Principles two years after he left us and joyned himself to the Church of England c. For which he quotes my Book The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted To which I answer The very Title shews the contrary And in the Book I charge them with False Doctrin Erroneous Principles their Teachers Cruel Taskmasters Persecutors and Tyrants and that part of their Doctrin which was true as I still believe some little of what they teach is true served only as a Decoy to catch simple Souls by charging their Ministers with Lyes gross Forgery and scandalous Defamations Babel's Builders Pharasaical Hypocrites See p. 4 5 18 21. And now let the Wise in Heart judge whether I did not account the Quakers criminal in 1686. With what face then can this gross Perverter G. W. say I did not account them criminal in 1686. unless to be guilty of the forementioned be not criminal As by the Quakers persisting therein they should not account it However I did then and do now account them great Criminals both in Doctrin and Practice and for leaving them am not condemned but bless the Day that ever I forsook such an Heresie as I deem them to hold defend and I fear wilfully maintain The Matters in that Book treated on I methodiz'd under these three general Heads viz. The first point under Consideration was How I came to be a Member of their Society The second How I came to see their Errors and leave them The third How I came perswaded and satisfied in going to the Publick In the first I did set forth what I thought of them in 58 and 60. and what they preached and how innocent they appeared G. W. in Norwich-Castle seemed as demure as the best yet in that Book I set forth as I then believed that all was but a Decoy or Cheat to draw Disciples after them and if I was cheated and mistaken in them so was Hugh Latimore that learned Prelate in the smooth Carriage of the Papists and their Infallible Delusions who said I am ignorant of things which I trust hereafter to know c. Read Fox's Acts and Monuments c. p. 410 467 468 1325 1488. where Bishop Latimer Bishop Cranmer M. Luther Dr. Barns and other pious sincere Christians have not been too good nor too holy to acknowledge themselves mistaken upon conviction though by your Doctrin render d Apostates in that they once thought the Popish Doctrine true c. Nay your Incharity renders many of your own People Apostates who before they were deluded by your black Art of calling the Scripture Death Dust and Serpents-meat the Ordinances an Institution of the Whore of Rome the publick Ministers Witches Devils Gormandizing Priests c. thought the Doctrine of the Church of England sound and orthodox But since they are turn'd to the Heresie of Quakerism G. W. accounts them Saints Lambs Prophets and what not But as these Weights are counterfeit so I purpose to try them by the Touchstone of the Scripture which cannot lye And I refer to my Book New-Rome unmask'd c. containing more than 100 Pages in Quarto divided into twelve Chapters which shew at large that forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith c. sold by Mr. Dunton at the Raven in the Poultry and Mr. Guillam Bookseller in Bishopsgate-street Concluding my Introduction with St. Augustine Errare possum haereticus esse non possum The FIRST CHARGE Against the Quakers That they Deny Jesus of Nazareth who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be Christ and the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation The ARGUMENT THE Method proposed to prove the recited Charge is 1st A brief Citation of Scriptures proving that Jesus is the Christ of God and Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation from the Testimony of GOD Angels and Men. 2dly A Recital out of the Quakers Books wrote by their most approved Authors alledging the contrary shewing them thereby to be of a different Faith from the Prophets Apostles Saints and Blessed Martyrs and all true Christians to this day 3dly That Geo. Fox the first Founder of Quakerism Anno 1650. have since assumed to himself those divine Attributes due only to Christ and thereby hath overthrown the Faith of some 4thly That his Disciples and Followers and such of greatest note amongst them hath said Amen to his Blasphemies by their frequent Adorations of him as the Star the Branch the Son of Righteousness c. 1st Scripture Texts proving Jesus to be Christ. John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Luke 1.26 And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Gallilee named Nazareth and the Angel said unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus 2.10 11. And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring unto you good tydings of great joy which shall be unto all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour Christ the Lord. Mark 9.7 Matt. 17.5 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud which said This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear him Matt. 26.67 Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palms of their hands 27.38 Then there were two thieves crucified with him one on the right hand another on the left Ver. 50. Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice yielded up the ghost 28.6 He is not here for he is risen as he said Come see the place where the Lord lay Acts 1.9 10 11. While they beheld he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men standing by them in white apparel which also said Ye men of Gallilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven then not in them in the Quakers sence for as he said with reference to his Person Matt. 26.11 Me ye have not always shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Acts 5.30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God Rom. 8.34 It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Acts 7.35 But he being full of the Holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God Ver. 56. And said Behold I see the Heavens opened and the son of man standing on the right hand of God Acts 10.38 to 44. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly Not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be judge of the quiok and dead To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Read 1 Cor. 15.15 2dly The Quakers teach the contrary A Question to Professors p. 33. 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 veiled and the Veil which veiled it Lo I come a body hast thou prepared me There was 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 which appeared and dwelt in the Body Observe how flatly they contradict the holy Scripture Testimony and how they would divide the Humanity from the Godhead which is in plain terms a plain denyal of Christ for if they can never call him that was born of the Virgin Mary Christ whom the Jews spit upon smote with the palms of their Hands nailed to the Cross hanged on a Tree and at last crucified him I say if they can never call him Christ but a Veil a Garment a Figure c. they can never own him to be Christ and consequently deny him to be Christ and not only so but acquit the Jews and their drudge Judas of the Sin of murthering the Lord of Life and Glory for when they laid hold of him smote him buffeted him crowned him with Thorns scourged him nailed his tender Hands and Feet to the Cross pierced his Side out of which came Water and Blood they all this while by the Quaker's Doctrine did not lay hold upon nor touch Christ and consequently ought not to be charged with crucifying the Lord of Life and Glory only it 's true they took hold of a Garment a Veil c. which they can never call Christ Thus have they made the Apostles False Witnesses acquitted Judas and clear'd the hard hearted unbelieving Jews of all their Barbarities inhumanly inflicted on the Blessed Jesus A Quest c. p. 27. Is not the Substance the Life called Christ where-ever it is found Doth not the Name Christ belong to the whole Body and to every Member in the Body as well as to the Head c Observe how Matt. 24.24 is fulfilled by their Doctrine every believing Quaker may be called Christ as well as he that suffered Death upon the Cross Oh dreadful Blasphemy And to confirm it he tells you about ten lines after viz. That the Name is not given to the Vessel c. O Impudence itself did not the Angel say That unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.11 v. 28. Simon took him in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation c. So that to say the Name Christ belongs to every Believer as well as to him is Blasphemy for the Apostle to the Colossians gives the Name not only to the Godhead in him but to him in whom it dwelt which they contemptuously term the Garment Col. 2.9 The Christian Quaker and his Divine Test c. part 1. p. 107. To conclude We though this general Victory was obtained and holy Privileges therewith and that the Holy Body was not instrumentally without a share thereof yet that the efficient and chiefest cause was the Light and Life P. 111. So that thus far we can approach the honester sort of Professors of Religion c. Observe how far the Quaker's Approach to the Christians amount to The Christians believe that he who was born of the Virgin Mary who was spit upon buffeted smote with the palms of their Hands dyed rose again and ascended into Heaven in the sight of the Gallileans and now sits at the right hand of God according to the recited Scriptures I say they believe the same Jesus to be the Christ of God and that he is both the efficient and chief cause of Man's Salvation Acts 4.10 12. By the name of Jesus of Nazareth whom ye have crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved c. So that the Professor's Faith and Hopes of Salvation are in the crucified Jesus which you call the Holy Body Indeed you do approach to them a little in calling his Body Holy and allowing him to have some share in the Salvation of Mankind instrumentally but the chief and efficient cause is in the light which you have in your selves and which was in the Jews and Gentiles before the Incarnation of our Blessed Lord and Saviour which if that had been sufficient what need was there for Christ's coming since he is but instrumentally a Saviour For so you allow good Men to be as I shall shew anon So that your Approach to the Christians is very small even but a few steps for the unbelieving Jews thought him to be a good Man viz. Elias Jeremias or one of the old Prophets but instead of pressing on the Author turns himself round to his old Friends the Quakers and tell them his Meaning by this sudden and unusual Approach P. 102. So that the Invisible Life was the Root and Fountain of all which is sometimes ascribed in Scripture to the Body by that common figure or way of speaking amongst Men the thing containing which is the Body for the thing contained which was the Life c. Observe I always understood that when we call a House that is made of Lime and Stone a
