from that strong Delusion and the sad concommitants of it This Relation for substance I and my Wife had from this Maids own mouth A Woman so low in parts as rendred her esteemed not much better then a Naturall Foole being on a day at a Quakers Meeting in the County of Bucks not farre from Ailsbury where Fox the Quaker was was on a suddain so transported that with much liberty of speech and confidence she spake in the Quakers Tone of matters farre above her capacity though she never pretended to Quakerisme before And continued in those strange Raptures for about two dayes or more But afterward changed her Note and fell into a grievous Rage cursing swearing and blaspheaming and crying out a Fox a Devill a Fox a Devill in which she continued till she died which was about a day or two after that raging Frenzie fit took her And though of her selfe she was almost as weak as a Child yet in this fit could scarcely be held in bed by two or three Men. This I had from one living near the place the truth of whose Relation in this behalf I have no reason to question he being a person of credit and one whom this poor Woman sent to speak with the evening of that day in which she was taken with her Rapture The same Friend likewise told me of a Gentle-Woman whose Husband being inclined to the Quakers though she was not on a certain time brought Fox the Quaker up into her Chamber where she was sitting by the fire The said Fox not using many words comes to her and laid his hand on her forehead after which she became a Quaker for a certain time till God graciously recovered her This Relation my Friend had from the Gentlewomans own month that was thus used A Man in Kent sober of good report and religiously disposed but somewhat of the Seekers strain going to the Quakers Meeting one day was so wrought upon whilst there that he fell to Dancing and afterwards went home under great alteration of mind The violent impression of which exercise soon ended his life having before he died and whilst in his violent fits which were sad to behold complained grievously of Fox his holding him in Chaines This I have by credible information and being objected to an eminent Quaker in Kent he put it off with saying it was the just judgment of God upon him for opposing the Quakers A Prayer added only for their help that need it O Most great and most holy Lord God of Heaven and Earth who hast been so justly provoked by the People of this Land for their setting light of Christ the only Mediator between God and Man after such clear plain affectionate and long continued tenders of HIM and of salvation by HIM from sin and punishment that thou hast in thy wrath and sore displeasure given up thousands of them to their own hearts lust to the casting off subjection to thy Lawes and the pursuing the imaginations of their own hearts Yea to professed enmity against God the Father Son and holy Ghost Oh Lord how do they cry down thy holy Word Ministry Ordinances Sabbaths and the Bloud of Jesus Christ as unholy things inso much that we may truly say This day O Lord is a day of trouble and of rebuke and blasphemy Lord how down thine ears and hear open thine eyes and see the words that they speak from the Devill and the Pope who have sent these Papists Quakers Ranters Socinians to reproach the living God Oh that thou wouldst give Repentance and pardon to profane people to formall outside professers to those that are enemies of reformation that have provoked thee to threaten by the sad posture we are in the exterpation of thy true and holy Religion to those also that having no more knowledg of the true Head and Members of thy Church or zeal to thy glory do under pretence of charity call thy Blasphemous Enemies Godly people and of the godly party Oh that my Lord would give Repentance and pardon to his own peculiar ones for all their miscarriages whereby they have provoked thy Majesty to threaten the setting of the Sun of Righteousness in our dayes and bringing a night of Ignorance Err or and Idolatry upon our Children and Posterity Oh my God do this I pray thee for the Lords sake Good Father stay thine anger let thy spirituall plagues proceed no further undeceive simple well meaning souls that seeing not the worst of Seducers think well of them and so are in danger of being eternally undone by them Convert so many of thine Enemies as are not given up to finall impenitency and from implacable ones Good Lord deliver me and this Nation and all thy Churches and Ministers both from their infection and rage Stir up the Spirit of these Nations to oppose the spreading of Blasphemy of Popery and persecution of true Protestants suffer none of thine Enemies to continue uppermost give us such Magistrates as shall be Nursing-Fathers to the Church Curse and blast all Councels and undertakings that are against the Kingdome of Christ Stir up all thy People to pray earnestly unto thee for our selves and Posterity that thou wouldst continue the Gospell with us in power plenty and purity and however thou in thy Fatherly wisdome shalt deal with us that we may be kept faithfull unto the death to the glory of that power grace and holiness of thine which the Word of Truth that we profess holds forth All these things I beg for the sake of Jesus Christ my dear Saviour Amen FINIS
