which of the Kings sworn subjects have minded the Spirit of truth when they took those oaths By their so swearing have they not done that which comes of evil or of the Devil the evil one Is not this rare quaking-stuff according to this Quakers false doctrine it is altogether unlawful for any of the Kings subjects to swear subjection to him any more lest they fall into condemnation as for any oaths which are truly lawful they are so condemned by this Quaker as that there is no Scripture-warrant for them in this day to plead Scripture for those oaths that are in truth righteousness and judgment it 's like using an old Almanack out of date it may well be said To what end did St. Paul tell the Christian Hebrews of God swearing by himself and that an oath is to put an end to all strife for had this Quaker been in St. Pauls time he would have catechized him otherwise that he did not understand the Scriptures that St. Paul had taught other doctrine than the Lord Jesus had done for he faith Swear not at all but let your yea be yea That solemn oaths are as bad now as vain oaths That swearing was lawful under the old dispensation but unlawful now Then St. Paul might have known this new-light-doctrine That Christ ended the dispensation of oaths where strife was If all this be not ungrounded abominable doctrine delivered by this Quaker then let wise unbiassed Readers judg Q. p. 50 51. Q. Numb 52 Ch. Father inform me concerning the observation of days as holy-days and Sunday which some call Sabbath-day and some the Lords-day and whether the Lord requires that I should observe them Fa. If thou observest a day observe it to the Lord but he requires not the observing of particular days for the Seventh day was holy in which he rested from all his works and that was the Jews Sabbath and they observed it to the Lord as he commanded but Christ Jesus hath fulfilled it and ended it and those called Holy-days are set up in the Apostacy in which the Saints have been killed and martyred upon which days the Apostles rejoyced and feasted and they are called Festival days and thou art to abominate the observing of them because they were set up in the blood-thirsty spirit and for that called the Lords-day or Sabbath-day people do not understand what they say for the Sabbath is the Seventh day and the observing of that is ended in Christ and that called the Lords-day is the first day of the week and the name Sunday is from the heathens who celebrated that day to the Sun and so called it Sunday but Child every day is the Lords day and thou art to observe them all unto him and who come to Christ and believe in Christ come over the observation of days into the one day of the Lord which is as a thousand years Pr. Pr. In this Quakers long discourse the set-time for Gods publick Worship is run down at an ignorant rate from observing a day to the Lord it 's ignorantly asserted That God requires not the observing of particular days when the King and Parliament made the last Act for the better observation of the Lords-day then according to this Quaker they did nothing but make a Law to establish Will-worship for as this Quaker saith the Lord requireth not the observing of any particular days it 's here confest notwithstanding what was said by this Quaker to the contrary that the Seventh day was the Jews sabbath-Sabbath-day as the Lord commanded behold here was a particular day required by God to be observed by the Jews behold again how this Quakers spirit hath inspired him to write a contradiction but as for us Christians under the Gospel there is no particular day to be observed to the Lord there are no Holy-days owned by this Quaker these days are like so many brats of Babylon rejected by him these days he saith were set up in the Apostacy at that time when the Saints were killed and martyred doth not this Quakers ignorance in effect count all Holy-days to be Apostatical days Are not these the Festival days which his Child is instructed to abominate the observing of What is more plain from these Quakers words than this That Holy-days observed by the Reformed Churches abroad and the Church of England at home are abominable days not fit to be observed But why are Holy-days to be abominated This Quaker gives this reason Because they were set in the blood-thirsty spirit it 's hard to understand the meaning of these words however we have no Holy-days which this Church observes but such as were at first set up by a blood-thirsty spirit surely if this Quaker had lived in those days of old he would have faln as strangely foul upon the Jews Feast of Purim as being from another blood-thirsty spirit but this Quakers aking-tooth is at the Lords-day or Sabbath-day in this matter the Prophane and the Quakers are well agreed they do neither of them make conscience to observe this day to the Lord for that called the Lords-day or Sabbath-day this Quaker saith that the people do not well understand what they say to speak according to this Quakers own words both King and Parliament were faln low in their understandings when they made an act for the better observation of the Lords-day in their debates they said they knew not what who named it either Sunday Lords-day or Sabbath-day had this Quaker been consulted they might have known thus much that the seventh-day-Sabbath is ended in Christ that the Lords-day is the first day of the week that Sunday is from the Heathens but in truth every day is the Lords-day so that to declare this Quakers mind truly there is indeed no such day as the Lords-day to be observed by any Christians for every day of the week is to be observed as the Lords-day and this is not this Quakers single opinion for he saith that they who come to Christ and believe in Christ do which is strange come over the observation of days is not this Quakers meaning this That all real Quakers do neither observe Holy-days nor the Lords-day not Holy-days as this Church appoints nor the first day of the week as being the Lords-day which is their degenerating from the practice of the Primitive Christians to say no worse of them but whither do the Quakers come when they are gotten over the observation of days for my part I cannot tell this Quaker is of age let him speak for himself who saith that they come into the one day of the Lord which is as a thousand years and here I leave him I Shall transcribe no more out of him but proceed to some of James Parnel's Pamphlets the Book which is made use of is called Q. A Collection of the several writings given forth from the spirit of the Lord through the servant of God James Parnel who bore a faithful testimony for God and died a Prisoner
behold they are such as rule with respect of persons they give forth laws in their own wills behold their laws are the corrupt issue of their corrupt wills as for righteous laws we have no such made in this Kingdom they are such Magistrates as do persecute the righteous as do encourage the heathen who know not God behold they are unchristian Magistrates like Ishmael they do persecute the righteous as for baptized Christians they are the heathen that know not God who are encouraged by our Christian Magistrates nay behold and wonder this Quaker goes on to tell us That our Magistrates have that which is strange Cain slaying Abel within them and they themselves do as strangely suffer Cain to slay Abel without them Is not this proclaiming our Magistrates to be men of blood bloody Magistrates He saith likewise that the wicked have more liberty in the Nation than the righteous have behold they are wicked Magistrates wickedness is indulged by them because of these corrupt Magistrates who wink at deceits for carnal ends who uphold iniquity and oppression who tread truth under foot this Kingdom is spoiled by them the land abounds with iniquity oppression and treachery behold how this land is said to be corrupt by the Magistrates whom this Quaker calls corrupt Magistrates He saith also that corrupt Magistrates put such in office behold the King and Parliament are corrupt Magistrates who put corrupt Magistrates in office He saith moreover that these corrupt Magistrates do uphold corrupt Ministers and false prophets which this Nation is full of behold here are corrupt Magistrates corrupting the Church as well as the Kingdom behold also these Magistrates are the Beast that do uphold the false prophet behold also how the Beast-like Magistrates and the falseprophet-like Ministers do like brethren in the same iniquity combine together against the simple that is the Quakers who are so in the worst sense By this Beast that is the Magistrates the Law is made a stalking-horse to deceive the simple Behold how the Law is basely said by this Quaker to be perverted and abused by the Magistrates of this Land Now let us see how the Quakers stand affected to Magistracy in this matter he tells us plainly That such Magistrates and such Government we honour not behold no Magistrates no Government which have not the Quakers image or superscription on them are honoured by any simple Quakers in effect this Quaker opens his mind thus That by the Magistrates and Government of this Kingdom the righteous that is the Quakers do suffer as Gods people have done under the Ten Persecutions he saith also to this purpose That the Magistrates of this Land do like Haman stand in their own corrupt wills and would destroy as he would have destroyed Mordecai the Quakers for not bowing to them that they do like Pharaoh the Israelites pursue the Quakers unjustly to death That they would like