands to maintain against all Opposers and Apostates Judgment fixed c. p. 19. And as to his Francis Bugg 's Charge of Idolatry if not Blasphemous Names and Titles given to Geo. Fox in certain Letters how proves he Francis Bugg that they gave and intended those Titles to the Person of Geo. Fox and not to the Life of Christ in him Innocency against Envy c. p. 18. How George I 'll tell thee how because Josiah Coale said Dear G. Fox c. by this I know they intended G. Fox for if they had intended those Titles to the Life of Christ in him they would have directed their Letters suitably saying Dear Life of Christ in G. Fox c. This I hope will satisfie thee if Reason could take place if not I despair of giving thee or thy Friends Satisfaction But George for thy Comfort if thou wilt mean as thou say'st according to the Import of thy Words and on that Foot retract and condemn these thy Fallacious Covers and Excuses and thy own apparent Errors and the Errors in thy Friends Books which thou hast most impudently glossed over with thy Hypocritical Paint I will take thee out of the Cage if not there lye for ever singing Here is Perfection here is Perfection c. Thus much shall serve in answer to G. W.'s Book intituled A Sober Expostulation c. p. 54 55 56. as well as to shew what manner of Birds are in the Cage of this sort namely Blasphemers and Idolaters and next let me take out Six of the other sort namely of their Vicious Teachers against whom G. Whitehead would not write a Book for the World No seriously I believe him his Sincerity is so true to their Ancient Testimony besides if he should there being so few of them clear that here would be Hell broke loose for if they should write one against another all would come out and then they 'd appear a dark sort of Quakers indeed Christopher Atkinson the Seventh Bird but the first of the last Six beforementioned who was since hang'd for Felony And Christ Atkinson was G. Whitehead's Fellow-Traveller Fellow-Sufferer Fellow-Writer and Fellow-Preacher But so it was that he got Ursula the Maid-Servant of Tho. Symonds with Child when he was a Sufferer for their Ancient Testimony in Norwich-Goal but this was not all
tender Ones in their Bodies Souls and Spirits This Language hath mine Ears heard this Practice hath mine Eyes seen to the grief and wounding of my Soul P. 11 12 c. This Witness is true This Spirit of Antichrist in G. Fox c. would wrest from me what I am not willing to part withal to wit my Conscience under no less Penalty than Excommunication c. P. 16. This Witness is true These ill Ministers i. e. G. Fox c. conjoin together to subvert our Laws and Liberties given by the Great Jeâ—ovah And assuredly though they are lifted up as it were into Heaven in their Proud Imaginations the Righteous God will Blast all their Exalted Expectations and they shall Die and Perish in the General Dissolution because they have not regarded the Fatherless nor pitied the poor in Spirit nor compassionated the tender Conscience which feared to Sin against the Lord but Crushed Spoiled and Oppressed without Bowels of Mercy those that had little strength to help themselves invaded their Rights violated their Liberties and endeavoured to take the Meat from the Children and give it unto Dogs P. 26. This Witness is true And although they daily exercise the Oppressions before-mentioned yet by their deceitful Flatteries they make People believe that they are a Harmless Innocent and Peaceable People suffering and bearing wrong but not doing any Or if any Persons write or speak their Grief that the Publick take notice of they will represent them under such terms as may render them odious and the more effectually to weaken their Testimonies they will fix upon them scurrilous and contemptible Appellations as Scotch-men Welch-men Tinker Taylor c. some of them utterly untrue and to prevent an Inquisition into the Truth of the matter they would make People believe that they are Envious Malicious and Discomposed Spirits Bad Dirty Factious and Ranting Spirits who are gone from Truth and are out of Truth This Witness is true Such is the Portion of those that appear in the least against their Imperious Tyrannical and Lascivious Actions and whatever Man detected the Fallacies and destructive Cheats of Imperious and Disdainful Men but was thus reproached Must it be Justice in them to complain of their Oppressions and Envy and Malice c. in us to complain of ours Their