Assertion That the Scripture is not Gods Word p. 3. They are the most immodest obscene people in the world next to the late Ranters If all the Stories of their womens stripping themselves to the very skin in the presence of men and of mens so doing in the presence of women of late years should be here et down they would be enough to make a large Volume I will set down but those few which I am sure I can prove to be true and that are by many hundreds known to be true 1. A Female Quaker about four or five years ago came into White-hall Chappell stark naked while a great Congregation was at the publike worship of God the Lord Protector O.C. being present 2. Since then a Relation of mine had a Maid-servant that became a Quaker and one day at Putny where his house was and when he had many friends at dinner with him she came into his Parlour stark naked while they were at dinner to the astonishment of their modesty And another day she did Stark naked go from her Masters house through Wandser and to Lambeth or near it where some Watermen by force stop'd and covered her and carried her back It was said that she intended to have entred London over the Bridge and to have gone in that posture through London Streets unto West minster 3. This last Summer 1659. in Colchester a Man-Quaker went stark naked all through the Market And another day which was the Lords day in the same posture entred into the greatest Assembly that was in that Town walking unto the further end of the lower cross He through many people and then returned without saying a word And from thence he went to a great company of the Quakers assembled together in that Town where he did for a long time act the part of a Speaker which considered as also that when he did go naked he had a Brother waiting upon him carrying his Cloaths under his Arms it was the more apparent that it was an act well-pleasing to and approved of by the Quakers 4. This last Summer 1659. A Man-Quaker went naked through the City of London down Cheapside as hundreds can witness 5. In Colchester this last Summet 1659. many of them as also the Anabaptists have opened their Shops and followed their handicraft Callings every Lords day for many weeks together notwithstanding the Legal oppositions that have been made against them and it 's likely they continue so to do they did untill very lately The like as is known to thousands hath been done several Lords dayes by some of them of late in London and Southwarke 6. In Colchester this last Summer 1659. a Woman-Quaker brought her needlework into a Church and fell to work and singing while the Minister was officiating 7. In Aldermanbury-Church in London this last Summer 1659. a Man-Quaker after one frustrated attempt did while the Psalm was singing and before the Minister ascended get up into the Pulpit and there sate upon the Cushion with his foot upon the Stool or Seat and with a Needle and Thread sewed a Pocket untill he was pulled down since which the same Person hath in Print published the reason of his so doing to be only this That the Burden of the Lord was upon him That he was so prest in his spirit to do it that he could have no rest untill he had done it but declares no end for which he did it Surely the Devil that moved him did not exercise his wit or else had a very fool to work upon that would move to no end They do exceedingly covet that which impudently they say they have but have not namely the gift of working Miracles concerning which take these following Stories wherein may be seen their pride and how the lying Spirit hath befooled them WIlliam Pool a professed Quaker servant to George Knight Clothier of the City of Worcester and a Quaker also seemed for some short time to be much troubled in mind and dejected which his Master and some others tooknotice of But not finding satisfaction from the Quakers with whom he did converse upon the 19. of February 1657. being Friday he was more then ordinarily troubled but the manner and grounds of it are variously reported and at eveningwent suddenly out of his Masters house and could not be found or heard of that night nor the next day but on the Lords day early in the morning was found within half a Mile of the City dead and naked with his face downward in a little puddle of water all his Cloaths lying by him Upon the view of which and hearing the matter the Coroners Inquest found him guilty of self-murder His Mother and Friends on Munday morning the 22. of February caused him to be buried in Claynes Church-yard two Miles from the Ciry And the same day in the afternoon after he had lain buried six or seven hours a strong perswasion of pride and confidence seized upon one Susnnah Peirson one of the most violent heady and high-minded Quakers in the City that she could raise William Pool from the dead whereupon she took three or four more of her way and went to the Church-yard caused his body to be digged out of the earth and laid upon the ground and opened his shroud touching him and calling him by his name saying Arise and walk with sundry other expressions many being present But she and her companions returned with shame yet persists still in her Opinion without any change The Lord shew her her sins and give her repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth that she may recover her self out of the snare of the Devil who is taken captive by him at his will They compass Sea and Land to make Proselites and have too much succeeded both in Virginia and Amsterdam But I hope where ever this Book shall arrive before them the people will so well know them as to abhor any further acquaintance with them They are a very cruel bloudy people if we may judge of the Lion by his paw or what is abundantly in their hearts by such speakings of their mouths as these to our Captains in Christs Army That they are of the Synagogue of Satan and know nothing of God but are enemies of God being guided by the spirit of errour without among dogs whose humility is fained That their Sermons are fleshly fancies and Conjurations dirty miry Doctrine a stinking puddle That their hearts are filthy deceitfull seeking praise from men That they are scandalous following the wayes of Balaam and Cain worse then Simon Magus knowing nothing of the life of the Gospel That they are Heathens wallowing in the mire and filth of the flesh on whom all the Plagues of God are to be powred blinde guides proud Baals Priests Lyars Blasphemers Enemies to Christ Jesus Murtherers Sorcerers Whoremongers Children of disobedience greedy dumbrdogs Witches Antichrists Antichrists Merchants Robbers Deceivers Ministers of the world Conjurers Devils of a Serpentine nature a