Nebuchadnezzar burn all Quakers to death for not worshipping the Image of the Beast that they do like Herod who beheaded John the Baptist stand in their own wills to kill the Quakers Now let us hear this Quaker divine and tell us what shall become of the Magistrates of this land behold he saith they are like Haman Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar Herod who did not escape the hands of the Lord according to this Quaker all the unquakerized Magistrates of this land shall have a miserable end they shall all to the Devil at last but behold this diviner hath seen a vain vision which is this that Christ comes to end all outward Laws and Government of man and he himself will reign as truth and righteousness grows the Law is fulfilled and passeth away behold this Quaker is strangly turned Antinomian against all humane Laws according to this Quakers vain mind St. Paul was mistaken in saying Let every soul be subject to the higher powers if this Quaker had been in those days he would have withstood St. Peter to his face once more for commanding those scattered Christians to submit themselves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake he would have told these two Apostles that they did err in so teaching for Christs coming is to fulfill and end all outward laws and government of man it 's no Quakers duty to be subject to the higher powers all they have to do is to obey the Light within them as for submitting themselves to the King as supreme or to those that are in authority under him or to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake this subjection belongs not to any Quakers for Christ is come as this Quaker saith to end all outward laws and government of man by the truth and righteousness which grow in Quakers the Law is fulfilled and passeth away now behold how all Quakers with their false Christ the Light within them are in print a lawless generation of people professed opposers of the government of this Kingdom and it is vainly fancied that Christ himself will reign to the overthrow of all humane laws and government with reference to this brain-sick folly this Quaker doth weakly fancy the Magistrates of this Kingdom to be such as do beat the truth because they are no deluded Quakers but what saith this Quaker to this he saith but Pharaoh God will plague and confound what is the meaning of these strange words is not this it the supream Magistrate who is no Quaker no more than Pharaoh was is the Pharaoh here whom God as this Quaker saith will plague and confound now let us view those Magistrates whom the Quakers do own and honour to be sure they are no such as this Kingdom hath this Quaker sets them thus out in their colours such Magistrates as are guided by the light of God in the conscience and rule by it we own and honour in our hearts such are a terrour to evil doers such bear not the sword in vain this government is of God you see how clear it is that the Quakers do own and honour only those Magistrates in their hearts that are real Quakers as for the King and all other Magistrates that are not guided by the Quakers light in their Consciences nor do rule by it the Quakers do neither own nor honour them in their hearts Unquakerized Magistrates are no terrour to evil doers they do bear the sword in vain their government is not of God now behold and judg how the real Quakers do oppose and deny the lawful Magistrates overturn the Laws and overthrow the Government of this Kingdom Q. p. 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93. Q. Numb 75 We are accused to be destructive to all superiority and honour breeding and manners because we cannot put off our hats nor follow the fashions of the world but speak the plain word Thou to any one rich or poor in the beginning God Thoued Adam and Adam Thoued him here was the plain language betwixt God and Adam God Thoued Moses and Moses Thoued him this was
darkness and delusion of Antichrist both Priests and people your leaders cause you to err by their lyes you are lost for want of true knowledg only differing from the heathen in name and profession Pr. Pr. These quaking-lines serve to tell us that this quaking-watcher hath seen a base vision concerning the true Christian Religion and the Church of England in particular according to this brain-sick Quaker there hath been in the whole world no true profession of the Gospel since the Apostles days behold a black mark is set by this Quaker upon all Christians since that time to speak this Quakers mind more fully in all ages of the Christian Church since the Apostles days instead of Christ Antichrist hath reigned over the world under a Gospel-profession instead of true Gospel-light he saith there hath been only a long time of cruel darkness and ignorance as for the Lord this Quaker saith he hath been a long time ever since the Apostles days as a stranger in the earth behold according to this Quaker there hath been no true Christianity nothing but Antichristianism cruel darkness and ignorance and estrangedness from the Lord in all ages of the Christian Church ever since the Apostles days now let us proceed this Quaker is still bold to tell us that ever since the Apostles days all the believing on God or Christ hath been nothing else but an unprofitable looking at him as a God afar off in the Heavens without they knew not where according to this Quaker you may perceive that there have been no truly faithful Christians in the world since the Apostles days to speak this Quakers mind ever since the Apostles days they were only vain believers who said they believed that that was the Christ that died at Jerusalem rose again sits at the right hand of God c. who thus believing were baptized with water and called Christians behold how by this Quaker believing in Christ that died c. is slighted and likewise the baptizing of those Christians who did so believe in Jesus Christ in effect all this is lookt upon by this Quaker to be a pitiful piece of Christianity as for the Scripture this Quaker saith that was the Letter whereof these called Christians were the keepers which they took for their rule according to this Quakers mind the Scripture hath been the mistaken rule of all Christians to walk by ever since the Apostles days as for any Commentaries written upon the Scriptures since the Apostles days this Quaker saith they were but their own meanings and imaginations behold how all Expositors of the holy Scriptures both ancient and modern are basely asperst by this Quaker their Expositions have been no more but their own meanings and imaginations obtruded on the Scripture As for Infant-baptism used in all ages of the Christian Church this Quaker like an Anabaptist saith there is no Scripture nor example for it that it is in vain called an Ordinance of Christ then saith this Quaker that is in the reign of Antichrist they had their two Sacraments but without any Scripture-warrant for the word Sacraments as for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper this Quaker calls it only carnal bread and wine thus in the reign of Antichrist this Quaker saith the Church was planted in England and other places behold according to this Quaker both the Church of England and other particular Churches planted since the Apostles days in any part of the world are all under the dominion of Antichrist their baptism with water is no Ordinance of Christ the Lords Supper is only carnal bread and wine both Sacraments without Scripture-warrant but mark what follows Then that is in the reign of Antichrist in the long time of cruel darkness in the time of the Lords absence from the earth were as this Quaker saith Bishops set up and Archbishops Deans Priests Deacons Popes the Bishops bearing rule by their Means Priests preaching for hire Behold how this Quaker gives us a distinct sound of the Antichristian Hierarchy which hath continued since the Apostles dayes Thus according to this Quaker in all Centuries of the Christian Church since the Apostles days not Christ but Antichrist hath set up his Kingdom under the profession of the Gospel thus the Christian Church hath since those days had no Ecclesiastical Governours but such as were Antichristian thus all Bishops Archbishops Deans Priests Deacons as well as Popes have been in this Quakers account Antichristian for above sixteen hundred years by-past being masked under a vain profession of the Gospel Then that is when Antichrist reigned Tythes saith this Quaker came up contrary to any rule of the Gospel behold how Tythes are made by this Quaker to be Antichristian too a maintenance contrary to the Gospel Then that is in the Reign of Antichrist Universities saith this Quaker were set up to make Ministers or Priests behold Universities by this Quaker are all made to be so many Antichristian Schools thus according to this Quaker after an Antichristian manner were Priests set up by the will and tradition of men as the false Prophets always were of old then in the foresaid reign of Antichrist University-Priests had their long robes like the Pharisees according to this Quaker Ministers habits are both Antichristian and Pharisaical then that is when Antichrist reigned Idols Temples called Churches or houses of God were set up according to this Quaker all publick places consecrated and set apart for Gods publick Worship are neither the material Churches or Houses of God but Idols Temples and Antichristian too then that is in the reign of Antichrist the Priests got into their Pulpits the chiefest places in the Synagogues being proudly called of men Master Doctor according to this Quakers mind Pulpits for Priests are become Antichristian too and the Antichristian Priests are got into them like so many Scribes being proud Masters and Doctors having the uppermost rooms at feasts and greetings in the market like the old Pharisees Scribes and hypocrites then that is in the reign of Antichrist began to speak this Quakers mind the Ecclesiasticall thieves who stole the Apostles words as the false Prophets did who took a verse and studied from it a divination of their own brain just as the Priests do now they run like the false Prophets according to this Quaker ever since the Apostles days all Gods Priests have been thieves like the false Prophets preaching a divination of their own brain like false Prophets running without God sending them then that is in the reign of Antichrist thorough covetousness they made merchandize of the people with feigned words like wolves upon sheep they preyed upon the people they sought about for great livings for fat benefices they ran from a lesser to a bigger living the beloved which they sought for like the false Prophets they sought for the fleece not regarding the flock they cried peace to them that put into their mouths they prepared war sued lawed those that did not feed them
