against thee and thou art bound with two Bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven And this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these Bonds till thou art reconciled to the Brethren O haste to to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to Geo. Fox who is Gods Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of Jesus Christ haste away to the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy Brother if possibly you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least that their Blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going For this is the word of the Lord to thee That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God The first Day of the first Month 1677. Soll. Eccles. See the first part of Babels Builders unmasking themselves by Thomas Crisp p 15. Oh the Impudence of this Imposture and false Prophet of G. Fox In that First he avouched Womens Meetings to be the Good Ordinances of Jesus Christ which he had set up in his Church Secondly In saying that to the reconciled to the Body of the Quakers which he deemed to be the Body of Christ was the only way to find Mercy Thirdly In delivering that great Lye in the Name of the Lord. This year shalt thou John Story dye who at that time was very ill and not like to recover but it pleased God that he lived about four years after Fourthly This was he even he that burnt his Fiddles on Tower-hill Fifthly This was he yea even he that went as a great sign and notable wonder stark naked with a Pan of Coals on his Head to Bartholomew-Fair enough to deceive the very Elect as Christ said if it were possible Sixthly This is he who in his Musick Lector c. p. 22. said viz. I do affirm that if John the Apostle had said he had been a Sinner he had lyed Seventhly This is he yea even that false Prophet who writ thus of G. Fox his Master viz. A Prophet indeed it was said of Christ he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet G. Fox whom John said he was not Quakers Chal. p. 6. Now Reader Upon our Christian Creed this is down-right Blasphemy But according to the Quakers Principles it harmonizes with their Creed which is doubtless the very reason why they never to this day condemned it by publick Censure mark the fifth Branch of their Creed which is as followeth The Quakers Creed V. THE Light Christ The Great Mist c. by G. Fox p. 254. by which all things were made and created glorified with the Father before the World began which the Scripture testifies of is above the Scripture before the Scripture was they that be not in this Christ are Reprobates in which the Scripture end and testifie of and so is Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever that the Saints came to witness within them not another Christ nor many Christs c. Remark Now who can blame Soll. Eccles upon the Quakers Creed for saying first That G. Fox was in the World secondly that the World was made by him thirdly that the World knew him not as to the first my self and Thousands more can bear him witness as to the second according to their Creed last recited the same Christ by which all things were made and Created is in them which if true then that proves sufficiently what Eccles says and as to the third see p. 1. of G. Fox his own Book call'd News coming out of the North c. which says viz. Writ from the Mouth of the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which if true who can blame Sollomon For though he was not a wise Man he was a Prophet I mean one of Geo. Fox's Prophets According to the old Proverb as was the Master so was the Man viz. Both false Prophets false Pretenders and great Impostors Indeed G. Whitehead in his Vindication of Solomon in his Book Serious Search p. 58. does a little complain in a little failer in Syntax but to amend it and to help Sollomon Eccles John Blackling and other Idolaters in the right wording the Matter he says Judgment fixed c. p. 19. For I affirm G. Fox doth deny the same in reference to himself as a perticular 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 Persecuting Gain-sayers and Apostates See also his Innocency against Envy c. p. 18. to the same purpose so that had Solomon said the Light in G. Fox was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not he had then acted according to their innate Principle and suitable to their Creed which had been I say equally Idolatrous and Blasphemous The Quakers Creed VI. A brief Discovery of a Three-fold Estate of Antichrist p. 15. ALL teaching which is given forth by Jesus Christ is to bring up the hearers to Perfection even to the Measure Stature and Fulness of Christ this the Scripture witnesseth and I witness the Scripture fulfilled in me G. Fox * See your Book Intituled A New England Firebrand quenched being an Answer to a Book put forth by Mr. Roger Williams intituled Geo. Fox digged out of his Burrow c. in two parts containing 488 pages in Quarto one thing is worthy of observation that where the said Firebrand takes notice of G. Fox's great Mistery Yea and may well also be ashamed of the said Firebrand which is as full of Errors almost as Leafs and yet G. VVhitehead in the second part p 236 assists G. Fox what he can with a Marginal Note c. of which perhaps more hereafter It is no horrible Blasphemy to say the Soul is a part of God c. G. Fox's Answer to the Westm Pet. p. 33. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Writings you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power Truths Defence c. p. 21 to 24. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries for our giving forth Papers oâ— Printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God p. 92. we are elected to Salvation we have the Witness within us Praises be to the Glorious Lord God for ever who hath elected and chosen us before the Foundation of the World But thou meaning the Querist art ordained of old for Condemnation and Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates
Book stiled ANTICHRIST IN FLESH UNMASKED c. p. 27 28 29 30. WE sincerely profess and declare in the sight of God and Men That we do faithfully believe and profess that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by Divine Inspiration And that the three Divine Witnesses in Heaven above * * Heaven above is a new word with them however this is not to be credited until they retract and by some publick Act condemn their old avowed Principles and ancient Errors which are in Print contrary hereunto as anon will more evidently appear namely the Father Son and Holy Ghost are one true and eternal God And the Divinity and Humanity or Manhood of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the eternal Word of God And that in the fulness of time he took flesh being miraculously conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary and suffered the cruel death of the Cross as an universal Offering and Sacrifice both in his Body and Blood shed thereon for the Sins of the whole World And was buried and rose again the third day was seen in his ascending and passed into Heaven and Glory And that he ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And that by his Suffering and Sacrifice he hath obtained eternal Redemption for us That we are not pardoned justified redeemed or saved by our own Righteousness Works Merits or Deservings but by the Righteousness Merits and Works of this our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ being both imparted and imputed to us We sincerely believe also that the Man Christ Jesus is the only Mediator between GOD and Man our Intercessor and Advocate with the Father And the Resurrection of the Dead and eternal Judgment c. ANIMADVERSION HEREVPON Now this with much more G. W. in the Quakers Name seems with much seriousness to avouch so that had they first by some manifest Act under the hand of six or more of their principal Leaders condemned their former Errors which are laid down in Print and as contrary to this Confession of G. W's as Light is to Darkness I should have thought that there had been a great Reformation in them and should have been glad thereof But until they first condemn what they have given forth in Print as their Principles and that as they have said by the eternal Spirit of GOD I nor any Man else have any ground to believe that G. W. is at all serious or conscientious in this his Confession of Faith but rather that he continues in his wonted course to carry two Faces in a Hood For Instance once for all If G. W. c. did really believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were Holy and given by Divine Inspiration and that they are profitable for Doctrine why then do they not read them in their Meetings for the Worship of GOD But rather chuse to read the Epistles of Samuel Cater Robert Sandiland William Penn George Whitehead and others of their Tribe and therein give their own Writings the preheminence as that they have done to my own knowledg near 30 Years together For as it was our frequent practice to read the Epistles of G. Fox Steph. Crisp c. and that with great Devotion and Attention so on the other hand did I never know a Chapter in either the Old or New Testament read amongst us at any of our Meetings for the Worship of GOD with what Face then can G. W. thus appear and not blush And that it may further appear that G. W. is fallacious herein I shall recite part of one of their Epistles so sent and read in which there is not a word about the Incarnation of Christ's Death Sufferings Resurrection or Ascension or any thing of that tendency tho' it