this substance is the same holy Ghost by which the Apostles were endued and the Christ of God the Redeemer from sin That the Garden of Eden is the world that the Trees thereof are all living beings That Paradice is in man That man fell by harkning to the wicked which was the fleshly mind and that not the Woman properly but the silliest and weakest part was the Woman that tempted him That Adam was the earthly nature in Man That the Redeemer of Man is not that person the Son of God that dyed at Jerusalem but the light which is in every particular Man by which he is given to see sin and inabled by it if obedient to be redeemed from sin That searching the Scriptures is not the way to find out the knowledg of Christ but the turning the mind within there to be taught the measure of God the Law written in the heart That Scripture ought not to be interpreted This Collection following of the Opinions of the Quakers was made by two very Reverend and most credible men Mr. Christopher Fowler and Mr. Simon Ford Ministers of the Gospell in Reading in their Book Intituled A sober Answer to an Angry Epistle of Tho. Speeds a Quaker in Bristol The Quakers Doctrines 1. Sect. 54. Perfect Pharisee p. 3. See also the Relation of the it-religious Northern Quakers THat they are equall with God as holy just and good as God himself Affirmed by G. Fox and J Nailor before Witnesses who attest it in a Book called the perfect Pharisee published by five Ministers of Newcastle 2. Sultable hereunto was the Blasphemy of one of your she-Quakers lately in hold in this Town who being convented before the Major of this Corporation and asked what she was and what was her name roundly answered and stood to it again the next day I AM THAT I AM which will be attested upon Oath by the Major and one of the Constables 3. Suitable to this was the Blasphemy of another of your Brethren who meeting with a godly Londiner occasionally being in this Town on a Lords day lately and asking him the way as he met him to one of our Churches answered him in these words The Church is in God and the Church is God 4. That the being of God is not distinct from them that are begotten by him Sword of the Lord by James Atkinson Quaker 5. That the Nature and Glory of the Elect differ not from the Nature and Glory of the Creator For the Elect are one with the Creator in his Nature enjoying his glory That the Elect is not distinct from the Creator Howgill and Burroughs two Quakers in an answer to Reeve 6 And that God is not distinct from living Creatures for in him living Creatures lives moves c. 7. That God is three Persons or subsistences they say is a lye That there is no distinctions of Persons in the Godhead Sword of the Lord by J. Atkinson G. Fox Errand to Damascus 8. That the soul is a part of the Divine Essence See perfect Pharisee p. 6. 9. That Jesus Christ is God and Man in one person they say is a lye 10. They deny and detest this Doctrine That Christ being the only God and Man in one person remaines for ever a distinct person from all Saints and Angels notwithstanding their Vnion and communion with him Sword of the Lord by James Atkinson 11. That the person that Son of God which died at Jerusalem is not the Redeemer of Man from sin but the Redeemer is in every man that light by which he is given to see him c. The discourse of a Quaker with J. Toldervy Foot out of the Snare p. 7. 12. That Christ is in every man even Heathen Indians and in the Reprobates he is hold under corruption 13. That Christ was a man had his failings for he distrusted God upon the Crosse J. Nailor See perfect Pharisee p. 7. Rob. Collison See Gilpins Book p. 2. 14. That we are not justified by that righteousness of Christ which he in his own person did fulfill without us And that whosoever expects to be saved by him that died at Jerusalem shall be deceived For Christ in the flesh was in all that he died and suffered a Figure and nothing but an example 15. That we are therefore to be saved not by the righteousness of Christ imputed to us but by the righteousness of Christ inherent in us See both these in the perfect Pharisee with their Testimonies p. 9 10 11. And Howgill and Burroughs Answer to Bennet Q. 9. And another to the same purpose saith That the faith and justification which stands in the comprehension of Christ without will stand us in no stead Fr. Gawler to Mr. Miller of Cardiff 16. That God and man cannot be perfectly reconciled till he be brought into the state of the first Adam and able in his own power to stand perfect And that holy workes and lives of Saints are not excluded from justification Howgill c. Answer to Bennets 11 12 Quaeries 17. That no man that is not perfectly holy or commits sin can ever enter into the Kingdome of Heaven except there be a Purgatory And there is no Saint but he that is so perfectly holy in this life without sin 18. That to Preach the impossibility of such a freedome here on earth is to Preach up sin while the world stands and to bring men into Covenant with the Devill for tearm of life Nailor perfect Pharisee p. 11 12 13. See also J. Parnell Shield of faith p. 29. to both these Nailor in his answer to Mr Baxter p. 28. 