thus they sought their gain from their quarter and ruled like tyrants with rigor according to this Quakers mind you see that since the Apostles days all Priests in the Christian Church have been basely covetous vile cheats bloody wolves sordidly self-seeking minding the fleece more than the sheep like the false Prophets greedily seeking their gain from their quarter ruling like tyrants with rigor thus according to this Quaker our Priests old fathers planted their Church and so set every thing in form and tradition according to their own imaginations behold since the Apostles days to speak this Quakers mind fully there hath been no Christian Church but such as was planted by the old fathers of our Priests and this Church was planted by them after the worst fashion according to their own imaginations that we may not mistake this Quaker he tells us plainly his particular thoughts of our own Church saying here is the ground and foundation of the Faith and Church of England here are the old Fathers and old Authors that their Priests have so much talked of even the Popes and Bishops behold according to this Quaker both the Faith and Church of England are Antichristian Popes and Bishops in this Quakers account Antichrists creatures are those old Fathers who planted this Church and Faith according to their imaginations who are so much talked of by our Priests but he saith Thus Antichrist hath long deceived the Nations under the profession of the faith of Christ behold according to this Quaker not only the Church of England but all other Christian Nations since the Apostles days have thus long been deceived by Antichrist under the profession of the faith of Christ according to this Quaker there hath not been one jot of true Christianity in this Church or in any part of the world for many hundreds of years by-past he saith one generation hath gone and another come but they have not known the Lord that bought them behold ever since the Apostles dayes all Christians in the world have not known the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer according to this Quaker they have all been Antichristian I may truly say That this Quaker is so taken with this Antichristian glass as that he saith many may now see strange sights what lyars the people are how they came up and were ordained that they are the Ministers of Antichrist that they do shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men the people may also see saith this Quaker how ignorantly they have been led estranged from the Father of Light carried after vain traditions customs forms ordinances imaginations of man deceived with a vain profession and feigned faith kept strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Saviour and Redeemer behold according to this Quaker what base persons all the Priests of the Church of England are for in his account they are all lyars Ministers of Antichrist as bad as the Scribes and Pharisees were in Christs time for they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men blind Teachers of the people estrangers of the people from God the Father of Light such as have carried them after vain traditions and imaginations of man deceivers with a vain profession and feigned faith such as have kept the people strangers from the God of life and from Christ the Redeemer but this is not all for this Quaker saith That both Priests and people do lye under the power of darkness and delusion of Antichrist behold in the Church of England according to this Quaker it is like Priests like people the power of darkness belongs to both they are both so far from true Christianity as that they are both under the delusion of Antichrist but according to this Quaker the Priests are the greater offenders of them two for they are he saith the peoples Leaders who cause them to err by their lyes they destroy the people for want of true knowledg they lead them captive in their sins they do only differ from the Heathen in name and profession Behold once more that according to this Quaker the Priests of the Church of England are teachers of lyes by which they cause the people to err soul-murtherers destroying the people for want of true knowledg like the Devil they lead the people captive in their sins they are nothing else but Heathens in truth Thus you see that this quaking-Watcher hath seen nothing belonging to true Christianity for a long time even ever since the Apostles days in the world or in the Church of England as for this Church and Kingdom according to this Quaker there is nothing but Antichrist and what is Antichristian to be found in them Q. p. 145 to 149 Q. Numb 80 You are fighting killing and devouring one another as they do whom you account Heathen you are drunkards swearers lyars scoffers revilers back-biters whoremongers adulterers proud covetous idolaters high-minded oppressors as they are both Priest and People you are envious and malicious both Priest and people you are dissembling cozening and cheating and defrauding one another of the earth What sin is there among those you account Heathen that is not amongst you and doth abound Be ashamed you Priests of England to see the fruits of your Ministry so laid open before you you are those who come near the Lord with your mouths but your hearts are far from him you are hypocrites and your hearts are full of deceit envy wrath bitterness covetousness pride earthly-mindedness self-love self-wisdom you are out of the life and practice of the Apostles and the children of light your Teachers are such as bring another doctrine and climb up another way who are shut out for Thieves and Robbers Pr. Pr. In these quaking-lines we have railing without reason and Scripture abused to this end behold all the people and Priests of the Church of England are by this censorious Quaker declared to be guilty of most notorious crimes they are all according to this Quaker either as bad or far worse than any Heathens are behold how bad this Quaker hath made all Priests and people of this Church and Kingdom to be without exception quarrellers murderers drunkards swearers lyars scoffers revilers backbiters whoremongers adulterers proud covetous idolaters high-minded oppressors by these black names doth this Quaker point them out behold is this the Christian Charity that thinks no evil Is this the Christianity that speaks evil of no man But in p. 146 this Quaker doth a little seem to eat his own words but they are soon disgorged As for those people and Priests that are not drunkards swearers c. this Quaker makes them as bad as the rest as if he were in Gods stead he ransacks their hearts to make them no better than those heart-wicked Pharisees were of old according to this Quaker in the Church and Kingdom of England the peoples Priests are no Christians but idolaters their conversations are worse than heathens for they abound in gross wickedness more than they as