And before I came to the Bar I was moved to pray that the Lord would confound their Envy and the thundering Voice answer'd I have glorified thee and will glorifie thee again And I was so filled full of Glory that my Head and Ears was filled full of it And that when the Trumpet sounded and the Judges came up again they all appear'd as dead Men under me c. G. Fox Alluding to John 12.28 16.14 17.1 Now you that are Disciples to G. W. pray measure the Truth of the printed History of G. Fox his Travels if you find his Glorified State fairly related as it is in his Book above recited you may be assured there is some Truth in it if not you may without breach of Charity conclude the said History a Romance a partial Story some true some false some put in some left out pieced and patched mended and painted BOOKS written by Fra. Bugg 1. DE Christianae Libertate 2. The painted Harlot both stript and whipt c. 3. Reason against Railing c. 4. Innocency Vindicated c. 5. The Quakers detected c. 6. Battering Rams against New Rome c. 7. One Blow more at New Rome c. 8. New Rome unmask'd c. 9. New Rome arraign'd c. 10. Quakerism Withering c. Besides a Letter to the Quakers and a Sheet to the Parliament c. ERRATA PAge 3. lin 12. dele thing p. 40. l. 9. for never read seldom p. 43. l. 27. for recommended r. mentioned p. 52. l. 23. for 2 s. r. 20. p. 58. l. 27. for Hen. r. John p. 71. l. 20. for less r. weaker p. 60. l. 14. for they out r. they cut p. 68. for Rose r. Rofe Quakerism Withering BUT Christianity Reviving The Introduction Courteous Reader THE main thing I intend is a Defence of my Sheet to the Parliament from the False Glosses of George Whitehead in the Quakers pretended Vindication and to shew wherein I have offer'd to meet George Whitehead to debate matters wherein he says I have wronged the Quakers which I am not conscious of And this I did first in answer to his Challenge p. 4. viz. To make it appear before any six ten or twelve competent Witnesses which cannot be rationally thought to be Quakers in regard they are Parties concerned So likewise did I offer to debate the matter when I allowed him to have Quakers upon condition that what they could not Justifie he should Retract which is according to their Offer in like Cases as in the Epistle in the front of Edw. Burroughs's Works c. viz. And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the World That we may freely and cheerfully four ten twenty more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors a meeting for Dispute at any place and for what time and let such whether them or us that cannot prove our selves to be of the True Church but found in Error c. renounce all their Religion and confess to all the World under their Hands that they have been deceived And upon these or any equal Terms would we willingly engage all or any one of these Sects c. As in New-Rome unmask'd p. 2. the said Challenge is by me then accepted and by G. W. in his Essay c. p. 7. rejected which also is W. Penn's method Again in my printed Sheet to the Parliament p. 2. I offer'd before ten or twelve impartial Men to produce every Book and Page which I therein quoted This I did then offer with the Sheet in my Hand and many Quakers present but none of them put me upon proof but G. W. in his pretended Vindication p. 4. said I G. W. freely offer to make it appear before any six ten or twelve competent Witnesses who are moderate Men of Sence and Reason that F. B. has grosly abused and perverted Truth and wronged the People call'd Quakers both in Charge Citation and Observation in his said Sheet c. Thus far then we agreed as to Matter of Debate I in my Sheet offer'd to produce every Book and Page quoted before ten or twelve impartial Men And G. W. offered to make it appear before any six ten or twelve moderate Men that I had wronged them So that nothing remained now but my coming to London to joyn Issue with G. W. and pursuant the 27th of January 1693. I did and sent him the Charge following which had he kept to his word any thing we had debated the matter but nothing would do with him but Quakers on his side which tho' I was loth yet upon condition of a retractation of what I proved against them and which they could not justifie I at last consented and to that I held them seeing it is as above observed their own method proposed by Edw. Burroughs and W. Penn to the Papists And whether I have not herein acquitted myself I leave the World to judge Francis Bugg's Charge against the Quakers 1. THEY deny Jesus of Nazareth who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be Christ and the efficient cause of Man's Salvation c. 2. Their Books are Blasphemous and their Practices Idolatrous 3. They deny the Scriptures by speaking contemptuously of them calling them Death Dust and Serpents-meat and that Preaching out of them is Conjuration 4. They despise the Ordinances of Jesus Christ as Baptism and the Lord's Supper saying They arose from the Pope and are no part of God's Worship to which their practice of laying them aside as useless say Amen 5. They undervalue the Death and Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ 6. They exalt their own Writings above the Scriptures and their own Sufferings above the Sufferings of Christ Observe that I do not charge these Errors upon all that go under the Name of Quakers as George Keith and divers others that are