be large viz. 23 pages in Quarto two or three passages thereof I shall recite that so the Reader may perceive that they err in the object of their Faith And 2dly how they applaud their Hearers And 3dly what large Commission they give to kill cut destroy lay waste all the Heathen Philistines the Amalakites c. affirming That none know GOD but themselves So that it was no marvel they gave it such an obscure dark-lanthorn Title as This is only to go amongst Friends c. for indeed it was not able to abide the light no more than many others of their Epistles and Pamphlets are Well to the matter THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS P. 19. And thou Oh North of England who art counted as desolate and barren and reckoned the least of the Nations yet out of THEE did the BRANCH spring and STAR arise which gives Light to all the Regions round about In THEE the SON OF RIGHTEOVSNESS appeared with wounding and with healing And out of THEE the Terrors of the LORD proceeded which makes the Earth to tremble and be removed out of thee KINGS Priests and Prophets did come forth c. ANIMADVERSIONS HEREVPON Reader observe that tho' what is here spoken if well meant and rightly applied respects Christ as prophesied of by Moses and the Prophets for said Luke Acts 10.43 To HIM gave all the Prophets witness that through HIS NAME that whosoever believeth in HIM shall receive Remission of Sins c. For read Numb 24.17 and there Christ is called the Star of Jacob viz. I shall see HIM but not now I shall behold HIM but not nigh there shall come a STAR out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab c. And ver 19. out of Jacob shall come HE that shall have dominion c. And Zech 3.8 For behold I will bring forth my Servant the BRANCH And cap. 6. ver 12. Behold the Man whose Name is the BRANCH And HE shall grow up out of HIS place And HE shall build the Temple of the LORD even HE shall build the Temple of the LORD And HE shall bear the Glory and shall sit and rule upon HIS Throne and HE shall be a Priest upon HIS Throne c. Again read Malachi 4.2 But unto you that fear my Name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing under HIS wings c. Thus I say if rightly applied and well meant these Sayings of theirs relating to the STAR the BRANCH the SON of RIGHTEOVSNESS c. alludes to Christ but Christ they could not mean for he did not come out of the North of England Neither can they prove that in Scripture the North of England is accounted desolate Neither can they prove by Scripture that the North of England out of which their great Prophet G. F. came is called Barren Neither can they prove by Scripture that the North of England is reckon'd the least of the Nations So that they did not mean Christ but their great Prophet George Fox as anon will more evidently appear in the mean time let me prove to them If they did allude to Christ
Glory Honour Power Might Majesty and Dominion for evermore Amen Now Noble Berean whether Christian or Quaker for some such I hope their are in every Society If thou doubt or question the soundness of this recited Creed pray examine and read these following Scriptures for thy Information and Satisfaction Luke 2.10.11 Acts 5.30 31 32. and 10.39 to 40. Acts 1.9 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 and 16.10 Zeck 9.9 and 11 12 13. Mark 1.10 Acts 2.22 to 32. Numb 24.17.19 Duet 18.15 Isa 9.6 7. Luke 24.4.51 John 20.12 Matt. 28.2 Acts 3.13 to 32. and 4.10 11 12. Heb. 7.25 and 9.24 John 17.20 21. 1 John 2.1 2. And here thou wilt find that he that was born of the Virgin the Glorious Angels call'd Christ the Lord And you will find that the holy Apostles said him that you slew and hanged on a Tree him hath God exalted to be both a Prince and a Saviour yea and Christ the Lord whose Body was not of a Perishing Nature for it saw no Corruption And that all the Prophets gave witness to this Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World Now if on the contrary you find in the Quakers Creed that they believe and say that they cannot call him Christ who thus was born of the Virgin who was by wicked Men slain and hanged on a Tree if you find them to say his Body was of a perishing Nature and if you find as you may perceive p. 78 79. of this Treatise that the Quakers Prophets give witness to G. Fox instead of this Christ that they call him G. Fox the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem then maist thou have cause to think that their Notions invert the Faith and seek to overturn the Christian Religion Read Try and Judge The Quakers Creed I. A Question to the Professors p. 33. NOW the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which he wore between him and the Body in which he came between the Substance which was vailed and the Vail which vailed it Lo I come a Body hast thou prepared me there is plainly he and the Body in which he came There was the outward Vessel and the inward Life this we certainly know and can never call the Bodily Garment Christ But that Heavenly Treasure which appeared and dwelt in the Body Remark Come into the Light and see if this Creed of theirs be not contrary to the Testimony of the Blessed and Glorious Angels Holy Apostles Blessed Martyrs and true Confessors for these 1600 Years here you may see if you will but come into the Light I mean to the holy Apostles Writings wherein they differ from all Christians they cannot call his Body Christ only a Garment a Vail a Vessel What! Did the Prophets fore-tell that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Garment Is this their Scripture Language they so often call for in Opposition to the Trinity and Sacraments Oh horrible Blasphemy But to this agrees John Whitehead's Doctrine in their Book The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 37 38. viz. Nothing which was Mortal was called Christ The Quakers Creed II. A Quest c. p. 22. IF I or any one else have felt the saving Arm of the Lord revealed in us If we have felt a measure of the same Life Power and Anointing revealed in our Vessels as was revealed in his Is it not of the same Nature Is it not the same thing Is not Christ the Seed And is not this Seed sown in the Heart Now if this Seed spring and grow up in me into a Spiritual shape and form Is not Christ then formed in me If I be ingrafted into and grow up in it Am not I ingrafted into Christ And do I not grow up in him And is not this the same Christ that took upon him the Body of Flesh and offered it without the Gates of Ierusalem Is there any more than one Or is there any other than he Is Christ devided is there one Christ within and another without Remark Come and see thou searching Berean and behold the Quakers Creed They cannot as in the first Branch of their Creed call him that was born of the Virgin Christ him that by wicked Hands was slain and hanged on a Tree Christ And no marvel if the same Christ that offered up that Body or Garment or Vail or Figure as they frame it be in them as they say it is even the very same that suffered Death at Jerusalem Oh horrible Blasphemy The Quakers Creed III. A Quest p. 20. TO whom do the Names and Titles of Iesus and Christ chiefly and in the first place belong Do they belong to the Body which was took by him or to him who took the Body For that which he took upon him was our Garment even the Flesh and Blood of our Nature which is of an Earthly perishing Nature And p. 27. Is not the Substance the Life the Anointing called Christ where-ever it is found doth not the Name belong to the whole Body and every Member in the Body as well as to the Head so that the Name is not given to the Vessel but to the Nature to the Heavenly Treasure to that which is of Him in the Vessel Remark From the Premises pray observe though they propose this Branch of their Creed by way of Query yet do but turn it and you shall observe the true and natural consequences of it is 1. That the Name Iesus and Christ do not so properly belong to the Body as to the Treasure in the Body here they seperate that which GOD hath for ever joyned together See their Book viz. The malice of the Independant Agent p. 23. Confusion and whereas they say that His Body was of an Earthly perishing Nature read Acts 2.27 and 13.35 and their Error soon appears And the Name Christ say they belongs to the whole Body as well as to the Head yea and to every Member of the Body so that they having the Light the Treasure the Life of Christ in them even the same that suffered Death at Jerusalem to be in them And the Name Christ not properly belonging to that Body which suffered Death at Jerusalem as aforesaid c. The Name by their Logick belongs to every believing Quaker so that there is as many Christs by their Doctrine as there is believing Quakers Oh horrible Blasphemy Read Matt. 24.24 The Quakers Creed IV. G. F.'s News coming up out of the North p. 14. 15. 34. A Word to all you Deceivers who deceive the People and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemies and Hypocrisies that tell People of a Sacrament and tell them it is the ordinance of God Blush blush and tremble you who live in the Witchery and bewitch People Page 14. So Dust is the Serpents Meat their original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death their Church is Dust and their Gospel is