believe That the Bishops in the late Kings time were persecutors that that generation was pulled up in the Lords anger that the powers that supported them were swept away in the Lords sore displeasure that the Lord was terrible to the men of high stature that the Lord did break in upon them with a furious blow of horrour and amazement that he smote with an incurable wound the Bishops and their King and their Nobles and their mighty men of war their Captains and Councellors their Priests and their Officers and their whole strength that the Lord left the name of Bishops King Nobles mighty men Captains Counsellors Priests Officers to be an astonishment and a wonder and a curse unto posterity See Numb 113. ARTICLE XCIV We Q. do believe That Oliver Cromwell was the man who did bear as on a common shoulder the sufferings of the oppressed for conscience sake who with himself were appointed to the same destruction that their sufferings went to his heart that he had a fellow-feeling of them on his own shoulder that he could have laid down his life for one of those sufferers that his heart was then very tender that his bowels did sound for them that the hearts of all his fellow-sufferers flowed in to him that in them and him there was but one spirit and one heart that for this cause the Lord did call Oliver Cromwell and raise him up to head the Lords armies that this Oliver Cromwell was made the Lords sword that the Lord did by him execute his vengeance on those generations See Numb 114. ARTICLE XCV We Q. do believe That the Puritans were great sufferers under the Bishops that Charles Stuart was inexcusable touching their sufferings for not remedying them according to his power that the disaffection of great men and Nobles and Rulers and Bishops and Priests to that way of the Puritans did not keep them from the judgment of God that the judgment of God hath taken hold of Charles Stuart and his Children and his party and hath made him his Children and party a dreadful example of the Lords vengeance and that this judgment was executed on the late King his Children and party by Oliver Cromwell's sword as an instrument See Numb 115. ARTICLE XCVI We Q. do believe That Oliver Cromwell was the Lords battel-axe and his weapon of war to the cutting down of the late King See Numb 116. ARTICLE XCVII We Q. do believe as our friend Nicholas Knight hath written That all the Teachers of England whether they are Episcopal or Presbyterian or Independent are false Ministers no true teachers who are not sent who have no commission from God who go forth in their own names only in the will of man that they are no Ministers of Christ that their doctrine is false and traditional that it is not from heaven but men below that they do teach for doctrine the traditions of men that they are the false teachers that they preach a divination of their own brains that they come not in at the door that they climb up another way that they speak in the wisdom of mens words that they are men-pleasers by feigned words that they are deceivers that they are seekers of their own praise that they seek more the fleece than the flock that they preach for hire and divine for money that for a pretence they make long prayers like the Scribes and Pharisees and devour widows houses that they say and do not that they limit the Church of Christ to a Nation that they are blind leaders of the blind that they do hold the truth in hypocrisie and unrighteousness that they hate to be reformed that they have a form of godliness and deny the power that they are deceivers and being deceived cause the name of God to be blasphemed and evil spoken of that they do observe months and days and consecrated places that their preaching is limited to days hours hour-glasses to the wills of men to outward observations traditions and ceremonies that these trees may be known by their fruits that out of the evil treasure of their hearts they bring forth evil things that they are an ill savour that they are Clouds which hold no water that they are sounding brass and tinkling cymbals that they do not profit the people that they are too light in the balances of the Sanctuary that they do neither believe nor understand what they preach that they have no experience of the word of life that like those silly women they are ever learning but are not able to come to the knowledg of the truth that they flee the Cross that they are unwilling to forsake all for Christ that they do chuse rather to be subject to the corrupt laws and wills of men than to Christ that they lay heavy burthens on mens shoulders which they touch not with one of their singers that they respect their own interest ease profit and security that they count gain to be godliness that they are hirelings that they do preach up the power and dominion of the devils leading into sin above the power of Christ over sin in this life that they do exalt the devils power who is their master above Christ that they preach up outward worship bodily service outward forms ceremonies and observances of outward ordinances and traditions of men of worship in outward Temples and consecrated places and outward conformity out of the life and power of godliliness in Common-prayer service and singing of Davids Psalms that they please themselves with an outward melody of voice and organs that they labour to bring people to an outward communion under an outward profession and name of Christians that they make them Christians by an outward washing that their fellowship is only in and with the world that they do not what God requires at their hands that they are preachers up of the Kingdom of the Beast and false Prophet that they are bewailers of the great City Babylon that their trade and merchandize do depend on her that they are pretended Ministers of Christ that they are Antichrists Ministers that the Gospel preached by them is of Antichrists setting up that they are led by the spirit of Antichrist that they make merchandize of the words of God that they are not Ministers of the Spirit that they are hypocrites who draw near to Christ with their mouths but deny him in their works that Episcopal Presbyterian and Independent are alike corrupt teachers that they do all preach in their own wisdom of words that they do differ from the true Ministers of Christ his Gospel and life that they do all want a thorough-reformation that they have taken up their stations in formalities that they are rejected of God that they are such from whom the Lord is departed that they are denied of the Lord to be his Ministers that they are such teachers to whom as our friend Knight saith the Lord saith who hath required these things at your hands wherein you have polluted my name that they seek their own more than Gods that they have not the Spirit that they are turned aside to fables that they are quenchers of the Spirit that they are despisers of Prophesie that they do speak evil of that which they understand not that they are none of Christs Ministers in the Spirit that they convert not any unto God that they go forth in the will of man that they are not of God that they are false shepherds that they speak their own words that they compose their own Sermons in their own wills and wisdom that they are no true guides in the way of life that they are deceivers and seducers who wax worse and worse that they run in the way of Balaam that they are false guides who lead to destruction whose ways are the ways of death whose end is everlasting misery that they are ready to blaspheme that holy name whereby we Quakers are called See Numb 116 117. ARTICLE XCVIII In the last place We Q. do stedfastly believe as George Fox and Richard Hubberthorn our friends do That our dear friends W. P. G. Whitehead William Smith G. C. and George Fox the younger James Parnell George Fox the elder and Richard Hubberthorn Edward Burrough George Bishop and Nicholas Knight have written and printed their fore-named Books and given them forth from the immediate eternal Spirit of God and therefore by good consequence they and their writings are no less to be believed than the Penmen of the Scripture the Prophets and Apostles are FINIS The Names of the Books cited in this Treatise with the Page where the Author begins to extract the Quakers corrupt Creed out of them I. THE Counterfeit Christian detected and the real Quaker justified By a lover of Truth and Peace W. P. Printed 1674. Page 4 II. The nature of Christianity in the true Light asserted Written by a Servant of Christ G. Whitehead Printed in the year 1671. Page 13 III. The Quakers Primmer by S.C. and George Fox the younger Page 27 IV. Two Treatises viz. a new Primmer and a new Catechism both written by William Smith Printed 1668. Page 33 V. A Collection of the several Writings given forth from the spirit of the Lord through the servant of God James Parnel who bore a faithful testimony for God and died a Prisoner under the hands of a persecuting generation in Colchester Castle in the year 1656. Published 1675. Page 59 VI. The Heathens Divinity set upon the heads of all called Christians G. F. Printed in the year 1671. Page 118 VII The power and glory of the Lord shining out of the North or the day of the Lord dawning By one whom Ishmaels brood calls a Quaker whose name in the flesh is James Naylor London printed 1653. Page 128 VIII A Warning from the Lord by one named of the world Edward Burrough Page 129 IX The Warnings of the Lord to the men of this generation particularly to those in power who are lately passed away and to them that remain as they were given forth in sundry Letters and sent to Oliver Cromwell Richard his Son late Protectors c. by his servant George Bishop who is moved of the Lord to publish them London printed by M. Inman 1660. Page 135 X. A Comparison between the true and false Ministers by Nicholas Knight Printed 1675. Page 141