19. That Christ took not humane flesh upon him at any time otherwise then he daily doth and that Christ is now conversant on earth among men since his ascension as he was in the Apostles times It is the summe of Howgills and Burroughs answer to two Quaeries of Mr Bennet See Howgill c. in their answer to Bennets 18 and 19 Qu. 20. That the Scriptures are not the Word of God This is their constant judgment though they dare not profess it for fear of the Law as one of the most eminent in these parts confessed before the Magistrates here in the hearing of one of us asking Whether if the Bible were burnt the Word of God were burnt or words sully to this purpose See the proof perfect Pharisee p. 23. T.C. Parnells book p. 10. saith He that saith the Letter is the Word is a Deceiver 21. That they had a light in them sufficient to lead them to salvation if they had never seen or heard of the Bible The substance of this was affirmed before some Magistrates of this Town and one of us by the same party And this light extended to Heathen Indians by him Suitable to the assertions of James Nailor in a discourse of his in the Book quoted here And he that saith the Letter is the Rule and guid of the people of God is without feeding
Rule of faith and conversation to walk By Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 22 43. Answer to Io. Griffeth p. 19 32. 67. That to limit a man to the Scriptures to Preach nothing but what he can prove from the vissible Rule of the Scriptures is to debar and limit God Rich. Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 3. 68. That faith comes not by hearing the Scriptures Preached 69. That the Scripture is not the Gospel 70. That men may be saved without it and comforted though disowning the Scriptures Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 21 22. 71. That he that hath no light to walk or speak by but the Scriptures is not like to speak truth Answer to Mr. Breck of N. Eng. Letter p. 7. 72. He is dead in sin that hath no other light nor way to salvation but what he hath out of the Scripture Answer to Mr. Brecks Letter p. 17. 73. Jeremiah Ives Quoting Lev. 19.32 to prove some honour dne unto men which James Nailor Answers in scorn thus What a standing rule is this word of yours the Scriptures that the deceit can thus turn quite into another thing than it speaks The Devil likes such a word as he can turn every way to plead for his Kingdome James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 22. 74. That it is the Devil in men that contends for the Scripture to be the Word of God James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 22. 75. That the Bible is not the written Word of God but a declaration of Christ the Word Answer to Io. Beacon p. 9. 76. The Scripture is not the Gospel that is Christ Jesus that cannot be contained in Paper and Ink. Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 17. Farnworth against Hagger p. 35. 77. That the light which is in all the Indians Americans and other Pagans on earth is sufficient without Scriptures James Nailors Answer to Baxter p. 48. Concerning the Ordinances of Jesus Christ. 78. Psalmes That Davids Psalmes are not to be sung in Meeter Truths defence against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 18 20. 79. Preaching That such a Minister that ownes not the Quakers way as takes a Text of Scripture and makes a Sermon upon it is a Conjurer and what he raiseth must needs be Conjuration James Nailor against Ives p. 13. 80. That he is a false Prophet and a Deceiver which hath not the word immediately from the mouth of the Lord but takes that which the Lord spoke to another and the Prophets Christs and the Apostles words and calls it Gods word and saith the Lord saith it Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 4. 81. That to raise Points Tryals Motives and Uses is adding to the Scriptures Truths defence against refined subtilty By Fox and Hubberthorn p. 40. James Nailors Answer to Io. Beacon p. 40. 82. Water-baptisme is denyed and affirmed to be no Ordinance of Christ. James Parnell and James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 14 29. Geo. Whithead against Clapham of singing Psalmes p. 11. 83. That it is a beasticall carnall earthly Tradition never commanded Truths defence against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 98. 84. Lords Supper Mr. Kellet in Laxcheshiere Queries Whether did not Christ institute his last Supper with Bread and Wine Richard Hubberthorn Answers him That Christ spake not of Bread and Wine but the Bread which Christ called his Body is to be understood of the Church that are many Members but one Body 85. But the Cup which thou drinkest we do deny for thy Cup is the Cup of Devils and thy Table is the Table of Devils which is an Idol and imitation and thy Sacrifice is to Devils and not to God And this Answer to Mr. Kellets Q. he saith is by the Spirit of the Lord. Defence against refined subtilty p. 99. And not only this but saith he Our giveng forth Papers and Printed Books is from the immediate eternall Spirit of God p. 104. Of all the Ordinances together 86. The Sacraments and Ordinances are beggerly Rudiments Commandements and Doctrines of Men and not the Ordinance of God Answer to Edw. Brecks Letter p. 10. 87. Although they are commanded by Christ yet to continue but for a time a figure of a substance which being 〈…〉 the Saints the figure ceaseth Answer to Griffith p. 16. Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 11. 88. They are unholy Duties and Ordinances Masons Answer to Rayner p. 17. 89. There is not any profit in sprinkling Infants or your Bread and Wine and those that partake in those Ordinances were never yet washed from their sins and pollutions James Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 73. Whithead against Clapham p. 11. Edw. Burroughs Truths defence p. 11. 90. Preaching the Word Praying Singing are no appointments of Christ but the inventions of men Truth defended against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and R. Hubberthorne 91. The Priests taking Tythes in the time of the Law was evill and proved them to be false Prophets and Deceivers Burroughs Truth defended p. 5. 92. That the light of God and of Christ which is affirmed to be in every mans Conscience that comes into the world commanded circumsion and the seanenth day to be kept a Sabbath and the worship in the Temple c. And it was the same light that led the Disciples from these things to deny them and yet no offence to God nor contradiction in the light of Christ Burroughs Answer to Firmin p. 20. Of the Sabbath 93. No Sabbath to be kept Answer to Edw. Brecks Letter p. 9. Of Ordination or Call to the Ministry 94. The Ministers of God never were sent forth from God by a mediate sending but were immediately sent Rich. Farnworths Answer to the Westmorland Ministers Petition p. 5. Of Oathes 95. That it is not lawfull to take an Oath before a Magistrate no not to end a Controversie and that he who affirmes it is thereby found in the condemnation of the Devil James Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 70 71. Of Perfection 96. That those that have received Christ and God are come to perfection because God and Christ are perfection James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 13. 97. That all such as are in Christ are without sin Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 7. Of Sinne. 98. That the Doctrine of Originall Corruption whereby we are deprived of the Image of God c. is a soul destroying God blaspheming Doctrine Masons Answer to Rayner p. 13. Of Vnion with God 99. That the substance of the Diety is communicable unto man so as to confound the natures and change man into the devine substance and essence Masons Answer to Rayners precepts p. 23. compared with Mr. Rayners deniall of such a Union in his Precepts Of the Sufferings of the Quakers 100. That it is for no other cause but for bearing witness for the living God and his truth as it is made manifest in us by the same spirit and life and power as all the holy men of
who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11. 5. The impudence of sin that with a Brazen Whoorish forehead dare hold forth its abominable Doctrines of Devils and rebellious practices for precious truths and holy workes as may be seen in this History 6. The patience of God that a Nation of the greatest provocations is not utterly destroyed That London the source of these Abominations hath not been yet made more miserable than blasphemous Cracovia 7. The nature and consequence of scisme and causeless separation from the Church and Churches of Christ Where as many as will may turn Masters and orderless no marvell if confusion and every evill work follow besides one sin many times causes God to give a man up to another and so on 8. What great need all that think they stand have to take heed least they fall Oh let us watch and pray be jealous of our selves and trust in the Lord in the use of all the meanes that he hath appointed A great reason of falling from the truth is peoples pride and selfe-confidence and want of that tenderness of Conscience and fear of sinning that puts a man upon care pains and diligent inquiry in the matters of saith and life to prevent our miscarrying 9. How wicked a thing it is and how highly displeasing unto God to call all persons whatsoever that pretend to godliness and though free from common notorious and unmasked wickedness a godly party or godly persons whenas many such pretenders hold forth such opinions as deny the Lord that bought us and maintain the works of the flesh and damnable Heresies And woe be to him that calls good evill and evill good which respects persons as well as things 10. How much it concerns all the Servants of the most high God the Disciples of Jesus Christ both Magistrates Ministers and People from this Alarm to Arm themselves as the faithfull Souldiers of Jesus Christ and by all holy wayes and meanes to set themselves against this flood of Blasphemy and Error and the Captain thereof who strives to be sole Prince of England This this with all his Armies is the common enemy he hath many Armies great Revenues he hath great experience craft and policy which never appeared so much as it would if he could perswade the Christians of these Nations that error is truth and wickedness godliness and the incouraging of them a good old Cause 11. What cause we have to fear that while persons of such corrupt minds and heads increase our Judicatures even from the highest to the lowest will be in danger of being corrupted because they are made up of the distributed people unless it were made a fundamentall Order of those Courts that none who are either by Apostacy or Education enemies to Christ and the known avowed Christian Religion shall be members thereof 12. That the Quakers have no reason in the world to cry out of perfection nor to boast of their sufferings as they do for it s as plain as the Sun that they have suffered as evill doers for being