separate from the Foxonian Party who also charge them with Damnable Heresies and Doctrins of Devils and such Errors as no Protestant Society would tolerate c. as at large in their Book extant c. and as in New-Rome unmask'd c. I have more largely explained my self p. 68. to 71. Francis Bugg's particular Charge against George Whitehead 1. HE is a publick Defamer 2. A wicked Forger 3. A wilful Lyer 4. A gross Perverter 5. A false Glosser 6. A deceiver of the People This I offer to prove and when done before the same Men to answer any Charge which G. W. shall exhibit against me Francis Bugg Here follows the substance of the Letter I sent him as Cover to the Charge In answer to your faint Challenge in your pretended Vindic. p. 4. to meet me in any place in London I am come to prove both the general and particular recited Charge before eight moderate Ministers each of us to chuse four excepting against Quakers Ranters and Muggletonians but give you your choice whether to chuse the whole number out of the Episcopalians
further they say he is not Christ not being personally in every Man And the Consequence is both natural and plain that they deny Jesus of Nazareth Smith's Primer P. 8. How may I know when Christ is truly Preached Answ They that are false Ministers preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above but they that are Christ's Ministers preach Christ within Smith's Catechism P. 57. And is that which is within you the only Foundation upon which you stand and the Principle of your Religion Answ That of God within us is so for we know it is Christ and being Christ it must needs be only and principal for that which is only admits not of another and that which is principal is greatest in being And thus we know Christ in us to be unto us the only and principal c. The Sword of the Lord drawn c. P. 5. Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your carnal Christ is utterly denied That this Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie By which without enlarging 't is very plain That as they do not own Jesus of Nazareth who was born of the Virgin Suffered Died Rose and Ascended and now sits at the Right Hand of God in Heaven above so all that preach the same Christ and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above are by the Quakers Doctrine False Ministers But they that preach the Light within as the only Foundation which admits of no other and as the principal Corner-stone of their Building These and these only are say they true Ministers And this if nothing had been said before had been sufficient to prove my first Charge namely That the Quakers deny Jesus of Nazareth who was born of the Blessed Virgin to be Christ and the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation And I pray God to give them a Heart to repent them of their Unbelief 1. By Geo. Fox's assuming Divine Attributes to himself News caming up out of the North c. P. 1. Written from the Mouth of the Lord From one who is naked and stands naked before the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which was prophesied of but now it is fulfilled c. G. F. The Teachers of the World unvailed c. P. 26. I am the Light him by whom the World was made and doth enlighten every Man that comes into the World If you love the Light which you are enlightned withall you will love Christ who saith Learn of me But if you hate that Light there is your Condemnation from him who is * Here is a Fourth Person added to the Trinity according to their Doctrine one with the Truth in every Man who of the Lord was moved this to write that People might see what hath gotten up since the Apostles time out of the Light with the Light and reigned out of the Light but now is manifest with the Light which the Apostles were in it is seen and to the Children of Light now is manifest whose Name of the World is called G. F. Several Petitions Answered c. P. 60. My Name is covered from the World and the World knows not me nor my Name He that overcometh hath the new Name and knoweth it He that overcometh sitteth in his Throne He that overcometh is Crowned He that overcometh eateth of the Hidden Manna He that overcometh shall inherit all things He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear and blessed is he that reads and doth understand what he reads G. F. Saul 's Errand to Damascus p. 7. The Old Man cannot endure to hear the New Man speak which is Christ and Christ is the Way and if Christ be in you must not he say I am the Way the Truth and the Life P. 8. And he that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the Dead is equal with God G. F. The Second Charge against the Quakers Their Books are blasphemous and their Practice Idolatrous c. which is proved in the foregoing and following to the confutation of G. W. and his false Witnesses who deny these Appellations c. This is only to go amongst Friends THou O 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 Righteousness appeared with Wounding and with Healing c. The next is John Blackling's Certificate see Part V. Christ Quak. distinguish'd c. p. 77. That G. Fox is blessed with Honour above many Brethren and That Thousands will stand by him in a Heavenly Record 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 The Quaker's Challenge p. 6. of G. Fox thus in brief 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 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 knew him not yet he is known Sol. Eccles. Jos Coale's Letter to G. Fox out of the Barbadoes thus in brief DEar G. Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose Life has reached thro' 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 rules and governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is established in Peace and the Encrease thereof is without end Jos Coale Another from John Audland to G. F. out of the West of England 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 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 John Audland Brief Observations upon the Two last Particulars 1. G. Fox's assuming Divine Attributes to himself viz. First He tells you he wrote from the Mouth of God himself stands naked clothed only with Righteousness which was prophesied and fulfilled Secondly That he is the light of the World by whom it was made One with the Truth in every Man Thirdly That he was so covered as
preach was fined was distrained as recorded but all his Goods was returned and for this Noble Act he had 10 l. sent him out of the Treasury from London by John Peacock late of St. Ives as a Recompence but his poor Neighbors R. Crabb T. Paine and others was fined and distrained for meeting June 9.1670 and neither had their Goods again nor a Reward out of London Chest that I ever heard A notable way to encourage such Praters to banter all other Dissenters who are not so vainglorious as themselves nor so cunning and close as the Quakers who may compare with Jesuit and Jew as G. W. in his Christ Quak. and Dev. did who charged them to hold Erroneous and Blasphemous Principles carnal Policy timerous creeping occult cowardly base c. And as I said that I may make them ashamed of their deceitful Practices who thus banter and domineer over all other People I may recite part of an Edict only I must remember not to give their Laws such contemptible Names as Edicts which enjoined the Hearers to meet constantly and suffer greatly insomuch as that in the loss of 13550 l. their Preachers never lost 50 l. And the Reasons thereof are more particularly handled in my Book The painted Harlot both stripp'd and whipp'd c. An Abstract of their Antimagistratical Edict is as followeth viz. London 27. of the 3d Month 1675. IT is our Advice and Judgment That all Friends keep up those publick Testimonies and neither decline forsake nor remove their publick Assemblies because of Times of Sufferings as worldly fearful and politick Professors have done c. Signed by G. W. W. P. and divers others Yet notwithstanding how did G. Whitehead creep up and down here and there with all the caution and timerousness possible to evince which see a Letter he order'd to be writ to me to appoint a Meeting for him c. DEar Friend F. B. G. W. is now here and doth purpose to be at your Meeting the 27th Instant and therefore desireth that Friends may be together by the 11th hour at furthest Thou need not mention his Name to any particularly but maist acquaint them of a Friend's Intention to be with them the time aforesaid So with G. W's dear Love to thee and thy Wife I rest thy dear Friend Hen. Hubbard jun. Stoake 25th of the 11th Mon. 1675. Thus wary was G. W. and cautious in his Travels which had been well enough had he left the People free But for him to make a Law against the National Law that they must constantly meet and neither forsake remove nor decline c. like worldly politick and fearful Professors yea antiscriptural too For said Christ if they persecute you in one city flee or remove to the next And his inspired Disciples oftentimes met privately for fear of the Jews c. yet how did G. W. like Ahab go disguised he must not be known his Name must not be mentioned Well I knew him and his Name too and had his Company and dear Love too and called Dear Friend yea all dear to me at that time though now I have so disturbed this subtile Fox and so manifested his deceitful Practices in many things that he cannot afford me my proper Name only Bugg Bugg say so Bugg quote c. Bugg's Testimony yea 34 times he calls me only Bugg in one Sheet and since I came to London in a private Letter in one side of half a sheet he calls me eleven times only Bugg such is his proud disdainful and insolent Behaviour besides scurrilous Names and reproachful Terms far contrary to their pretence in the beginning See An Account of the Children of Light c. p. 16. Also it hath been laid upon us by the Lord to call Men and Women by their Names which their Fathers have given them to be known amongst Men by c. But G. W. is grown so great since he came first amongst the Quakers Anno 1652. a poor Boy about 15 or 16 years old travelling on foot and hath so gathered up his Crumbs though chiefly at other Mens Tables that he scorns to call him that hath fed him and his Friends at his Table by his proper Name Oh Insolent and Imperious George I have been the longer on this Head because 't is the most glorious Jewel in their Crown how counterfeit soever it be within For when there was no Persecution they cut themselves out Work by disturbing of Churches for which they sometimes suffer'd the Justice due to such Offenders and then they cried out of Persecution and resolved to go on against all Law Government and Rule and all that opposed them herein was Nebuchadnezzar Darias c. and themselves Daniel Shadrack c. and in a little time came to collect their Sufferings whether it was 6 d. 8 d. or 1 s. in it went