Dust which is Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter p. first Written from the Mouth of the Lord from one who is Naked and stands Naked before the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness G. W. Behold your Creed and view your Book Antichrist in Flesh c. p. 24. and blush for ever for take away your new word Holy and your needless word but and your Change is answered fully whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which was Prophesied of but now it is fulfilled the Army is coming up out of the North p. 15. I am the same Door that ever was the same Christ to day yesterday and for ever Remark Come and see the Quakers sensorious Creed their uncharitable Creed their Blasphemous Creed First they believe the Publick Ministers are Deceivers Blasphemers Hypocrites and Witches and why so because they tell People of a Sacrament and that Matthew Mark Luke and John is the Gospel of Christ away with it all say they 't is Dust your Sacrament is Dust your Ordinance is Dust which is the Serpents Meat your Church is Dust your Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John is Dust which is the Serpents Meat which is Death c. But Secondly who is this that says so See Antichrist in Flesh c. p. 24. Why 't is Geo. Fox who says he unites from the Mouth of the Lord who stands Naked who is cloathed with Righteousness as with a Mantle Yea invisible George for if you will believe him his Name is not known in the World Oh horrible Lye there was not ten Mens Names in England known better Well But this is not all he is risen out of the North which was Prophesied of and is now fulfilled O notably done And let me for once make Proclamation O yes O yes Can George Whitehead William Penn or any Man else tell me what Prophet it was from Genesis to the Revelation that Prophesied of Geo. Fox's rising out of the North and that he should be such an Imposter as to call the holy Scripture Dust which is the Serpents Meat and be the Head Sect-master of such a compound of Heresies as hath almost filled the World If they can let them come to me and I will give them Content for their searching for I profess I cannot find one Verse unless you will accept of Mat. 24.24 and by what follows it should be that very Scripture for p. 15. viz. the last recital of this fourth Branch of their Creed G. Fox writes thus of himself I am the Door that ever was the same Christ yesterday to day and for ever c. Here is Christs words fufilled who said There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect c. And this Prophesie is fulfilled in this our Day and happy are all who escape their Delusions And that G. Fox upon his own and the Quakers Principles can mean no other but the Christ in him viz. In proper Language he himself is the Christ he there speaks of first because he doth not say I am the Door saith Christ no he takes it wholly and solely upon himself and therein he was the more like himself See his Book styled Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 7. The old Man cannot endure to here the new Man speak which is Christ And Christ is the way And if Christ be in you must he not say I am the way the Truth and the Life c. I think this very place may serve as a Key to unlock their Misterium Magnum Christ in them which in their sence See the second Branch of your Creed is in the same manner that he was in him that suffered And to put all out of doubt that they do so mean see their Book styled The Watcher c. p. 37. To the end of all Disputes and Arguments I am come for before they was I am c. Saith James Parnell now who would think but that James herein told a notorious Lye in saying he was come to the end of all Disputes and Arguments when Geo. Whitehead and my self also are two Witnesses that they are not yet ended though James hath been dead more than Twenty Years Again that he should say before all Disputes and Arguments was I am when Disputes and Arguments was thousands of years before J. Parnell was born even in Moses's time and yet J. Parnell upon the Quakers Creed and Blasphemous Principles told no Lye for ye must Interpret the I am to be Christ in him As in the days of Christ when the Jews told him John 8.57 Thou art not yet Fifty Years old and hast thou seen Abraham Christ answered him ver 58. Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am Now upon our Christian Creed this was true in Christ but Abominably false and Blasphemous Lye in Parnell O dreadful I tremble to behold these unheard of Blasphemies See also Josiah Coal's Testimony for E. Burroughs printed in his Works in Folio viz. He E. B. was a Man endued with the Almighty Power of God which lived and reigned in him and the Treasury of pure divine Wisdom was opened in him c. This is the most they will allow to be in him they will grant that in him that suffered upon the Cross there was the Heavenly Treasure the Substance the Life the Anointing the Power but I do not remember that ever they granted the Almighty Power to be in Christ I am sure not more Eminently than in themselves But that it may yet further appear that our dear Saviours Prophesie as above is fulfilling which says There shall false Christs and false Prophets arise c See Soll. Eccles Lying wonder and false Prophesie of the Death of John Story * * Very like that of G. Whiteheads to S. B. viz. O John Story What hast thou done against the Lord and thy own Soul thou hast divided the Herritage of the Lord and the good Ordinances which Christ Iesus hath set up in his Church i. e. Womens Preaching and Womens Meetings * * The Christ in them ordained these Ordinances but Christ that was born of the Virgin ordained Baptism and the Lord's Supper now chuse which Christ ye will follow and obey therefore will the Lord throw Contempt upon thee and if thou dost not repent speedily miserable will be thy end If ever thou findest Mercy with the Lord go home to the North with speed and break up the divided Meetings which thou and John Wilkinson have been Instrumental to divide from the Body of our Lord Iesus Christ *âŽ* *âŽ* Mark the Christ in G. Fox for he is the first Founder of the Womens Meetings which Soll. Eccles calls the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ See de chr Libertate c. 2d part p. 33. to 70. The Anger of the Lord is chiefly
its Nature and Properties Now the Query is WHICH was the appointed Saviour of the Father Which was the Anointed of the Father chiefly and in the first place WHETHER the BODY prepared or HE for whom the Body was prepared c By which 't is plain that they deny notwithstanding G. Whitehead's counterfeit Confession HIM that was born of the Virgin HIM that was pierced HIM that was Crucify'd and hang'd on a Tree and by wicked hands slain to be the Son of GOD the Saviour of the World whereby they declare themselves not to be of the Prophets and Apostles Creed read these Scriptures Zach. 9.9 11 12 13. Micah 5.2 Acts 2.22 23 36. 3.13 4.10 10.43 Luke 2.10 11 12 13. Mat. 2.5 6 7. and you will perceive the Faith of the Apostles and Evangelists and the Testimony of the blessed and glorious Angels to differ as much and as clearly from this Faith and Testimony of the Quakers as light from utter darkness c. But because G. W. in his recited Book makes such a serious Pretence to own the Man Christ Jesus his Death and Sufferings c. I may recite another Passage out of their great Doctor Is Penington's aforesaid Book p. 20. Quest 7. What is Christ's Flesh and Blood which we are to partake of Is it the Flesh and Blood of the Body which was prepared for and taken for HIM wherein HE tabernacled and appeared OR is it the Flesh and Blood of HIM who took tabernacled and appeared in the Body For that which HE took upon HIM was our Garment even the Flesh and Blood of our Nature which is of a perishing Nature c. Now what is more plain than that they deny the true Christ his Humanity yea his Merits Death and Sufferings especially if you add what is in pag. 33. said by this their Champion in defence of their Faith which is as followeth viz. Now the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which HE wore between HIM that came and the BODY in which HE came between the Substance which was vailed and the Vail which vailed it there is plainly HE and the BODY in which HE came there was the outward Vessel and the inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the bodily garment Christ * Yes we believe you are all of that mind and shall until these and other of your pernicious Errors be publickly condemned notwithstanding G. W's Pretence to the contrary c. But having before spoken largely to this Point I shall at present pass it by desiring the Reader still to peruse the recited Epistle and to consider of it for that being directed TO GO ONLY AMONGST THE QVAKERS there you may see their inside for to them their Leaders and Captains as they stile themselves unbosom themselves telling the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth of what they believe if there be that sincerity in them which they pretend to And then you shall hear a loud noise of strange Acts great Miracles viz. the Prison doors opened the Dead raised unclean Spirits cast out Yea a wonderful noise of War of Leaders and Captains and Commanders mighty hewing cutting killing going into the Field to Battel as if all the World were now at an end and that they would drive all before them * And yet are themselves got now so close into their Holes Dens and lurking places where they lie skulking to deceive the simple as that 't is impossible to get them out into the Field c. But not a word as I have observed setting forth the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures not a word of the Humanity of Christ not a word in all the 23 Pages of the Incarnation Birth Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ not a word of their hopes of being saved through the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness No how should they if they would speak their minds truly since they cannot call that BODY which suffered at Jerusalem CHRIST but a Garment a Vail a Figure And therefore what ever they pretend when they write publickly since when they write privately they write the contrary they are not to be believed for saith Ireneus in his third Book against Heresies viz. Whilst that Hereticks speak like the Faithful they not only mean otherwise than they say but clean contrary and by their Tenents full of Blasphemies they destroy the Souls of those who with their fair words suck in the poyson of their foul Opinions c. I have divers others of their Epistles by me as particularly Robert Sandilands * One of George Whitehead's Select Friends by way of Vision and Revelation Richard Huberthorn Josiah Coal both in Print and Manuscript which bears not the least Resemblance to what they now seemingly set forth as their Faith and Belief But the recited Epistle with their dark-lanthorn Title viz. THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS is sufficient to set forth how they applaud and speak smooth things to their own People like the false Prophets of old who healed the Wound deceitfully who daubed with untempered Mortar and surely never was Mortar worse tempered than in this Epistle wherein Darkness is put for Light and Bitter for Sweet viz. the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem George Fox for Christ and almost all the Prophesies and Sayings of the holy Penmen inverted and turned into an affected Rhetorick and mystical Allegories as well as in many of their other Writings which both amuse and puff up their Hearers And as I have elsewhere herein observed make them believe that they are got into the Holy Land even spiritual Canaan when indeed they are but in the Borders of Egypt and posting to OLD ROME think themselves rich full wanting nothing when they are poor blind miserable and want all things through their mistaken Zeal and following the Dictates of their blind Guides who instead of setting forth the solid Principles of Religion have so leavened them into their Pharisaical lump that they have erred concerning the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin who suffered was dead and buried who rose again the third day and ascended up into Heaven above * This G. W. begins to confess too but when he says above according to his and their own Principles he means beneath viz. in their corrupt Bodies let him deny it if he can at the Right Hand of GOD where he sits in Majesty on High as our Advocate and Intercessor as the Second Person of the glorious Trinity And who will come in like manner as He was taken up which G. W. acknowledges was visibly seen to judge the Quick and Dead And then the Graves shall give up their Dead and there shall be a general Resurrection of the Bodies out of the Graves both of the just and unjust But alas All this and much more in this recited Epistle of theirs
But tho Josiah Coals c. Letters to G. Fox be not only Superstitious but Blasphemous and Idolatrous yet you excuse justify and say well done to such Abominations See their 10th Principle You may also see that tho these blessed Martyrs confessed that the Papists once taught sound and pure Doctrine and doubtless did then commend their Practice Conversation and Deportment and accounted such Doctrine so taught a dispensation of the love of GOD to Mankind yet when they saw that they Apostatized from these things and began to impose Transubstation and other Novelties as GOD's Ordinances you see they then forsook them left them And not only so but did hear a full and ample Testimony against their Pride their Haughtiness their infallible Pretentions their grand Errors and deep Hypocrisies not always picking at the Rine but striking at the Root until at last what by disputing what by writing what by printing and with GOD's blessing upon their endeavours the Pope's Authority in England quite expired But oh what sad Bawling the Pope and his Cardinals Priests and Fryers Jesuits and Nuns and all your Kindred made against Luther Barns Jerom of Prague John Huss Philip Melancthon and the rest of that noble blessed and for ever renowned Army calling them Apostates Self condemned Apostates apparent Apostates manifest Apostates contentious Apostates c. And having then the Law of their side which I thank GOD you have not burnt many of them Thus I hope you may see a lively Figure of your selves and also that as I have acquitted my self of that Dilemma which you dreamed you had cast me into I have left you with your Kindred in that Dilemma which nothing but Repentance and Amendment will deliver you from which GOD of his mercy grant you may CHAP. III. Shews a third Reason why forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith FOR it is plain That they deny Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary who suffer'd without the gates of Jerusalem and rose again and ascended up into Heaven and there sits at the Right Hand of GOD From their 3d Principle making Intercession for us And since they err in this fundamental Article of the Christian Faith Search these Scriptures viz. Mat. 13.16 17. Luk. 10.23 24. cap. 1.42 45 68 69 70. cap. 2.20 to 39. Mat. 2.1 to 12. Mat. 21.5 to 17. Mat. 11.1 to 18. Luk. 19.29 Psal 72.15 17. Zach. 9.9 and that against the Testimony of Men and Angels Holy Scripture and the concurrent Testimony of the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors from the beginning I upon that foot and upon that bottom account it no Apostacy to forsake such a People who themselves have so apparently erred from the Faith Search these Scriptures and abundance more to confirm this And that they have so erred see their 3d Principle and that it is against Scripture and the Angel's Testimony Luk. 2.10 11 16 20. Mat. 2.25 Acts 18.5 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 15.3 John 11.35 read Luke 2.10 11 16 20. Then the Angel said unto them be not afraid for behold I bring you tydings of great joy that shall be to all the people that is that unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOVR which is CHRIST the LORD Now as HE was GOD from all Eternity HE was not born of the Virgin did not hunger was not cold did not dye was not spit upon was not smote with the palms of their hands But as he was God-Man the Man Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin according to that heavenly Testimony of the blessed Angels Luke 2. he was the SAVIOVR CHRIST THE LORD which you say was but a Garment a Vail a Vessel WHICH YOV CAN NEVER CALL CHRIST * Question to the Professors p. 33. Nay it is said in plain words by George Fox viz. Christ is the substance of all Figures and his FLESH is a FIGVRE †Saul's Errand c. p. 14. This is I confess an uncouth Saying but I will unriddle their meaning viz. CHRIST as HE is the Light they own HIM but as to HIS Flesh that is only a Figure a Garment something or other which People do love and speak well of but as for George Fox and the Heads that know what they say the Flesh is of little value and to confirm this my opinion see Isaack Peningtons one of their most learned and knowing Writers whose works they have taken care to reprint in Folio who saith thus A Question to the Professors p. 33. viz. Now the Scriptures does expresly distinguish between CHRIST and the GARMENT he wore between HIM that CAME and the BODY in which he CAME between the SVBSTANCE which was VAILED and the VAIL which VAILED it There is plainly HE and the' Body in which HE came there was the outward Vessel and the inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the bodily Garment Christ So that 't is plain The Quakers who are certain and infallible in this are of a contrary Spirit to all the Forefathers Prophets Apostles and Christian Professors to this day See Luk. 2.10 11. Zach. 9.9.10 11 Cap. v. 12 13. Math. 2.6 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 16.10 Acts 2.22 23 36. 3.13 4.10 and 10.43 according to this their Doctrine the Angels message was only of a Garment that was born it 's true it 's allowed to be a bodily Garment a Vail a Figure c. which they can never call Christ and if they can never call him that was born of the Virgin Mary Christ the consequence unavoidably follows that they can never own him to be Christ the Saviour of the World And to confirm this my sense of their principle to all the People called Quakers I will yet add two Reasons more viz. First In that they never in their publick meetings for worship of God nor yet in their Families make confession of their sins to God asking pardon for Christ Jesus sake This is one reason to confirm their Disciples that their Leaders deny Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin to be both Lord and Christ Secondly In all their books you never yet found that ever they confessed their Sins and asked Pardon for Christ's sake whereby it is manifest that as thereby they deny Christ as aforesaid so they render themselves of a singular Spirit to all the Prophets Apostles Saints Martyrs and Confessors since the world stood as may be seen by the Scriptures in the Margin beginning with Moses Psal 90. to the very Martyrs Yea Psal 51.2 3. Psal 90. Job 7.20 Lam. 3.41 42. Isa 64.6 Dan. 4.9 to the end 1 John 1.8 1 Tim. 1.15 Rom. 7. so singular that without the breach of Charity I may conclude that instead of having a Spirit given to them beyond all the Forefathers so as to know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates as they have vainly boasted They have a