uncivill to Magistrates disturbing Gods People in their Assemblies for being busie bodies or some other known wickedness and if so all their charging the Courts Justices Constables and those that assisted or abetted them with persecution falls flat to the ground 13. What a great mercy of God it is that though there are so many thousands of them their number is not greater they being such an unruly people and so full of deadly hatred against Jesus Christ his Ministers People and Ordinances If they had power to their will they that now frequently affront and disturb a Minister and Congregation would pull the Minister out of the Pulpit and instead of being turned out of the Church would turn out the Congregation and then our bloud might be mingled with our Sacrifice And moreover would not they that scorn to petition a Parliament or be uncovered before the greatest Throne of a Nation pull them out by the eares if they were able unless all Civill power were in their hands and then what Persecutors they would be may be easily concluded from the sight of their teeth before hand 14. That it is high time for all the Redeemed ones the Sanctified ones the Children of the great God the Favourites of Heaven honest godly sincere Christians Children that will not lye to improve their interest in God through Jesus Christ for this poor sinfull divided Nation that God would not impute unto the Nation the Abominations of many and so depart from us and suffer us to relaps into Popery or Paganisme But that he would arise for the recovery of the interest of true Religion that is brought very low in England as indeed it is abroad in other Nations It s time for God to arise for men have made void his Law That God would either deliver us from unreasonable men and give us such Magistrates as shall be nursing Fathers to his Church Or prepare us so for sufferings that we may be ready to dye for the Name of the Lord Jesus his Person Natures Word Offices Ministry Ordinances thereby demonstrating as much as in us lies the power of godliness the transcendent exceilency of true Religion above the honours pleasures profits of this world and life it self that so through God blessing our very sufferings may indeere our Religion unto surviving Generations When they shall consider not only what it cost their Ancestors by way of testimony to the Truth but what it wrought their hearts unto as the Instrument of the Spirit of God making them to forgoe all for God their portion and Jesus Christ their Redeemer CHAP. V. AS to Satans design in stirring up such kinds of people I had a purpose to have done it more fully than now I shall for having taken up more Paper already than agrees with the small price I intended this Book to be sold for that so it might come into the more hands of such as I Writ it for viz. those that do not know so much as myself I shall at this time say but thus much Satans design is That he may solely rule in and over every Man and Woman in these Nations to their everlasting damnation that not one of our Children and Posterity may be saved To which end he would reduce us unto Popery or Infidelity as abundantly appears by the foresaid Doctrines which according to his will are propagated all the Land over by all the ranks and orders of his Kingdome These Opinions following are affirmed to be the Opinions of the Quakers by Toldervey who was a Quaker which he affirmes in his Retractation Intitled The foot out of the snare THat the Word of God is not the Scripture but the life or the substance whence the Scriptures are spoken That the substance the Word of life is the measure of God manifested in man the gift of the holy Spirit manifest in flesh made known in all That
upon the Husk c. p. 11. See way to the Kingdome p. 8. See perfect Pharisee p. 17 18. 22. That the Scriptures are not the Saints Rule of knowing God and living unto him but that which was before the Scriptures were written This is also your own concerning which anon more at large Atkinson ubisupra p. 1. Parnell p. 11. 23. That there is no need of outward teachings by reading or hearing of the Scriptures opened and applyed See perfect Pharisee p. 20. 24. That no mens interpretations of the Scripture or Arguments from them are to be received except those that give them are infallible See Quakers Cat. published by Mr Baxter where the Quaerists require Infallibility in a Minister And perfect Pharisee p 23. This is generally their strain We renounce and deny all your meanings interpretations arguments calling them adding to the Scriptures And concerning it we must have a brush or two with you anon 25. That the light in them is the Gospell and the more sure word of Prophecy so sure that some of them say That it is a like for to take a sentence out of their Letters and Preach from it as to take a sentence out of Pauls Epistles Discovery of mysticall Antichrist displaying Christs Banners p. 15 and 33. 26. That there is no call to the Ministry but an immediate Call which is generally proclaimed by them See perfect Pharisee p. 29. J. Parnell p. 16. 27. There is no Baptisme of Christ but with the holy Ghost and fire And no Supper of the Lord but in the spirituall part for as for the visible part The Bread which the world breakes is carnall and naturall See perfect Pharisee p. 28. and J. Parnell p 12 13. 28. That singing Davids Psalmes in English Meeter is to sing the Ballads of Hopkins and Sternhold King James his Fidlers And to sing them is to turn the Scriptures into lies and blasphemies One of them in a Letter here at Reading Henry Clarke in his description of the Prophets p. 9. 