and having by 1657. in England and Wales muster'd up 1568 l. 14 s. 8 d. they printed and taught That their Sufferings was greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs and more unjust in that they suffered by a Law and that Law duly executed I do not doubt but if G. F's Works be printed there will be such a discovery of Quakerism as the World never saw but I do declare my Belief is they will never print them lest they be laid by Sol. Eccles Fiddles Possibly they may print some Passages of his Travels to make Fools admire and Wise Men laugh VI Charges against G. W. I. A Publick Defamer See his Book Judgment fixed c. p. 263. Francis Bugg is turned Informer To let pass all his other Names as Canker'd Apostate Vile Apostate Self-condemn'd Apostate Judas Runagate Beast Dog Wolf Child of the Devil Enemy of all Righteousness c. That very Name Informer the time 1682. consider'd is sufficient to term and prove him a publick Defamer and a malicious Incendiary for he knew me to be no such manner of Person but one of the greatest Sufferers by Informers in the whole County But however T. Bird J. Mason J. Ellington W. Belslam and above Twenty more Quakers gave me a Certificate to certifie the contrary and did very nobly testifie against such Antichristian Treatment But it is by such Arts they have raised their Structure witness their Book entituled A Battledoor c. saying p. 3. Come ye Doctors Scholars Teachers and Magistrates c. in which beside the English and some other foreign Languages there was the Latin Italian Greek Hebrew Chaldee and Syriack and before each of these Six Languages in each Page at the beginning of each Language they erected the form and figure of a Child's Penny horning Battledoor subscribed on the Handle thereof Geo. Fox and all was about Thee and Thou singular and plural as if they had been such Ignoramussés as did not understand tu and vos without the help of Geo. Fox who was before a Quaker a poor Journey-man Shoemaker But it was a
notable Project to bring both Learning and the Learned into Contempt to the scandal of the English Nation Thus defamatory have their Libels been The next Book this Imperious Fox provided for the Clergy was entituled A Primmer for all the Doctors and Scholars in Europe but especially Oxford and Cambridge containing 2434 Queries of this import viz. What is a Verb a Participle an Adverb a Getive Case c. what is the word called declined who was the first Author of it and by whom it came c. And with the greatest Contempt and Reproach conceivable as by his lofty Strains bold Challenges and daring Interrogations with which the said Primmer is plentifully stuft doth appear saying These Queries are to call you out into the Field the little Davids are risen who have the Baggs the Slings and the Stones Ye that profess your selves wise and learned Men and are Novices and Fools answer me draw out your Weapons if you have any and answer me these things Come out of your Holes and do not skip nor hip from them answer every Word in particular for you have Tongue enough sometimes let us see now if it can wagg c. G. Fox For more of this impertinent Nonsence see my Book Battering Rams against New Rome Thus scandalous and defamatory have they been in their contemptuous Libels against both the Gentry and Clergy of the English Nation on purpose to raise themselves out of their Ruins for they had no better way to prove their own Religion true than by rendring all others false But when these Libels and pernicious Books would not do their business fully then they termed them False Prophets Deceivers c. See their Book A brief Discovery of a threefold Estate c. p. 7 8 9 10. viz. The Priests of the World are 1. Conjurers raising dead Doctrines out of the Letter which is Death raising Death out of Death notable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichristians 4. Witches 5. Devils 6. Lyars The Commission and Call of Baal's Priests came from Oxford and Cambridge 7. A Viperous and Serpentine Generation 8. Blasphemers 9. Scarlet-coloured Beasts 10. Babylon's Merchants selling Beastly Wares the Letter which is Dust and Death 11. Whited Walls 12. Ravening Wolves 13. Greedy Dogs Really they are Bloudhounds still hunting and gasping after their Prey like the Mouth of Hell Wo wo wo was the Portions of those Pharisees then and wo wo wo is their Portion now and Wo and Misery is the Portion of the Upholders i. e. Parliament of that Treacherous Crew and deceitful Generation c. Come G. W. answer in your next whether your dispersing these Defamatory Libels unlicens'd be not seditious scandalous and tend to the scandal of the Clergy Parliament and People and yet they forgive you all your Trespasses pass by your many Affronts But you like the wicked Servant whom his Lord forgave all for a Trifle fall upon others But you will say this was in Oliver's time Why Was Oxford and Cambridge a Nursery for Baal's Priest in Oliver's time And is it otherwise now No you are the same you were See your Book The Guide mistaken p. 18. printed 1668. by W. Penn. And whilst the idle Gormondizing Priests of England run away with above 150000 pounds a year under pretence of being God's Ministers And that no sort of People have been so universally through Ages the very bane of Soul and Body of the Universe as that Abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of God's most dreadful Vengeance is reserved to act their Eternal