THE QUAKERS Set in their true Light In order to give the Nations A Clear SIGHT Of what they hold concerning Jesus of Nazareth the Scriptures Water Baptism the Lords Supper Magistracy Ministry Laws and Government HISTORICALLY COLLECTED Out of their most approved Authors which are their best Construing books from the year of their Rise 1650 to the year of their Progress 1696. By Francis Bugg Senior But evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived For as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole housholds but they shall proceed no farther for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men 2 Tim. 3.8 9 13. Titus 3.11 LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by C. Brome at the Gun at the West End of St. Pauls and J. Guillim Bookseller in Bishopsgate-street 1696. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND HENRY L. Bishop of London My Lord I Humbly conceive it my duty to discover to your Lordship what I apprehend may be of dangerous consequence either to Church or State And this emboldens me to offer the ensuing discourse to your Lordships pious consideration I must humbly confess 't is a great presumption upon your Honours Patience and Patronage But that which amongst other things gives me encouragement hereunto and which I hape may plead my excuse at least extenuate my offence is the Quakers frequent Dedications and Presentations of their Books to the King Lords and Commons and other Magistrates from year to year one Sessions of Parliament after another for thirty or forty years together beseeching begging and craving their aid support and authority whilst in their Books to their Disciples they utterly disclaim any such seeking to outward authority But instead thereof when not suiting their Interest they 'll Impeach and Condemn their proceeding as Antichristian and Arraign Try and Condemn the Learned Protestant Clergy as inconsistent to Christianity Thus like the Camelion they can turn themselves into all colours their Books being of two sorts carrying two different faces And it was by this method that the Arians of old deceived the Emperor Constantius who at last made Laws in their behalf against the Orthodox And that this is no new Artifice your Lordship may observe from the book of Exodus that notwithstanding Moses was divinely inspired and gifted witb Miracles to confirm his Commission yet the Magicians by their Magick Act and cunning Intreagues came very near him in shew likewise Simon Magus Acts 8. by his Sorcery and Juggling Tricks so bewitched the Samaritans that they gave great heed to all he said And History sufficiently informs us what hard work the Protestants had to confute the Papists whose Books were like the Quakers of two sorts professing in one sort what they utterly rejected in the other sort And this made Bishop Jewel in his Defence to the Apology c. propose to his Reader viz. Good Reader if thou wilt examine our doings I beseech thee search and prove what hath been wrote on both sides and do not suffer thy self by shews and shifts to be beguiled for what man will seem to deal so uprightly as a Juggler he will strike up his sleeves make bare his arms and open his hands and fingers and bid thee behold And thou wilt think him to be a good plain man and marvel thou shouldst possibly be deceived and yet indeed his whole design is nothing but to deceive thee and the more simply and plainly he would seem to deal so much the more he will deceive thee otherwise he were no Juggler c. And to this agrees that notable saying of Ireneaeus in his third Book against Hereticks viz. Whilst Heretick speak like the faithful they not only mean otherwise than what they say â—â—â— clean contrary And by their Tenents full of Blasphemy they destroy the Souls of those who with their fair words suck in the poyson of their foul opinions And no marvel saith St. Paul for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light therefore it is no great thâ—ng if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their works 2 Cor. 13.14 And my Lord being sensible of the Quakers method not only of their unwâ—â—y'd sollicitation of the Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons for many years but also in sending their Books into all Counties Shires Cities Towns and Villages in England and Wales as well as parts beyond the Seas I thought it my duty to let the World know their principles from their Printed Books For as simple as they look and as innocent as they seem to appear for deep subtilty they outstrip both Jew and Jesuit and notwithstanding their many and great pretences to meeknesâ— charity and long-suffering there is not a more uncharitable and censâ—◠〈◊〉 people under heaven I am My Lord Your Lordship 's most humble and obedient Servant Fr. Bugg An Apologetical Introduction to the History of the Rise Growth and Progress of QUAKERISM Friendly Reader IF Athanasius made