service which God rejects Q. p. 35. Q. Numb 43 Ch. And is not their singing an acceptable service for they that can sing praises are in a good condition Fath. But they have David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold and given them forth as they were David's condition and the drunkard and the swearer and the lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition and so they sing lyes in Hypocrisie which is not a right service nor accepted of God Pr. Pr. According to this Quakers hard measure our singing of Psalms in the time of Divine-service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying it 's not a right service nor accepted of God observe well for want of a Psalm after the Quaking mode our singing of David's Psalms in Meeter is a despised service for this reason we can make no right melody in our hearts to the Lord like so many fools we do not rightly understand what we sing the Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the spirit and with understanding when their spirit moves on their waters as for the Ministers and people of the Church of England we are sensual not having the spirit like those that sing Ballads other mens words we do only sing David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold To mount the baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the Kings-Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is according to these Quaking-lines a very prophane piece of service for here the drunkard and swearer and lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition thus in singing Psalms we do nothing else but sing lyes in hypocrisie if this be not a base lying charge drawn up by this Quaker against the known practise of the Church of England let the unbyassed Reader judg Q. p. 36. Q. Numb 44 Ch. I would know father how it is with those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine which are much used in their worship Fath. Why child as to those things they rose from the Popes invention who hath had power in the night of Apostacy and hath set up his devices which are yet continued in England and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ for he did not ordain sprinkling water in a childs face neither did he ordain bread and wine to be so used and received and the wine is another of the Popes inventions who hath invented a silver cup and pours wine into it and then the Priest gives it to the people and tells them that is the blood of Christ that is shed for them when it is wine and not blood and gives them bread and tells them that is the body of Christ that is broken for them when people neither discern the body nor the blood of Christ and so eat and drink damnation to themselves true Baptism child is in the spirit which baptizeth into one body the true meat and drink is the body and blood of Christ which the worthy receiver feeds upon in his heart so that these things be false and not to be regarded by the true Christians who live in the spirit who is the substance Pr. Pr. This Quaker hath given us a long chase in the pursuit we have quite lost Baptism and the Lords-Supper as to their right use in the Church of England as for those things called Ordinances as Baptism Bread and Wine which are much used in our publick worship this Quaker doth boldly say they rose from the Popes invention in the night of Apostacy they were conceived and brought forth they are only devices of the Popes setting up they are continued yet in England as the Pope left them nay further this Quaker doth basely add that the whole practice of those things called Ordinances as baptism and bread and wine as we use them had their institution by the Pope they were never so ordained of Christ behold is not this rake-shame stuff is it of the Spirit of God to affirm that Baptism the Lords-Supper rose from the Popes invention who before this Quaker did term them devices of the Popes setting up is it not high base to say as this Quaker doth that the whole practise of Baptism and the Lords-Supper as we use them have their institution by the Pope that they were never so ordained of Christ according to this Quakers wild assertions is it not very plain that we baptize in the Popes name and receive bread and wine only according to the Popes institution how doth this Quaker in a ridiculous manner assert that Baptism is only sprinkling water in a child face which Christ did never ordain who can read this consident ignorance without blushing Is it not another base boldness to say that neither did Christ ordain bread and wine to be so used and received as they are in the Church of England except this deluded Quaker who hath said that the wine is another of the Popes inventions risum teneatis amici who can but laugh this Baals Prophet to scorn or rather who can but pity his great ignorance the rest of his discourse is a confused Chaos surely his hasty spirit was not at leisure to digest it better only let this be noted that this Quaker owns no other baptism but that which is in the spirit which certainly is no Scripture-baptism As for the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper there is in this Quakers eye no such thing for the body and blood of Christ is as he tells us the true meat and drink but bread and wine in the Lords-Supper are not so these things i. e. baptism bread and wine according to this Quakers mind are false things not to be regarded by true Christians who live in the spirit according to the sense of this Quaking-father all Quakers are those true Christians who do so live in the spirit as that they are above Baptism and the Lords Supper these are those false things which are not regarded by them may it not be truly said Alas poor despised Church of England how low art thou fallen What 's become of thy two Sacraments which are generally necessary to salvation Art thou now beholding to the Popes invention for them How are Christs own Ordinances now made to be the Popes devices In baptizing and receiving the Lords Supper what is the whole practice but according to the Popes institution Did thine Husband the Lord Jesus Christ ever ordain Baptism and the Lords Supper so as thou usest them Why dost thou receive bread and wine according to Christs institution did he ever ordain bread and wine to be so used and received Dost thou not know that the wine in the Cup is another of the Popes inventions Dost thou not consider that Baptism and the Lords Supper are two falshoods How far art thou from true Christianity from living in the spirit
that dost regard these false things In this Glass you see the ugly face of these Quaking-lines without just offence it may be truly said That Quakerism is not of God because it overthrows what Christ the Son of God incarnate hath established till his last coming to judgment Q. p. 38. Q. Numb 45 Ch. But is not the place in which all these things are performed a true Church Fa. Nay the true Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Christ is the Head of it but the place in which such things are performed is also of the Popes invention and he counts himself to be the Head of it and is a place made by men and it is wood and stone which do decay and come to nought then they make levies and gather money to repair it again and if they do not so it will consume and turn into mire and dirt but the true Church is a living thing Pr. Pr. These Quaking-lines are largely transcrib'd to shew how impertinently this Quaker is imployed how busie he is to beat a man of straw of his own making because the holy Catholick Church is the true Church of God of which Christ is the head therefore a material Church is no true Church no true place for the members of the true Church of God to meet together in for divine worship this is that weak reasoning which doth well suit an ignorant Quaker it 's a sorry mistaking cavil to say that all material Churches are of the Popes invention and that the Pope is the head of them By the way let us note it to be a base sly insinuation to corrupt the minds of young children as if a material Church were the only acknowledged true Church by those that are no Quakers who knows not that a material Church is a place made by men and not by angels I know none of us that are in such darkness that this Quaker need to tell us that Christ is the head of the true Church as for that Church which this Quaker calls a living thing it is an unlawful Conventicler Ecclesia malignantium the congregation of evil doers with which this Church and Kingdom is too much pestered it is no slander to term this Quakers Church which he calls a living thing a meer Chimera or his own brain-sick notion where a company of Quakers are got together there is this living thing to be found Q. p. 39. Q. Numb 46 Ch. But are not these the true Christians that practise and perform such things Fath. They have got the Christians words and so count themselves Christians but they are not in the Christians life neither is their way the Christians way so they are practising those things that God requires not at their hands neither doth he accept them Pr. Pr. This Quaking instructor doth here foully charge all those that are not down-right Quakers not the Kings Majesty on the Throne nor the Peers of this Realm nor any other Christians do escape this Quakers lash in this Quakers estimate we are all like so many Apes or Parrots that have gotten the words of Christians but are no Christians in truth we are all dead lifelefs Christians none of us are in the life of Christians we are all out of the right way for our way is not the Christians way in preaching praying receiving baptizing hearing and singing of Psalms there is nothing done but practising those things which God requires not of us nor doth accept our whole Divine service is like an abominable sacrifice to the Lord behold what base Doctrine is delivered by this Quaking-father to poyson the youth of this Kingdom is not this the right way to debauch the Kings subjects in their minority Q. p. 40. Q. Numb 47 Ch. I observe that people make much to do one with another when they meet together or part one from another in putting off their Hats and bowing and cringing and going backward and scraping and I am doubtful whether this be true honour with which I am to honour all men Fath. Thou mayest be assured that it is not the true honour Ch. How may I be assured of it Fath. Why child they that seek honour one of another they do not believe in Christ the power of God which is honourable in all men and this seeks not the honour below