Tragedy upon Reader I hope by this time I have not only proved G. W. a Publick Defamer but also his Brethren the like II. A Wicked Forger The Vind. c. p. 3. Fra. Bugg affirms in his Book de Chr. Lib. par 2. p. 83. printed 1682. that Conformity is a Monster c. and about two years after he himself conform'd c. In answer I am not the Author of one word of that Page but the whole Passage is a Query of John Ainsloes propounded to S. Cater and others beginning p. 81. ending p. 87. with his Name to it and by me quoted as his sence touching that Conformity they requir'd of him about taking his Wife in subjection to their Law of Womens Meetings and to whom neither J. Ainsloe nor my self ever conformed And as it was J. A's and by me quoted to shew his sence and to manifest Quakers against Quakers so it 's an absolute piece of Forgery to say he affirms he himself conformed his own Testimony When all this while it was none of F. B. but J. H's writing and both his Name and Date with a black line drawn to distinguish it from mine Who then can give credit to this Insincere pretended serious G. W. this grand Forger III. A Wilful Lyar. The Content Apostate c. p. 3. F. Bugg and his Company being got to the Meeting before G. W. and into the Gallery where our Ministring Friends used to be c. In short 't is false and that to G. Whitehead's Knowledge too for there was not a Man of my Company in the Gallery with me but S. Cater and this he wilfully and maliciously sent abroad to render me a turbulent Disturber which is fully proved in New Rome unm c. p. 50 51. IV. A Gross Perverter The Quakers Vind. c. p. 3. Note that the Instances Bugg has to prove the Quaker's Contempt of Governors being between the years 1654. and 1659. when 't is clear thereby that the Magistrates and Ministers instanced were those very Persecuters and Usurpers in O. Cromwel's days whereby F. B. has at once justified those Magistrates or Governors in those days as Christ's Magistrates and consequently the Usurpation of that Government testified against by E. B. and others Reader the main thing intended by this Perverter G. W. is to make the World believe that they were such Enemies to Oliver and his Usurpation as that E. Burr and the Quakers only reprehended those Governours and Magistrates as such when 't is no such matter for tho' I grant they were wrote in O. C's time yet they were reprinted in 1672. and by the Quakers common consent and approbation and for which they are responsible until they condemn them Well but did G. Fox E. Burrough so severely reprehend that Usurpation I do think who ever read The Quakers unmask'd c. will be of another mind P. 21. To all you who are called Delinquents and Cavaliers Thus saith the Lord My Controversie is against you even my Hand of Judgment is upon you already and you are become cursed in all your hatchings And though your Kings and Princes and Nobles have been cut off in Wrath yet you repent not nor will you see how you are given up to be a Curse and a Desolation and a Prey in Houses and Lands and Persons to them whom I raised up i. e. O. Cromwel against you and gave Power over you And you and
your Kings and Lordly Power shall be enslaved by the Devil in the pit of Darkness in everlasting Bondage where he shall reign your Lord and King for evermore c. Given under my Hand and sealed by the Spirit of the Eternal God through Edw. Burrough Taken at first out of the Trumpet of the Lord sounded p. 9. but left out of E. B's Works in the reprint which argues that G. W. c. did not believe E. Burr was so moved nor that his Message was so sealed by the Eternal God as E. B. pretended for if they did they dealt very unfaithfully to leave out such a notable Prophecy Thus you see E. Burrough was so far from reprehending Oliver or his Usurpation that he tells what the Delinquents was and how God's Hand was upon the Royal Party their Kings Princes Nobles Lands Houses c. in Judgment and that Oliver was raised of God c. Well let us hear what G. R. another of their Prophets says viz. TO thee O. Cromwel thus saith the Lord I have chosen thee amongst the thousand of the Nations to execute my Wrath upon my Enemies and gave them to thy Sword with which I fought for the Zeal of my own Name and gave thee the Enemies of my own Seed to be a Curse and a Reproach for ever and many have I cut down by my Sword in thy Hand that my Wrath might be executed upon them to the utmost The Righteousness of God c. p. 11. Geo. Rose Come G. W. was this reprehending O. C. or his Government Are you not ashamed to give occasion thus to discover your corrupt Principles by your base Pervertions Well hear G. Fox To the Parliament of the Common-wealth c. p. 8. Let all these Abby Lands Gleab Lands that 's given to the Priests be given to the Poor of the Nation and let all the great Houses Abbies Steeple-houses and White-hall be for Alms-houses Come G. W. what Paint have you in store to salve these your grand Pervertions horrible Principles and new Forgeries and false Glosses What! did you think your Sheet would never be answer'd Well George I have not done but having retrieved my Head from the Wall by acquitting my self from justifying O. C's Usurpation and also pointed to the very Creatures Flatterers and Prophets who both justified abetted encourag'd and assented to the said Usurpation See The Quakers unmask'd c. I am now coming to tell you what Usurpation I am against viz. The Vsurpation of