Spirit contrary to the Prophets contrary to the Apostles contrary to the Ancient Fathers and contrary to the Spirit Faith and Principle of the blessed Martyrs but such hath been the art of these Deluders that as they have undervalued Christ calling him a Garment a Vail a Figure c. So have they undervalued the Holy Scriptures by calling them Carnal Death Dust the Serpents Food and the like Antichristian names as anon I shall shew so that it will be hard to perswade their Disciples to read the Scriptures cited And if they do yet not to yield them that Authority which G.W. gives to their speaking by the Spirit who says That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Aurity as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Ser Apoll. p. 49. Oh the consequence of this monstrous opinion if HE that was born c. be not the Christ but a Garment a Vail a Figure c. Then why did not the Prophets foretell that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Garment That a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Vail a Figure c. Oh monstrous So that it s no marvel that you do not pray in the Name of Christ beg pardon in the Name of Christ since you own Him only as a Garment which waxeth old or as a Figure c. Object But perhaps some of your own People may say is it indeed such a Christian duty to make Confession of our Sins to God and to beg Pardon for Jesus Christs sake If we indeed believed it a duty we would notwithstanding the practice of our Teachers who we know does not practice the same c. Answer I hope then there is some such Bereans still left how thin soever they be amongst you and for their sakes in my book The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. I laid down many precepts to which I refer you as also to the Scriptures in the Margin and if you read the Scriptures you shall not read one book from Genesis to the Revelations but you shall find some precept which may strengthen you in this your duty And that I may not leave this point without warrantable proof I will add to the Testimony of the Prophets and Practice of the Apostles and the Precept of Christ who has taught his Disciples and in them all that follow them in the same Faith to say Forgive us our Sins c. The Practice and Judgment of the blessed Martyrs who unanimously as a Cloud of Witnesses concur with the Judgment and Practice of the primitive Chistians And against the singular opinion and singular practice of your Ministers who though they pretend and make you believe they have a Spirit beyond all the Forefathers it is indeed being rightly interpreted a Spirit contrary to all the Forefathers of the Christian Race First then hear Dr. Robert Barnes viz. The whole Church prayeth LORD forgive us our Sins See his works p. 254. wherefore she hath spots and wrincles But by acknowledging them through the Merits of Christ her wrincles be scratched out c. Next hear what Martin Luther says touching this particular duty viz. But thou wilt say the Church is Holy the Fathers are Holy it is true notwithstanding See his Commentary upon Gall. p. 36. 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 through the Forgiveness of sins These two have given joint Testimony that 't is the Churches Duty nay she is compelled to confess and beg pardon of her Sins I come next to holy Bradfords practice that humble and constant Martyr of Jesus Christ in his Epistle to his London Friends which for the excellency of it I could willingly have recited the whole but brevity forces only an Abridgment viz. To all that profess the Gospel Fox's Acts Monuments p. 1176 1177. and true Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the City of London John Bradford an unworthy Servant of the LORD But with THEE is Mercifulness that thou mighst be worshipped Oh then be mercyful unto us that we might truly worship THEE help us for the Glory of thy Name be merciful unto our Sins for they are great Oh heal us and help us for thine Hoaour let not the wicked people say where is their GOD On this sort my right dearly beloved let us heartily bewail our Sins repent us of our former evil Life and heartily and earnestly purpose to amend our Lives in all things continually watch in Prayer diligently and reverently attend hear and read the Holy Scriptures By which you may perceive Firrst This holy mans humility acknowledgeth himself unworthy Secondly The like is not to be found in any of the Quakers former books His acknowledging his Sins Thirdly That he begged pardon for His Mercy sake Fourthly His holy Resolution and heavenly Exhortation And now to finish this Chapter I shall conclude in the words of Dr. Barnes whose Faith in Christ does as much differ from the Faith of and Principles of the Quakers as Light from Darkness See their 3d. and 4th Principle in the first Chapter For in Him which they call a bodily Garment and which they say they can never own to be Christ did this blessed Martyr at the Flames confess to be his LORD and Saviour also his practice of asking Pardon of Sin is directly contrary to their practice pray hear him Dr. R. Barnes his protestation which he made at the Stake concerning his Faith in Christ Jesus I am said he come hither to be burned as an Heretick and you shall hear my Belief Acts and Monuments p. 610. whereby you shall perceive what erronious opinions I hold and now hearken to my Faith I believe in the Holy and Blessed Trinity * I have often marvelled why the Quaker would not own the word Trinity but now I do not since they deny the 2d Person that created and made all the world I believe that without mans will or power Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and took Flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary That he suffered Thirst Hunger Cold †Which he could not do as he was God but as he was man viz. the man Christ Jesus and other Passions of our bodies Sin excepted according to the saying of St. Peter I belive that this his Death and Passion was the sufficient Ransom for the Sins of all the world * Then surely he was more than a Garment or Vail or Figure and the Quakers saying they can never own this bodily Garment to be Christ as their phrase is t is as much as if they had said they do not own the Christ of GOD. And I believe that thorow his Death he overcame Sin Death and Hell And that there is no other satisfaction unto the Father but His Death and Passion only Mind this ye
first Principle c. 2dly That he was elected before the World began * Fourth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 84. 3dly That he had power to bind and to loose †The Quakers unmasked c. p. 27. 4thly That his Marriage was above the state of the first Adam in his Innocency and that he never fell nor changed See the same page 5thly If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles said G. Fox you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power * G. F's Answer to the Westmorland Petition p. 30. 6thly You may as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries Our giving forth Papers and printed Books it is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God You are now answered from the mouth of the Lord †Truth 's Defence G. F. and R. H. p 2. 89 104. 7thly He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with God G. Fox * Saul's Errand c. p. 8. Thus Friendly Reader I have herein as well as in divers places in this Treatise manifested that G. F. gave out himself to be some GREAT MAN to whom the Quakers for many Years my self for one gave heed almost from the least to the greatest and I think that neither Simon nor Becket could give out more to shew themselves GREAT MEN. Next follows what divers of their Preachers and People attributed to him and tho such Letters were in his Life-time frequently sent to him yet I never heard that he ever rejected them nor yet reproved the Authors of them See Fourth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 83 84. See first Josiah Coal in Letter of his from Barbadoes recorded in their Book of Audland's Letters Dear G. Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose Life hath reach'd through us thy Children even to the Isles afar off to the begetting many again to a lively hope for which Generations to come shall call thee Blessed whose Being and Habitation is in the power of the Highest in which thou rulest and governs in Righteousness and THY KINGDOM IS ESTABLISHED IN PEACE AND THE INCREASE THEREOF IS WITHOVT END Next that of Solomon Eccles. who writ of G. Fox these words which were not fit to be said of any Mortal viz. A Prophet indeed It was said of Christ that he was in the world and the world was made by HIM and the world knew him not SO it may be said of this true Prophet whom John said he was not but thou shalt feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee and though the world knows him not yet he is known c. Quakers Challenge p. 6. Next that of John Audlands in a Letter of his to G. Fox from the West of England viz. See the 5th Part of Babel's Builders p. 7. 