or to have the Hat put off or the body to bow or cringe or the feet to scrape it neither seeks such honour nor can give such honour and so men seek honour one of another and they give it one to another with their hat and knee and Your humble servant Sir and such are not in the power of God but in the vain customs of the Heathens and so it is got in a custom to put off the hat and bow and cringe and scrape and women to courtesie and droop and these are the apostate Christians that are out of the power of God and so seek honour one of another and are respecting one anothers person and the rich and the proud they get the honour and the poor and the needy are not regarded Pr. Pr. In this Quaking-fathers Rhapsody we have that civil honour ridiculously decryed which is rightly due and warrantably to be performed by one man to another may not any man truly say this Quakers spirit is very blind that did not help him to discern betwixt seeking honour one of another and giving civil honour one to another what would this Quaker have said if he had seen Abraham the father of the faithful bowing himself before the people of the land of Heth or if he had heard Ephron the Hittite calling Abraham his Lord and Abraham bowing himself to acknowledg his kindness to honour him again would he have told Abraham that he did not believe in Christ the power of God surely if this Quaker had been in St. Pauls time St. Paul would have been lookt on by him as an apostate Christian for this way of speaking most noble Festus is it not plain that this Quaking-father is under gross mistakes are they not causelesly blamed by this clownish father that do mutually honour one another which is a due debt doth he not unjustly charge them to be Pharisee-like Christians such as do not believe in the power of God for tendering due honour to whom it belongs doth he not ignorantly call it seeking honour of one another without offence let it be said the power of God which the Quakers pretend to is basely abused by them it is made by their folly as meer a clown as themselves according to this Quaking-father it was not the God of power who said Honour thy father and thy mother nor was it the Spirit of God in St. Paul who moved him to say Honour all men in honour preferring one another to have the hat put off or the body to bow or the feet to scrape this is honour below which this Quakers power of God seeks not nor can give
the Scripture observe it well to read in to meditate of to study to believe to live according to the Scriptures is as this Quaker calls it our doting on them and this is done with our dark minds there except Quakers who cannot but have a very good opinion of themselves who follow the Light within them as their Lord God and Saviour all others both people and teachers of this world do but dote on the Scriptures with their dark minds nay to take this Quakers mind more at large they are like the blind Pharisees the people being blind themselves are led by their blind teachers thus they go blind-folded seeking life in the Scripture doted on where it is not to be found I may now truly say according to this Quakers mind that the Scripture is basely accounted of either as a dead letter which hath no life in it or as Christs tomb or empty grave where Christ the true Light is not to be found Q. p. eâd. Q. Numb 56 Thus with your dark minds you would take the authority from Christ and would give it to the dead Letter Pr. Pr. Now this Quaker speaks plainly but not yet like righteous Abel he doth harp still upon his old string as if Christ were dethroned because the Scripture Gods Word is a light unto our feet behold if either people learn or are taught such true doctrine as this is then the people and their teachers with their dark minds do as this Quaker saith take the authority from Christ and give it to the Scripture which is saith this Quaker a dead letter Without doubt this is a base slander the Grand Seignior would not suffer his Alchoran to be thus reproacht however in this point their elder brethren the Papists and our modern Quakers are well agreed to both of them the Holy Scripture is no more but a dead letter By the way let it be observed that here is James Parnel a servant of God whose Writings were pretended to be given forth from the Spirit of the Lord a Martyr one that gave his testimony for God who called the Scripture a dead letter is not this corrupt tree plainly to be known by this bad fruit do you not espy a wolf in sheeps cloathing are not those streams which make glad the City of God basely fouled by him I am sure the testimony of this Quaking-Martyr is not the testimony which the Scripture bears of it self no undeluded Christian can believe that it is from the true Spirit of the Lord to term the Scripture a dead letter without controversie it is a standing-shame to Christianity that Christ the light of life cannot be rightly exalted but the Scripture must first be declared to be a dead letter this abominable doctrine was first hatcht amongst the Papists and and is now maintained amongst the Quakers Q. p. 16 17. Q. Numb 57 Your Leaders cause you to err for their own ends and of the Scripture they make an idol to get money by which they lead you in blindness in vain are you worshipping a God whom you know not crying up the Scripture exalting it in the place of Christ Pr. Pr. By this Quakers testimony all Ministers of the Gospel are basely bespattered they are in this Quakers account such Leaders as cause the people to err they are no better than a base sort of self-ended Teachers who lead the people into error for their own ends nay worse they are Idolaters and the Scripture he saith is their Idol to speak this Quakers mind more fully as Diana of the Ephesians was Demetrius his Idol so the Scripture saith this Quaker is the Idol of all Gospel-Ministers to get money by by instructing the people out of Gods word Ministers if you can believe this Quaker do nothing else but cause people to err and lead them in blindness by following the Doctrine taught by Gods Ministers the people are like the heathen Athenians this Quaker saith they do in vain worship a God whom they know not by making the Scripture to be the rule of their faith and life this Quaker saith they cry up the Scripture to the Lord Christs high dishonour exalting it in Christs place if this be not high base doctrine then what is such The Turkish Alchoran was never so debased by any Mahometans nor Heathen Priests so vilified in any part of the world by their Vassals as the Word and Ministers of the Most High God have been by this deluded Quaker Q. p. 18. Q. Numb 58 He is the Word and the Scripture is not He is the Light and the Scripture is not He is the Rule and the Guide and Teacher and Judg and the Scripture is not Pr. Pr. Here we have this Quakers cramb the second part of the same tune this Quakers dream is double according to this Quakers mind his false doctrine is established if any are so foolish as to regard it it is an Oracle from this Quakers lying spirit That the Scripture is not the Word of God nor a light unto our feet nor the Rule Guide Teacher or Judg because Christ is so this is the Quakers old weak reason fit to be dismissed as such But whither doth this Quakers wild doctrine tend Is not this the true meaning of it That the holy Apostle St. Peter was grosly mistaken that the holy men of God mentioned by him did not speak the word of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost That the sure word of Prophecy is no light shining in a dark place That those primitive Christians did very ill to take heed to any such light without them as the Scripture the sure word of Prophecy is To speak a little more according to this Quakers mind by no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule we do all follow a blind guide if we are led by the Scripture Hath not this man quaked to purpose Is not the Scripture by him shaken to nothing for it 's no word of God no Light no Rule no Guide no Teacher no Judg. Surely it's matter of lamentation that a false Christ the Light within who is not God and Man in one person must by Quakers be thus exalted to lay the honour of the Scripture in the dust to make the word of God of none effect Q. p. 19. Q. Numb 59 Saying among themselves If we let go the authority of the Scriptures then all is gone that is to say Take away our Idol then take away our maintenance then down with our Ministry Pr. Pr. Here this Quaker pretends to be the Priests Cabin-Counsellor to discover their secrets he brings them to light as being such as do only hold fast the divine authority of the Scripture to save their main stake mark how he supposes them to say among themselves even that which none but this Quaker or others like himself did ever hear If we let go the authority of the Scripture then all is gone This he