the Quakers And that in divers respects first In that you summons the King's Subjects to meet annually in London by way of general Council or Convocation without any legal Warrant Writ or other legal Authority And when sate in Councel in Devonshire-house you make Laws Edicts and Canons for the King's Subjects throughout England to observe contrary and in direct opposition to those very Laws Rules c. which the King and Parliament make at Westminster This is the Usurpation I am against if you would needs know of me what I account Usurpation And that you have done so see your yearly Epistle May 1675. where in opposition to the Law the King and Parliament made that you should not meet above Four c. you in opposition made a Law That your People should neither forsake decline nor remove their Meeting This was one remarkable Instance of your justling with Authority and of your setting your usurping Post by the legal Post and a Hundred Instances more of your arbitrary illegal Proceedings and Usurpations might be brought But to mention a few fresh Instances see your last yearly Epistle entituled The Epistle to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and elsewhere from our Yearly Meeting held in London the 5 6 7 8. days of the 4th Month 1693. in which amongst other things you p. 3. order 1. That your Books be spread up and down the Nation as well as in parts beyond the Seas which being unlicens'd and tending to defame both the Clergy and Gentry is a Usurpation I am against 2. That none should pay Tythes but refuse payment thereof as an Antichristian Yoke of Bondage which shew that you at Devonshire-house interfere with those at Westminster 3. That none should pay to the Steeple-house Rates or Leys which put the Country to great trouble and your Proselytes who submit their Necks to your Usurpation to great Sufferings tending to Sedition and very evil Effects 4. That none should carry Guns in their Ships This shews that you are not content with your own Ease but as far as your Usurpation prevail you weaken the Government and are not willing to leave your People your People did I say yes your People for if you say once what they shall or shall not do 't is a Law like that of the Meads c. to their Freedom in this and many other Instances 1. Whether to publish their Intentions to marry before Womens Meetings or not 2. To meet precisely at the time day and place whether the Law command the contrary or not 3. To pay Tythes or not 4. To pay to the Church Rates or not 5. To carry Guns and serve their King and Country or not 6. To buy of your Books as they are perswaded concerning the Truth of them or not I say Did you leave your People free and at liberty in these and other things you would do well Then if any particular person could not for Conscience sake acquiesce in any of these things wherein the Law requires their active Obedience then let such pray the Magistrates and Government to hold them excus'd and when so done let them acknowledge the Favour from the Government who only ought to be Judges in that Case But your taking upon you this Usurped Dominion the more you prevail upon the People the less the Kingdom is and consequently the more you encrease the more dangerous And this Usurpation I testified against in my Book de Chr. libertate Anno 1682. and in Painted Harlot c. 1683. and in several other Books and now you see I am of the fame Judgment still touching Usurpation c. V. A False Glosser The Qua. Vind. c. p 2. F. B. accuses somebody with objecting against paying Tythes under the new Covenant because abrogated by Christ observing from thence that the Quakers condemn the Martyrs c. Observe this False Glosser I did not say they condemn either Martyr or others who did refuse payment of Tythes I neither said so nor will my words carry any such intendment but by that Doctrine laid down by Tho. Ellwood in his Antidote c. p. 78. Truth allows no payment of Tythes at all under the new Covenant they who pay Tythes uphold a legal Ceremony abrogated by Christ and thereby deny Christ come in the Flesh which is a Mark of Antichrist c. I say by this Doctrine they do conclude That all that pay Tythes whether voluntary or by force and all such as receive Tythes and make Laws that Tythes shall be paid are Antichristians nay not only the present Generation of Men but all former and future Generations that have been or shall be since the days of Christ being personally on Earth to the Worlds end And 't is this your Incharity that I oppose and think it great presumption in you to seek Favour at the hands of such as you condemn as Antichristians c. VI. A Deceiver of the People See Judgment fix'd Introd c. If the Lord did not lay a Necessity upon me I should chuse to be mute but the Lord has laid the Necessity upon me I neither consult Events nor fear Effects c. If what I have herein said be true and which I offer to prove before 10 or 12 impartial Men then he is a great Deceiver of the People nay were it needful where I have mentioned one President which in order to prove my Charge I was obliged to do I could have mention'd ten both Lyes Pervertions Forgeries False Glosses and scandalous Desamations both of my self and others But this may serve for both Caution and Warning to such as like the noble Bereans of old are willing to try all things Which that they may is the hearty Desire of him that was once led away by their Dissimulation Fra. Bugg FINIS