Years are but few yet verily they have been exceeding expert in learning of the Papists Subtilties P. 36 37. This Witness is true It appears plainly unto the Just and Righteous Man that G. Fox and the rest of his Counsel have endeavoured to subvert the Royal Law of Liberty and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government over the Consciences of the Flock of God These are the Ravening Wolves which Prey upon the little Ones in a Lordly Spirit This is that envenomed Spirit which hath tainted their Judgments poysoned their Hearts and blinded their Eyes P. 38. And I affirm the Lord did not raise them up to bring us off from the Barren Mountains to feed upon them who are now become a Desart nor from under our Oppressors to turn Oppressors themselves Let them remember the Army it is their Figure ☞ And if the Lord's Anger waxed hot against them for their unfaithfulness what will be the Portion of these who have so deeply Apostatized from clearer Manifestations P. 41. Dear Friend It hath pleased the Lord to raise thee up to bear a Testimony against an Adulterous Tyrannical and an Hypocritical Generation P. 44. W. Mucklowe an Eminent and Ingenious Quaker in a large Letter with abundance more to the same effect Printed 1673. Intituled The Spirit of the Hat c. and is Reprinted this Year 1700. Titled A Bemoaning Letter c. III. THE Day is come that as they have laid open the Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie of other Professors that went before them so must their Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie be also laid open for the Lord whom I serve is no respecter of Persons This Witness is true Printed 1671. in a Letter to G. F. by J. P. IV. YOur Day into Darkness is turn'd the Sun is gone down over you You have had a large Day and Power given you to have done the Will of God but you have abused the Power and slighted your Day and have refused to do the Lord's Work and have sought your selves and not the Lord Therefore in Justice and Righteousness is the Day wherein you might have wrought for God taken from you and the thick Dark Night of Confusion is come upon you wherein you are groping and stumbling and cannot Work The Decree is gone out and sealed against you and it cannot be recalled you are not the Men as ye stand in whom God will appear to work deliverance for his People and yet deliverance shall come but as for you ye have rejected the Counsel of the Lord and grieved his Spirit and he hath long born you yea you are departed from the Lord and his presence is departed from you Indeed he hath Hewed with you and if you had been faithful to the end he would have honoured and prospered you and have been your sufficient reward ye were his Ax but ye have boasted your selves against him therefore as you have Hewed and Broken others even so must you be Hewed and Broken This was Printed 1673. and Reprinted 1677 8 1692 and 1696. directed for the Preachers and Leaders of the People called Quakers By J. P. V. WHat will you do You Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites you that have been long making clean the outside of the Cup and Platter but inwardly are as Ravening Wolves your Fruits will make you manifest You Hypocrites your Name will be a stink among the Heathen for the Lord will find you out whose Glory he will not give to any other nor his Honour to any of your Graven Images my Soul loaths all your false Covers I cannot but declare against all your false Ways M. D. an Ancient Quaker and is Printed in a Letter to G. F. 1682. VI. I Being ingaged as well as some others to manifest and lay open deceitful Workers and Hypocrites I am farther to appear to manifest thee to be one of the greatest Hypocrites and Deceivers in this Nation and until thou own thy Condemnation and leave off Deceiving the People assuredly the Sword that 's now drawn is not to be nor must not be sheath'd till thou and such Deceivers as thou art be brought down This Witness is true In a large Letter to G. F. by J. P. 1674 5. and Printed 1682 1691 and 1696. VII THe Day is come and now is that the hidden things of Esau's Nature are to be and must be brought to Light See Quakers Unmask'd c. Title Page writ to G. Fox G. Whitehead c. 1677. and Printed 1682 and 1691. VIII AND let G. Fox and those that uphold him remember that it was Jeroboam the Son of Nebat that caused Israel to Sin and as his Name was Branded to Posterity so shall theirs