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 raign but in thy presence and power Pray for me that I may stand in thy Dread for evermore I am thine begotten and nourished by thee and in thy power am I preserved Glory unto thee Holy one for ever See also part of a Certificate that John Blaikling gave forth on the behalf of George Fox Fifth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 77. against William Rogers That G. Fox is 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. Yea so sacred or so dreadful was G. F's Name to the People beyond Seas that they printed and published it to the World viz. That mentioning the Name George Fox did prick them to the heart See their Book A true Account p. 42. This is enough to shew that Josiah Coal Solomon Eccles John Audland and John Blaikling and others too many here to enumerate together with those Preachers who preached at his Funeral where they stiled him the great Apostle a Prophet the Jacob of the Age c. I say 't is enough to shew that they walk hand in hand with the Papists in this matter as well as in almost every thing else G. W. I question whether they be their Letters as cited F. B. But if they be proved theirs will you stand by them or retract them G. W. If they be theirs might there not be a more favourable Construction put upon them than Idolatry and Blasphemy May not a Man write a Letter to his Friend to pray for him is there any hurt in that F. B. What! did they pray to G. Fox to solicit the Virgin Mary to pray c G. W. No I do not say to a Saint departed but to a living Saint Mr. R. Russell Indeed Mr. Whitehead I do not understand those Sayings in those Letters to be any other than Blasphemy G. W. I do not approve of those Letters so that whether theirs or not theirs I do not own them OBSERVATION Note That John Blaikling's Certificate on the behalf of G. Fox I did not read at the Conference For tho' I had seen it before yet being surprized and not knowing of G. W's being in Town till late over Night I could not find it but being one in Nature with the other three I thought it meet to incert it in the recited Parallel in two Columns c. F. B. Well George then be plain if you do not own them deny them in writing under your hand c. G. W. I do not care to write I will not trouble my self to write F. B. Then I will write for you if you please G. W. So thou may'st if thou wilt F. B. As for those three Letters said to be wrote by Sol. Eccles Josiah Coal and John Audland I am apt to believe they are none of theirs as cited but if they be I do disown them George dost thou like this Is this thy Sence If so subscribe it G. W. I do say before all these People that whether they be or be not of their Writing I disown them F. B. Well George then subscribe what your Sense is that we may be at a Certainty F. W. I will not write after thee thou shalt not be a Dictator to me S. B. George I only write your sense and when I missed you gave me apt words to put in and make it your sense thereby making
a Dispensation for then I doubt not but you would have construed the words AS YET to relate to time and ought not to be render'd tamen viz. Nevertheless and that you was but to do things freely for the present viz. until you could get money for doing it then Adhuc had been the Grammatical Sense of the words As Yet and not Tamen And who knows but your minds may alter when you see it for your purpose We see your Interest will lead you to change and who knows but W. P. in PENSILVANIA may understand both the Latin and English Sense of that your Declaration which says viz. We have chosen the Son of GOD to be our King and he hath chosen us to be his People and he might command Thousands and Ten Thousands of his Servants TO FIGHT in his CAVSE But yet his Kingdom is not of this World Neither can we YET believe that he will make use of us in that way But for the PRESENT we are given up to bear and suffer c. I say if in G. Fox his Order that nothing about Marriages and Church-business should be done for money he had said That AS YET let nothing be recorded for money but FOR THE PRESENT do things FREELY c. Then you might have lawfully taken 50 l. per Annum according to G F. his infallible Law But since there is no such words of Exception in the recited infallible Order you are found Transgressors thereof and do take money contrary to your Pretences If you say the Business is more now then there is more Persons to do it But if you can thus alter then who knows but the word YET may in time be rightly understood especially in PENSILVANIA as 't is in your said Declaration G. Fox also said in his several Papers given forth about the Year 1658. Friends you ARE to do the Nations Business freely and that is the way to get into the hearts of the People * See Painted Harlot c. p. 47. c. A notable Stratagem indeed and as well improved but says G. W. †The Contentious Apostate and his One Blow c. p. 22. We think this is not true we know no such Order printed in that Year if at all Here is another of his Equivocations for tho' in my Book One Blow c. p. 6. it is said to be printed in 1650 which is an Error in the Press and corrected by an Errata in p. 14. viz. 1659. Thus he shuffles and seeks ways to evade the matter which is certainly true for I have the Book by me and still contrary to his Pretensions for in Judgment Fixed p. 365. he thus saith For I examin the Errata's even of my Adversaries Books as they are noted before I answer the matter c. Now this is either true or false i. e. he either examins the Errata's or he does not If he does not then he proclaims himself a Lyar to the whole World in Print If he does and yet takes no Notice of the Correction of an Error but publish the Error as he hath done this of 1650 instead of 1659. then is he still the more like himself A grand Deceiver one that pretends fair yea so fair as that he pretends to examin the Errata's even of his Adversaries Books before he answer them And yet behold it is no such matter thus deceitfully false do I find him in many places too large to recite and therefore I do hereby resume my Charge as in Battering Rams p. 11 12. viz. In this you deceive your People in that you pretend to Teach Preach Suffer and Record Marriages and other Publick Offices freely without Money Gifts or Rewards And by reason of this fair Pretence you not only have deceived the Simple but also taken occasion thereby to vilify and speak contemptuously of all other Publick Preachers First the National for taking Tythes and other Dues as a setled Maintenance by Law Established which is not so burthensom as you are to many of your Hearers notwithstanding your smooth Pretences to the contrary And next the Presbyterians and Independents whom you bespatter about their Bason c. wherein perhaps their Hearers put their free Contributions for their Ministers Subsistence and all this while VALVE your selves upon your FREE PREACHING FREE SVFFERING FREE WRITING c. And at the same time you know 't is common for all these Church-Officers amongst you to take money c. These things discover your Hypocrisie and you cannot abide to hear of them but T. Ellwood hath confessed them W. R. manifested them the recited Letter suggests them and I do affirm them CHAP. XI Shews that the Forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith BY this time it may be expected That whereas in my former Books I have made some distinction between the Foxonian Party and the Storian Party amongst the People call'd Quakers sometimes terming the one Christian Quakers the other Antichristian the one Protestant the other Popish c. And that if there be a real difference in their Principles I should and ought in point of Justice to continue the distinction and not to condemn the Innocent with the Guilty c. To all which I do say there is great Reason so to do and in order to it as I have set forth the Principles and Practices of the Foxonian Party so now I shall set forth what the Storian Party holds and shew it to be sound And that tho' they do dissent from the established Religion yet they hold the true Faith at least for substance as may be seen by the Articles of the Faith of John Cox whilst he was a Minister amongst the Storian Party which I call the Christian Quakers in a little Book printed Anno 1689. intituled The Articles of the Christian Faith believed and written by me John Cox c. And I never heard that any of his Hearers contradicted the said Book or any part of it and therefore in Charity I am oblig'd to think they hold the same Faith First in his Epistle to the Reader he thus saith And to explain my self I agree in every Particular with those called the Apostles Nicene and Athanasius Creeds c. OF JESUS CHRIST ARTICLE II. P. 6. I believe in one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the onely begotten eternal Son of God the Father conceived by the Holy Ghost manifested in the Flesh born of the Virgin Mary and suffered and dyed for our Sins without the Gates of Jerusalem and rose again the third day for our Justification And I believe all else concerning him according to the Holy Scriptures OBSERVATION The difference betwixt the recited Article in this fundamental Point and their Article set forth in their 2d and 3d Principle in the first Chapter is obvious I shall recite some few passages more and so leave it with some few Observations c. OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES ARTICLE IV. P. 7. I believe