among the Stars thence will the Lord fetch you down and cast you into hell the pit as he did Lucifer Dives and Haman and Pharaoh and Herod and the rest of your fore-fathers Pr. Pr. I have exercised your patience with a long-winded discourse I have transcribed so much that this Quakers mind might be known at large his Trumpet hath sounded long but not at all like those at Mount Sinai when the Lord gave his Law to his people here is a fearful blast blown no less than the Lords wo is pronounced against all Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen yea against all that are called Master Mistris Madam all these without exception are declared by this Quaker to be in a miserable condition to use his own words or explain more fully this Quakers mind they are like Lucifer or the Devil who is fallen as low as hell they are like Dives who is miserable in hell-torments they are like bloody Haman the enemy of the Lords people who died a cursed shameful death they are like Pharaoh who kept Gods people in hard bondage a prepared vessel for the Lords wrath who perished miserably in the Red-sea they are like Herod whom our Saviour called a Fox whose last end was miserable all these were their fore-fathers as this Quaker saith now let us see their faults for which they are thus accursed by this poor Quaker amongst them all there is not one righteous nor one that doth good as this Quaker doth vainly imagin here is indeed no respect of persons observe it well this Quaker saith all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistris Madam are alike all very bad hear his foul charge according to the true import of it they are the exalted of the earth proud oppressing wanton given to pleasure lustful belly-gods sensual lofty minded riding on lofty horses according to their lofty minds Dives-like sinners devourers of the Creation spiritual Idolaters such whose hearts are gone a whoring from God so unmerciful as that poor Lazarus lyes starving at their gates so proud as that they will not suffer a poor man to keep on his hat before them yea so basely proud as that their fellow-creatures may not Thou them but they themselves will Thou God and Christ Now from this Quakers lines let us see their down-fall according to this Quaker the last end of all the aforesaid persons without exception is to be destroyed for ever for as he saith though they are as high as the Heavens nested like the Edomites among the Stars yet this Quakers pretended Lord not the Lord God will fetch them thence this Quakers false Lord will cast them into hell like Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh Herod and the rest of their forefathers according to the true import of this quaking-scribble all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistris Madam shall every one of them unless they turn Quakers be damned for ever you see that they are said by this Quaker to be all alike wicked and accursed like Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh and Herod and the rest of their wicked miserable forefathers they shall without any exception be all cast into hell I shall say no more but this surely this quaking-doctrine is not according to the tenour of the fifth Commandment nor according to the charitable spirit of the Gospel without a new Gospel it 's unjustifiable Q. p. 31 32 33. Q. Numb 64 You make a profession of Godliness with your Prayers Praises Graces Singing formal imaginary worship and have a Chaplain or Priest to preach to you one day in a week all the week after doing as you do spending their time as you do in eating drinking and rising up to play and you have a place for him to preach to you in and all this for money but the pearl you want you say he is a Minister of Christ and he saith you are Christians when as you all are heathens both Priest and people living without God in the world and so the blind leads the blind into the ditch wo wo is coming upon you all the Lord abhors all your profession and your hypocrisie your works are the works of the Devil you serve the Devil with your hearts and actions you are strangers to the life of God no Christians but heathens both Priest and people Pr. Pr. Here is another of this Quakers ill blasts blown against all Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Masters Mistresses and Madams but now their Chaplains or Priests are hem'd in with them according to this Quakers mind the Religion of all these is nothing worth it 's but the profession of Godliness which is the hypocrites badg all their Prayers Praises Graces singing of Psalms do not go one step beyond a formal imaginary worship their Chaplains or Priests are as bad as themselves like those Idolaters before the Golden Calf they do all the week spend their time in eating and drinking and rising up to play their Priests are only men that design for money serving them for their money but as for the Light within the Quakers adored Pearl both they and their Chaplains do want it in this Quakers account both they and their Chaplains or Priests are clawbacks well met they call him a Minister of Christ and he faith they are Christians but according to this Quaker there is no such matter both Priest and people are all heathens such heathens as do live without God in the world the blind people are led by their blind Priests into the same ditch they are such vile miscreants as that he saith the Lords wo is coming on them they are such professors and hypocrites as the Lord abhors such whoseworks are the works of the Devil such as serve the Devil in their hearts and actions in plain English this Quaker saith both Priest and people are no Christians what then are they he saith but heathens such as are strangers to the life of God now let us review this Quakers testimony is it not hence apparent that the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom are both abominable and accursed are not their Chaplains and Priests worse than any pitiful Quaker are they not the scum of the world the filth of the place where they live behold the Religion of the Nobility Gentry and Priests of this Kingdom what is it in a Quakers eye are not they and Priests declared by this Quaker to be no Christians but heathens Is it not lamentable that such rake-shame doctrine as this is should be accounted the Lords testimony is not this the ready way to make Religion ridiculous surely Quakerism exalted is but a pretended religious foolery Q. p. 34 35 36. Q. Numb 65 All you high and lofty ones Haman-like be you silent away with all your profession tremble before the Lord you children of the Devil howl in sackcloth and ashes for the Lord is coming to burn you up as stubble you are the fruitless trees that cumber
account that the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance or any other Oaths injoyned by any Authority on earth are altogether unlawful because Christ hath commanded not to swear at all that no swearing is warranted by the Scripture that the dispensation of Oaths where strife was is ended by Christ who saith Swear not at all that vain Oaths and solemn Oaths are both alike forbidden by Christ See Numb 51. ARTICLE XXXIV We Q. do believe That all Holy-days are set up in the Apostacy that there is no observation of particular days that in calling the first day of the week the Lords-day or Sabbath-day people speak they know not what that the name Sunday is heathenish that every day is the Lords-day See Numb 52. ARTICLE XXXV We Q. do believe as our dear friend James Parnel hath written that they are no truly faithful Christians who do deny that there is a perfect freedom from all manner of sin to be had in this life that their faith is not the true faith if it doth not cleanse them from all their sins See Numb 53. ARTICLE XXXVI We Q. do believe That the Scripture is not the Light nor the Word nor the Life nor the Judg nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the tryer of spirits See Numb 54. ARTICLE XXXVII We Q. do believe That the people and teachers are ignorant of Christ the Light that they dote on the Scripture with their dark minds that they do like the blind Pharisees seek life in the Scripture where it is not to be found See Numb 55. ARTICLE XXXVIII We Q. do believe as our beloved James Parnel saith That the Scripture is a dead letter See Numb 56. ARTICLE XXXIX We Q. do believe That the Priests of England are the peoples leaders who cause them to err that the Scripture is their Idol to get money by that by the Scripture they do lead the people into blindness that they do in vain worship a God whom they know not that they do dethrone Christ Jesus by exalting the Scripture See Numb 57. ARTICLE XL. We Q. do still believe That the Scripture is not the Word of God nor the Light nor the Rule nor the Guide nor the Teacher nor Judg concerning matters of faith and life See Numb 58. ARTICLE XLI We Q. do believe That the Priests of England do maintain the authority of the Scripture which is their Idol only for their own ends to uphold their corrupt maintenance and deceitful Ministry See Num b. 59. ARTICLE XLII We Q. do believe That the Priests of England have nothing but the Scripture without which is a dead letter that they are without the true Light that all those are in darkness and confusion who call the Scripture their Rule and Guide and that the Priests of England are like them and that they know not the truth See Numb 60. ARTICLE XLIII We Q. do believe That they bring another Gospel into the world who call the four books Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel See Numb 61. ARTICLE XLIV We Q. do believe That it is a false light in any which leads them to profess the Scripture to be their Rule who do not live well See Numb 62. ARTICLE XLV We Q. do believe That all that are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam are all accursed of God and shall be cast into hell and that they are no better nor shall fare better than Lucifer Dives Haman Pharaoh Herod and the rest of their forefathers See Numb 63. ARTICLE XLVI We Q. do likewise believe That all who are called Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam are all very wicked that they do only make a profession of godliness that their worship is formal and