29. That God made not man to be Lord over Man but over Creatures and therefore amongst them there are no Superiours after the flesh But are there any Superiours over them then that are not among them see in the next Article J. Parnell p. 22 23. 30. That Christ comes to fulfill and end all outward Lawes and Government of man Ja. Parnell p. 18 19. The righteous are from under the outward Law for they are a Law to themselves Especially if Magistrates be wicked that is not of them the Author quoted in the Margin denies them utterly 31. Ja. Parnell p. 37. That there is no Sabbath now but an everlasting Sabbath and that our Sabbath is but a shadow of which they have the substance and that the first day in the week is no Sabbath 32. That we may not pray before and after Sermons or at set times daies and houres because these things were in the Generation which were enemies to Christ Quaeries sent to the Congregation at Stopport printed in a Book of Mr Eaton 33. That the Ratters themselves had a pure convincement which did convince them And what their convincements were most men know To wit that there is no Heaven Hell Resurrection Judgment to come that there is no sin but what a Man thinks to be so that all that they did was done by the Eternity in them c. Geo. Fox and J. Nailor in a book called A word from the Lord p. 13. 34. That that word 1 John 1.8 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves was spoken by the carnall man Fr. Gawler See Antichrist in man by Mr Miller of Cardiff p. 7. Idem ibid. 35. That if a man hath sin in him he hath none of Christ 36. They will not acknowledge that Christ ascended with his body into Heaven Idem ibid. Since my Catalogue of the Errors and Blasphemies of the Quakers was Printed off I thought good to make this Addition following Of the Trinity WE deny the term of three distinct Persons which you call God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith the Library keeper of Cambridg p. 2. Printed 1659. Of the Authority of the speeches and writings of the Quakers Quest Do you esteem of your speakings to be of as great Authothority as any Chapters in the Bible Answ That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater as Christs words were of greater Authority when he spake then the Pharisees reading the Letter This was Writ and Published by Geo. Whitchead and Geo. Fox the younger in their Truth defended against Mr. Tho. Smith of Cambridge 1659. And themselves say it was written from the Spirit of Truth in Geo. Whitehead and Geo. Fox the younger see the Title Page of Truth defending the Quakers and p. 7. here it is plainly though most grosly and blasphemously affirmed that the Quakers speakings are of greater Authority than the Scriptures Of the Morall Law or Ten Commandements No Rule to the Christians life Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith p. 18. In which Book also these Doctrines are owned That Christs coming in the flesh was but a Figure p. 20. That it s no sin to mend an old Doublet on the Communion Table on the Lords Day in Sermon time though forbidden by the Parrishioners p. 20 21. Of Justification Good works are the meritorious cause of our Justification Fisher the Quaker in the Dispute with Mr. Tho. Danson at Sandwitch Printed 1659. These following Stories I had from my very good Friend Mr. W. Allen of London who will if occasion be satisfie any concerning the truth of them By which as well as by some of the former may be seen that the Devill doth extraordinarily act in and by many of the Quakers A Maid in London being met by a Quaker who addressed himselfe to her with suits of Love was perswaded to drink with him The Quaker took something out of a Paper and put into the drink and in discourse told her she should come after him and that he need not come after her The Maid after this found pressing inclinations within her selfe to go to the Quakers Meeting and was brought into strange Raptures and found her mind exceedingly turned against the Bible And some Christian Friends of hers having observed her to have been under sore distempers as well of body as mind for a certaintime at last kept a day of fasting and Prayer for her having her then in their company though not without much relactancy on her part Whilst they were thus seeking God for her she found her selfe greatly tormented and her body sweld so much that they were fain to unloose her Cloathes to give her ease But before they had finished that daies work she found her selfe delivered and since acknowledged to me the great mercy of God to her in recovering her
God were sent Prophets and Apostles Answer to Brecks Letter p. 4 5. Of the Tryall of Spirits and Doctrines 101. That the infallible Spirit in the Saints is the sole tryer of all spirits and Doctrines and they are not to be tryed by the Scriptures James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris p. 9. Geo. Whithead against Clapham p. 13. 102. That the Spirits are to be tryed whether they be of God or be the Spirit of errour delusion and darkness not by the Scriptures but by truth which is eternall and infallable by the same eternall infallable Spirit as spoke forth the Scriptures and was before Scripture was written and this Spirit gives judgment upon thee Edw. Breck and knows thee and tryes thee and thy light which is the Scripture and judgeth thy Spirit to be a fallible lying Spirit And this Spirit and judgment do we Q witness and this shall be Answered by that of God in all Consciences Answer to Mr. Edw. Breck of New-england his Letter p. 8. 103. That a mans being charged with lyes errour falshood by the Quakers is an infallable proof of his guilt Answer to Mr. Breck p. 16. Farnworths Answer to Hagger and Pollard p. 14. 