the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament called the Bible were written by Inspiration of the Holy Ghost for our learning and answers to his own Testimony in all mens hearts and are A RVLE TO WALK BY And renounce all other Rules contrary thereunto or not one therewith what ever they be c. OF REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SIN ARTICLE VI. P. 8. I believe that Repentance and Remission of Sins are to be preached according to the Holy Scriptures successively to every Generation and to all the World ONLY in the Name and Authority of JESVS CHRIST and only by his Merits OBSERVATION Reader here is the Scripture owned as a Rule to walk by which the others viz. the Foxonian Party ever denied Here is the Merits of Christ's Death and Passion magnified and Man's deservings so abased as to have no share in our Salvation which are Sound and Protestant OF JUSTIFICATION ARTICLE IX P. 9. I believe Justification only by the Merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that all our Righteousnesses are Effects of his Mercy Death and Sufferings and our Holiness we do conformable thereunto is only our Duty and not Merit OBSERVATION Reader as it is my Duty to discover erroneous Principles which are pernicious and destructive to the very Being of Christianity so I think my self obliged to publish these sound Protestant Principles in order to clear the Professors of them from the Imputation of what may justly be laid to the Charge of the Foxonian Party OF PERFECTION ARTICLE XXVIII P. 17. I believe Perfection is to be pressed after for without Holiness no Man shall see GOD. But I believe the Saints Perfection in this life is but in part and when the Beginning and End meet in him that is the Alpha and Omega then shall be COMPLEAT PERFECTION OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY ARTICLE XXXV P. 21. I believe the Resurrection of the Body and that Christ the Resurrection and the Life will change our vile Bodies and make them like to his glorious Body And this I do believe according to the Holy Scriptures and in opposition to the Ranters Principles and all others who deny this fundamental Doctrine of Christianity OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT TO COME ARTICLE XXXVII P. 23. I believe Righteousness and Judgment to come And Sheep and Goats shall be at the last day separated And the Grave and Sea give up the dead in them And the SOUL which never dyes and BODY VNITE to receive according to the deeds done in the Body whether they be good or evil And Heaven perfectly enjoyed by those that have suffered for Christ and Hell fully comprehending all those that have loved this present World and the Vanities thereof more than GOD. OBSERVATION Reader who ever thou art examin thy own heart and try thy own Faith by the Holy Scriptures and if thou dost not believe these few Articles then question thy Condition And if thou beest one called a Quaker of the FOXONIAN PARTY and of long standing and shalt say in thy heart As for these People they are separated from us they are Apostates they hold dangerous Opinions and as for these Principles I am wholly a stranger to them having never heard such Doctrine in all our Books For they teach Perfection attainable in this life G. F. said he witnessed it They teach that the Scripture is not a Rule to walk by They do not teach to believe Justification only and alone through the merits of Christ's Death and Passion They do not believe the Resurrection of the Body as here set down If any of them tell thee otherwise and say they do believe them not until they put forth a Book in Print signifying the same For they have given grounds of Suspition that they have erred from the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore believe them not until they give publick Satisfaction to the World of what they hold concerning the Faith once delivered to the Saints especially of these Points rehearsed wherein they are thought to be most defective and that from the words of their own Principles And if thou art one of the Storian Party which for distinction sake I so term it For I had an honourable Esteem of John Story and believe he is at Rest and that he was a deep Sufferer by G. F. and his Party and that he never held the Errors which I have herein reproved nay not one of them that I ever understood Yet I say examin thy self I refer thee to the aforesaid Book which in the main is very sound and in the Close thereof methinks I perceive the very frame and temper of the Martyrs And wherever I find that low meek and self-abasing temper of mind and frame of spirit in what Society of Christian people soever I am affected therewith and he is my Brother tho' in some Circumstances we may differ See his conclusive words after a recital of hiS 37 Articles viz. This in brief is a Declaration of my Faith in these Particulars and I commit them to the Perusal of all Christians asserting That however I may be censured allho ' I may Err yet I cannot be an Heretick I say as the substance of his Matter is sound so he does not conclude that they are given forth by the eternal Spirit and that therefore they are of equal Authority with the Scriptures But contrarywise submitting them to be tryed and proved by the Scriptute concluding with St. Augustin that ancient and worthy Father Errare possum Hereticus esse non possum in an Error I may be but an Heretick I cannot be The next thing I shall remind the Christian Quaker of for such I believe there is amongst them though for want of following the example of the Bereans viz. to examine the Doctrine of their Teachers may not be so clear in their Notions as otherwise they might be is the reading and duely considering the charitable Doctrine held forth by J. Hogg in his book stiled An Answer to several material Passages c. where speaking of the Children of Abraham coming from the East West North and South c. he thus saith Those certainly was not of one external Form and Order as to Ceremonial and Shadowy things yet we find they agree the true Church is here indeed but not yet referable to any Society with respect to outward Rules and therefore ought to be waited for by all c. Oh this Charity I love it wherever I meet with it here is no boasting that THEY and none BVT THEY are the People of GOD and that the Tabernacle of GOD and the Knowledge of his Will his ONLY amongst these People who in divers Counties in England are separated from the other and they hold the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for substance according to the Scriptures yet the more they know and the clearer their Principles are the humbler they are and the more Christian like And as their separation from the
others are as justifiable as the Protestants separation from Rome and upon the same bottom in many things so will their Understandings increase in the Knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ who is GOD over all blessed for evermore Amen The next books I refer to are Dr. Hammonds and Bp. Sandersons c. which W. Penn says were of his mind in his book Good Advice to the Ch. of England Roman Catholick and Protestants c. p. 22 23 24. Where he highly commends them for their Principles when he was their most invetterate Enemy and grand Temporiser as may be seen in the Looking-glass for the Quakers c. in two Columns Yea and in that very Book of his p. 39. Charged Archbp. Cranmer with compelling Edw. VI. to sign a Warrant to burn Poor Joan of Kent a famous Woman for meer Religion which I do not believe but charge it upon him G. W. and the rest of his Adherents as a Lye until they prove it by a Protestant Author ending his Paragraph thus Thus even the Protestants began with Blood for meer Religion and taught the Romanists in succeeding times how to deal with them Thus when he had flatteringly spoken well of the Protestant Principles as Christian-like saying certainly those Gentlemen as Dr. Hammond and Bp. Sanderson c. were of my Mind and yet a few Pages off tells the World that their Principles are so very wicked and their Practices so abominably Antichristian as that they began with Blood and meer Religion too yea and the very Teachers and Instructers of the Papists how to deal with them and how to exercise their bloody Projects Oh shamefully wicked and base Flattery which meets with a just Recompence May it not justly be said He sitteth in the lurking places of the Villages he lyeth in wait secretly as a Lyon in his Den Psal 10. VVell notwithstanding this digression I still refer to the said worthy mens books and to Bp. Brownrigg's and other Divines of the Church of England who have so excellently set forth the Principles of the Church of England That should I put Pen to paper after them upon the subjects they treated on it would be but like lighting of a Candle at Noon-day when the Sun shines bright in its Lustre And whatever may be suggested by G. W. c. I bless the day in which I went into Cripplegate Parish to hear Mr. Smythies I find their Principles to be more Christian than his or his party more charitable more humble more self denying Not having in 6 or 7 years in which I have frequented the Public heard so much railing Language and hard Speeches in all the Sermons against the Quakers and Dissenters as I have heard in one Month nay I may say I think in one Sermon against the public Ministry I Remember G. W. in his Content Apostate and one Blow c. p. 11. says thus viz. Now Isaac Archer thou having thus far appeared an Abettor and Assister of F. B. and he being one of thy Flock and Church we may take it for granted that he hath secret Incouragement from thee to divulge his Books against us Now serious George I perceive you are fallible and need that some body give yoâ— discerning and that you may have somebody to furnish you with discerning and judgment I do tell you that you have taken an absolute Lye for a certain Truth and what a sad thing is this You that pretend None need to give you discerning or judgment Christ hath furnisht you already See Judas and the Jews p. 58. and doth on all Occasions Here you see you