imaginary that their Chaplains are wicked like themselves that they are like the worshippers of the golden Calf that they and their Chaplains are Heathens that Priest and people do live without God in the world that they are all accursed of God that their works are the works of the Devil that they serve the Devil with their hearts and actions that they are no Christians but Heathens both Priest and people See Numb 64. ARTICLE XLVII We Q. do believe still That all Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Master Mistress Madam young and old rich and poor and beggars men-servants and women-servants who are no Quakers are the children of the Devil fruitless trees that cumber the ground which are for the fire stubble to be burnt unrighteous persons to be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone that thither they must go that there they must lye for evermore with Dives and Haman that they are all as bad as Dives Haman and the High-Priests Pharisees and Rulers were who put Christ to death that their belly is their god that they and all their earthly honour shall be laid into the fire See Numb 65. ARTICLE XLVIII We Q. do believe That the Priests of England are like Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses that they do likewise withstand the truth that they are University-men with their Magick Arts and Imaginations that they do get a form of the Prophets Christs and Apostles words to trade with that they do deny the power of godliness that they are Traytors to Christ men of corrupt minds reprobates concerning the faith See Numb 66. ARTICLE XLIX We Q. do believe still That the Scripture is a dead letter that it is the husk which is usually thrown away that they are Swine feeding on husks who make the Scripture their Rule and Guide that he is a deceiver one that erreth that knoweth not the Scripture who saith the Scripture is the word of God that he puts the shadow for the substance who takes the Scripture to be the word of God that that man is without that he is a swine feeding on the husk that he is ignorant of the true light who saith that the Scripture is the rule and guide of the people of God See Numb 67. ARTICLE L. We Q. do believe That there is no other baptism but the baptism of Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire that baptism with water is but a formal imitation and the invention of man that it is a meer delusion and that they are all heathens and no Christians who are so baptized and cannot witness the other baptism See Numb 70. ARTICLE LI. We Q. do believe That there is no such thing as Sacramental bread that it is only the bread which the world breaks that it is carnal and natural that the cup is such like that there is no such thing as the holy Communion for it is the communion of the world that communion which is natural outward carnal that that which is called the Lords-table is the table of devils that in receiving that which they call the Lords-supper they do feed upon the husk and shadow See Numb 71. ARTICLE LII We Q. do believe That the
lost for want of true knowledg that they do only differ from the heathen in name and profession See Numb 79. ARTICLE LX. We Q. do believe That both the Priests and people of England are very wicked like the Heathen that both Priests and people are envious and malicious that they are dissemblers cheaters defrauders of one another that there is no sin amongst Heathen which sin doth not abound amongst them that the Priests of England are very wicked that they do draw near the Lord with their mouths but their hearts are far from him that they are hyporrites whose hearts are full of deceit envy wrath bitterness covetousness pride earthly-mindedness self-love self-wisdom that they are out of the life and practice of the Apostles that they are such teachers as do bring another doctrine that they do climb up another way that they are shut out for thieves and robbers See Numb 80. ARTICLE LXI We Q. do believe That Englands Church was planted by Englands Priests that it differs not from the heathen that Englands Church consists chiefly of drunkards swearers lyars proud ones covetous ones railers murderers whoremongers wild ones prophane ones wanton ones quarrelers and sighters hypocrites dissemblers persecutors backbiters extortioners lustful ones that if these were set aside then Englands Church would be no where to be found See Numb 81. ARTICLE LXII We Q. do believe as our friend James Parnel hath written That we are partakers of the Divine nature of Christ by which we are made Christians and that God is with us manifested in the flesh See Numb 82. ARTICLE LXIII We Q. do believe That the true Church is no where but amongst our selves where there is but one teacher and one Lord one light and one life that is the light of life within us one faith which overcomes all manner of sin and makes us free in this life from all sin one way which is the despised way of Quakerism one shepherd who is the light within us and one sheepfold which is made up of us Quakers wheresoever dispersed one Priest over the houshold of God who is the light within belonging to this houshold which we Quakers are one hope which none but we Quakers have one baptism which is not with water one language which is Thou one family which by H. N. was called the Family of Love one God and Father of all who is the Light within all Quakers that they that cannot witness all this to be true are strangers to Christ and strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel See Numb 83. ARTICLE LXIV We Q. do believe as George Fox writes That the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for rewards and gifts in cursing excommunicating and imprisoning so that Balaams Ass may reprove them all See Numb 84. ARTICLE LXV We Q. do believe That to build a Material Church is to build an old Mass-house that to warrant the building of such a Material Church by any Scriptures or the Kings law is to deny Christs coming in the flesh See Numb 85. ARTICLE LXVI We Q. do believe That to know God according to the Scripture is no true knowledg of him that the Priests of England though they have the Scriptures and declare him according to those Scriptures do neither know God nor Christ See Numb 86. ARTICLE LXVII We Q. do believe That the Religion and Worship used in England are of the Priests own setting up in their steeple-houses that neither God nor the Lord Jesus did set them up See Numb 87. ARTICLE LXVIII We Q. do believe as George Fox and Richard Hubberthorn our friends have written that the Scriptures may as well be condemned to the fire as our friends papers of Queries may See Numb 88. ARTICLE LXIX We Q. do believe That the Scripture is the earthly Letter See Numb 89. ARTICLE LXX We Q. do believe That the Letters written by Quakers are given forth by the same Spirit that the Prophets and holy Apostles had See Numb 90. ARTICLE LXXI We Q. do believe what is not true That the Apostle said Take heed to the Light of God within you See Num. 91. ARTICLE LXXII We Q. do believe That all true Quakers have the same gift of the Holy Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had See Numb 92. ARTICLE LXXIII We Q. do believe That we are one in the Eternal Unity and that George Fox the Elder is one with us in this Eternal Unity See Numb 93. ARTICLE LXXIV We Q. do believe That the dark time and power of Babylon hath long reigned and the works of the Beast that by these they are descended that profess Scripture to be their rule See Numb 94. ARTICLE LXXV We Q. do believe That there is a way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange way then he may see that the Light is but one See Numb 95. ARTICLE LXXVI We Q. do believe That the Priests of England are Ministers of the Letter that they are persecutors of the Spirit See Numb 96. ARTICLE LXXVII We Q. do believe That Jesus Christ remains in the Heavens that the same that did descend did ascond that it is disputing as the devil did about the body of Moses with Michael the Archangel to enquire what manner of body Christ hath that such enquirers are to be rebuked as the devil was by the Archangel that the body of Christ is but one which is the Church See Numb 97. ARTICLE LXXVIII We Q. do believe That to redeem and make free from sin is done with the body of Christ which we have told you is the Church See Numb 98. ARTICLE LXXIX We Q. do believe That Christ lives in that body which is the Church that in this body which is the Church the Saints shall arise See Numb 99. ARTICLE LXXX We Q. do believe That both Philosophy and Logick are of the devil See Numb 100. ARTICLE LXXXI We Q. do believe That except the Church which is his body Christ hath no true humane body no more than God the Father hath that that man looks upon Christ with a carnal eye that looks upon him to have a true body as he hath that that man knows the fathers body that knows Christ to have a true humane body which is without sin that that man is full of subtilty that doth query how the Son may be distinguished from God the Father that they make both many Gods and three Gods who do distinguish the Son from the Father See Numb 101. ARTICLE LXXXII We Q. do believe That there is no Baptism with water that they are filthy dreamers and lyars of Christ who tell people that this Baptism is an Ordinance of Christ that it is but sprinkling a little dirty water on Childrens faces that Christ did never send his Disciples on this dirty errand See Num. 102. ARTICLE LXXXIII We Q. do believe That there is no Sacramental Cup to be