104. Thou saith Edw. Burroughs indeavourest to prove thy accusation by vain consequences and false conclusions but our assertion is proved by the Spirit of God or the light that every one is inlightned with Burroughs against Firmin p. 14. which Spirit or light is to be exalted above all things as the searcher and tryer of all things and Spirits and is not to be judged or tryed by the Scriptures Burroughs against Firmin p. 15 16. Of the Popery of the Quakers By this we may clearly see that they are in many of their opinions very Popish agreeing with the Papists in all these things 1. That the Ministers of the Reformed Churches are not true Ministers 2. Nor the Ordinances Administred by them the Ordinances of Christ 3. That a man is justified by the merit of good works by inherent righteousness 4. That the Scriptures should not be read by the ignorant and unlearned 5. That the Church hath an infallable unerring Spirit to try and judg of Scripture it self is to be judged by none whose dictates and determinations are of as great Authority as the Scripture 6. And as the Papists by their Doctrine of the Reall Corporeall presence of Christ in many thousand places at once overthrow as much as in them lyeth the Articles of Christs Humanity viz. of his being a reall Man of his suffering death rising ascending and sitting at the right hand of God So the Quakers destroy the Humanity of Christ by denying his being corporcally in Heaven and affirming that he hath but one Body which is his Church and that God manifest in flesh is to be understood in the Saints Also their opinion That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion unless to pull down the Reformed Religion is a plain Point of Popery And for the truth of these I appeale to all men in the world that know what Popery is and they are many Millons that shall also read the Opinions of the Quakers in this Catalogue CHAP. III. Of the Actions and Manners of the Quakers THey will not put off their Hatts nor bow their bodies to the greatest Persons The Parliament 1659 appointed a Committee of purpose to hear their Complaints before which the Quakers stood covered and thou'd and thee'd the Chair-men and Members thereof to the greatest dishonour of the Authority of England as ever was admitted They will not petition to men no not the highest Powers but Councel and Command Witness all their Addresses to the Protectors and Parliaments in Print many of them to be seen They will not take an Oath before a Magistrate or otherwise saying it is unlawfull And yet this Summer 1659. to revenge themselves of some Countrey men about Sawbridgworth in Hartfordshire for affronting them they could freely swear against them in order to the binding them over to the Sessions and rail against St. T. H. a Justice of the Peace accusing him in Print for not taking the Parliaments new Engagement They say the Magistrate hath nothing to do to meddle in matters concerning Religion and yet do continually importune him to pull down Religion as is well known to all the late Authorityes and thousands more by Edward Burrow's Letters to the Protectors and other Papers Printed They cry up Liberty of Conscience but are not willing to give it to others How many thousand times have some Ministers or other in all parts of the Laud been most impudently disturbed by them in their publike religious exercises is so well known that none but John Impudence will deny it They are notorious Lyars for all their Blasphemies and Errors are so many lyes Not because I say they are lyes that 's their common disproof but because they are contrary to the Law and the Testimony the Scriptures as all do know and can witness that have savingly learned those Statutes and so are taught of God If St. Paul himself had told the Bereans that for Masters and Mistresses to make their Servants read the Scripture is Treason against the King of Saints and his tender Lambs as Mason against Mr. Rayner doth See Catal. Educa would not they who tryed his Doctrine by the Scriptures and therefore are called noble Acts 17.11 have told him he lyed 2. Every one of the Quakers saith he is taught and guided by an infallible Spirit and is without sin And that they are all so and that 's a lye with a latchet as I 'le prove presently by another way then by comparing what they say with the Scripture though that 's the best way even by their notorious contradicting one another Many instances might be given I 'le only name one or two Hubberthorn in his Truths defence against Refined Subtilties p. 101. doth affirm That the wicked are not to read the Scriptures but the godly and gives his wise Reasons for it But Burroughs against Firmin p. 16. allows only the wicked and ungodly Such as the Scribes and Pharisees were to search and read the Scriptures and not the godly Here 's a plain opposition and contradiction from which I infer that both of them did not write truth they were not both guided and directed by an unerring infallible Spirit and consequently that to say all the Quakers have the guidance of such a Spirit ey and that in all their speeches and writings as they say they have is such a lye as I called it And there is that in all men that will not offer violence to their Reasons that will witness to the truth hereof Take but one more instance James Natlor in his Answer to Francis Harris useth the name SCRIPTURE and the WORDOF THE LORD indifferently as convertible termes as being fullfilled by mens coming from far and sitting down in the Kingdome c. thereby contradicting his well known elsewhere