are not furnished in this small occasion and for want thereof presumptuously take for granted an arrant Lye for a certain infallible Truth oh that you could measure your self by these Delusions And I would to GOD that your Hearers would take these your erronious principles into their serious Considerations and Berean like examine whether they have any likeness and bear any Relation to the Writings of the Apostles Prophets Martyrs Professors of any Christian Society of Protestants whatever and if like none but contrary to all And that notwithstanding your pretence to Infallability perfect discerning c. yet you are fallible and as subject to err as any nay more subject in that many times as in this instance you upon that principle of Infallibity think you know all things when the truth is you are ignorant For I must tell you in order to let you see your mistake and give you a clear discerning that Mr. Archer did never put me upon writing against you in all his Life-time nor until this time see a Sheet of my Writing against you in Manuscript nor no other Clergy-man and now he hath not added nor yet diminished two lines that I perceive see now whence your discerning is Come G. W. did you write this Book as a Man in your own single Capacity And as for the Position in the same Page which you say is Mr. Archers he denies it as laid down by you and that what he said he is able to make good and that by the concurrent Testimony of the Scriptures and the learned Fathers But until you have answer'd his Query I have desir'd him to have nothing to do with such a contentious person as you are who writ three Books in nine Months time and yet charge your Opposer with your own Crime as if you were such a peaceable Man and yet have been a contentious Scribler these 40 or 50 Years against almost every man like Ishmael of old and that the World may see Mr. Archer's Query and your pretended Answer and how remote and evasive it is I may recite the substance of both viz. Mr. Whitehead I challenge you to shew me a Precedent for Womens distinct Meetings apart from the Men J. A's Query as by you set up since the days of the Apostles Come G. W. this is the knotty Question which Mr. Archer proposed to you in the publick Meeting the 30th of April 1691. G. W. not able to answer Mr. Archer's Query which put you to silence as not able to answer it which you left out of your Narrative as you did much more spoken by him that day as not for your purpose And when I reminded you of this you had the face to deny it under your hand but Mr. Archer resumed the Question and recharged you as well as let you know that he proposed the same in the Meeting c. And it stands over your head unanswer'd only thus much you tell him in page 8. of your last Book stiled The Contentious Apostate recharged c. That in the City of Blois there was in the time of Martyrdom nine Women met together with their Daughters and prayed with and for each other c. which is as remote as if you had told us of Queen Hester and her Maids and the like which no body ever disputed But had they a Clerk Did
Joy and Rest for ever c. P. 16. Whom GOD hath called and chosen to place HIS Name in and to take up HIS habitation among you above all the Families of the earth The Tabernacle of GOD is with you and HIS dwelling place is among you AND ONLY AMONG YOU IS GOD KNOWN and HIS Name is great in your Assemblies ANIMADVERSIONS HEREVPON Reader observe Was there ever higher Applause given Do not these Leaders few Pillars with a witness Read the Scriptures and you will find no Harmony between the Currant thereof and the Flattery of these Men. Here is no Confession of Sins here is no asking Pardon for Christ's sake here is no Humiliation manifested * Contrary to GOD's People in all Ages Read Luke 11.4 1 Joh. 1.8 5.9 cap. 2. ver 1. Psal 38.18 51.1 2 3. Isa 46.6 Lam. 3.41 42. Job 7.20 Dan. 9.4 5 20. 1 Tim. 1.15 No no nor not a word of the Scripture being profitable for Doctrine not a word of Christ's Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension No no This was only to go amongst Friends who seldom or never take notice of what CHRIST did what HE suffered how HE dyed what bitter Agonies HE went through what cruel Mockings c. Oh! poor People that they would once lay aside these flattering Epistles which are sent to them ONLY and say to their Teachers Away with these your soft Pillows you are Watchmen of the Night Physitians of no value you heal the Wound deceitfully And if we put but into your mouths you will speak Peace to us but we must tell you whatever you say to the contrary That we are Sinners and stand in need of a Saviour and therefore away with your flattering Epistles which you send ONLY to us and are ashamed as the Title thereof shews that the World as you call the true Professors of the Christian Faith should see them and if you read any thing to us read a Chapter out of the Bible that from thence we may learn our Duty to GOD and Man I say oh that they would once rouze up themselves and not be thus deluded and led by George Whitehead and his Brethren the perfect Pharisees of this Age for amongst the Hearers there are many I bear them Record that have a Zeal tho' not according to knowledge THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS P. 7. Lift up your Voices blow the Trumpet sound an Alarum out of the holy Mountain proclaim the acceptable Year and the Day of Vengeance of our GOD. Gird on your Sword on your Loyns put on the tryed Armor and follow him for ever who rides upon the white Horse Ride on ride on my beloved Brethren and Fellow Soldiers make all plain before you thresh on with the new threshing Instrument which hath teeth beat the Mountains to dust and let the breath of the LORD scatter it Make the Heathen tremble and the uncircumcised fall by the Sword The LORD of HOSTS is with us and goes before us spare none neither Ox nor Ass neither Old nor Young kill cut off destroy bathe your Sword in the blood of Amalek and all the Egyptians and Philistines and all the uncircumcised and hew Agag to pieces Break the Rocks cut down the Cedars and strong Oaks make the Devils subject cast out the unclean Spirits raise the Dead shut up in Prison bring out of Prison cast in your Nets lanch into the Deep divide the Fish gather the Good into Vessels cast the Bad away bind the Tares in Bundles cast them into the Fire the Angel of the everlasting Covenant is come thrust in your Sickles reap the Earth Silence all Disputers and Diviners for ever trample upon all the Chaff and Dung and Mire for ever And p. 21 22. thus Put on your Armor and gird on your Sword and lay hold on the Spear and march into the Field and prepare your selves to Battel for the Nations doth defy our GOD and saith in their hearts Who is the God of the Quakers that we should fear HIM and obey his Voice Arise Arise and sound forth the everlasting Word of War and Judgment in the Ears of all the Nations sound an Alarum and make their Ears to tingle Our Enemies are whole Nations and Multitudes in number of a rebellious People that will not come under OVR LAW which ariseth up against us Stand upon your Feet and appear in your Terror as an Army with Banners and let the Nations know your Power and the stroke of your Hand Cut down on the Right hand and slay on the Left and let not your eye pity nor your hand spare but wound the Lofty and tread down the Honourable of the Earth And let none of the Heathen Nations nor their Gods escape out of your hands nor their Images nor Idols but lay waste fenced Cities and tread down the high walls for we have proclaimed open War betwixt Michael our Prince and the Dragon Your Captains are mighty Men and your Leaders * It seems here 's more Leaders and Captains than one for they understand the difference between Singular and Plural are skilled in handling the Sword and they †Still the Plural Number are riding on before you And cursed be every one that riseth not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty c. ANIMADVERSIONS HEREVPON Reader I have here Transcribed the more of this their Epistle which was designed as by the Title thereof appears to be read only amongst themselves that so thou mayst see and perceive how they can look JANVS-like two ways at once viz. For when they write what they design for the sight and view of the Professors of the Faith of our LORD Jesus Christ then they can as by George Whitehead's feigned Piece under consideration Profess sincerely that they believe profess and own the Scriptures to be given forth by Divine Authority and that they are profitable for Doctrine c. Yea That they own the Humanity of Christ his Incarnation Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension and that they expect Salvation by the Merits of Christ through the Imputation of his Righteousness Yea they seem to own the Man Christ Jesus the Resurrection of the Body and almost what ever you can desire to have them profess Thus they put up the Christian Flag or false Representation of their erroneous Principles * Some of which I have mention'd in this Tract which are pernicious and destructive to the very Foundation of the Christian Religion And in their Book A Question to Professors c. P. 20. Quest 6. They say To whom do the Names and Titles JESVS and CHRIST chiefly and in the first place belong Do they belong to the BODY which was took BY HIM or TO HIM who took the Body The BODY hath its Nature and Properties and the eternal WORD or SON of God †By this Argument it 's clear that they deny the BODY which suffer'd to be the Son of GOD Oh horrible