an Apology for his writing against the Arians and other of late for their exposing the errors of the Socinians nay if the Church of England thought herself oblig'd to Apologize in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for writing against the errors of the Papists 't is but reasonable for me to think myself under the same Obligation for writing against the dangerous errors of the Quakers for surely there has not appeared a more compleat Monster upon the Stage since the days of Simon Magus than George Fox was in his day nor did Simon Magus more applaud himself nor more of his Followers adore him nor take greater care to continue the Memory of him than the Quakers have done of G. Fox witness the reprint of his Labours his Travels his Miracles and Wonders Insomuch that what many Ages have perplexed the Church withal singly we are assaulted with at once as if the scattered Limbs of Heresy had rallied and reinforced themselves for a fresh Battle I have seen Muggleton's Transcendent Spiritual Treatise c. and I cannot find that he holds pace with George Fox in his Books Truths Defence c. Sauls Errand c. A Threefold Estate of Antichrist c. and divers other Books wrote formerly and which they â—â—ill own commend and recommend to their Disciples as Books wrote by divine Authority yea from the Eternal Spirit and Power of God see Sect. the XVI Nay in many things Muggleton and the Quakers seem to be Twins For Muggleton says 't is not lawful to fight with a Sword of Steel so say the Quakers at least until they get power into their hands as in Pensilvania where they can both fight with a Carnal Sword fine imprison and persecute their Brethren as the Trial of G. Keith and others sets forth at large Muggleton denies the Blessed Trinity
Parnell for Fox said he was before Abraham in that he said he was before Languages were Parnell was before Abraham in that he was before Arguments were for between Abram and Lots Heardsmen there were Arguments And for the Humanity of Christ the Quakers deny it as clearly as the Socinians deny his Godhead read Sect. the xviii thus I hope I have proved the first part of the Paragraph And now to the second which is that G. Fox works counterfeit maricles and not in the Name of Jesus Christ for proof of this see his Journal p. 170 171 30 370 373 503. and there you will find G. F. spake to a woman and the Lord he says raise her up in 171 I find there is two miracles and which to take I cannot tell but one of these two it must be viz. A Woman married a Man in Debt and she went distracted sent for G. Fox he spake to her she mended The other was two men fighting whom G. F. being a stout man parted but neither in the Name of Jesus In p. 167. he tells us of many Miracles the Quakers wrought but mentions not where nor upon whom Likewise Cley Pool had a fit of the Stone and G. F. laid his hand on him and afterwards he mended One in Maryland said to be a Parliament Man tho I am informed there is no Parliament there and that spoils this Miracle healed In short they are all feigned counterfeit Miracles and none done as Erasmus well observes of Simon Magus in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth But to read the story of Jo. Isays broken Neck 't would make a melancholy man laugh oh G. F. stand by him and pity him and his Family Well to work went G. F. and throws away his Gloves and Stick saying I got to him assoon as I could I took hold of his hair I took his head in both my hands and set my knees against the tree I raised his head mark Reader here was all I I I and my my not a word of Prayer not a word like the Apostle in the Name of Jesus be thou healed no what can Whitehead say to this is he not ashamed of their horrible delusions I have said enough to wise men and bray a Fool in the Mortar and they will not be wiser SECT IV. 2. AND the Foxonian Quakers gave héed unto G. Fox from the least to the greatest believing all he taught saying he is the power of God 1. That they gave heed to him in all he taught 't is demonstrable from divers reasons but for brevity sake I shall mention this viz. of all the Blasphemy that ever G. Fox spake or wrote never a Quaker of his Party ever condemned one passage but either justified it or if that could not be done then excuse it see W. Pen in his Book Judas and the Jews p. 44. Tho to do the dissenting Quakers justice who meet in Harp-lane they did by their Book An Answer to several passages c. p. 10. condemn G. F.'s words in the Battledoor as High Blasphemy and p. 6. said Geo. Whitehead as guilty of the aforesaid charge i. e. of being a contentious Scribbler of giving base names c. and in part of cloaking gross errors Indeed when I saw this come forth I was in hopes of a Reformation but alas this was no sooner come to my hand but I had another sent me which justifies G. Fox and G. Whitehead in all their abomination signed by Edw. Brush Waller Miers Tho. Cox Gilbert Laity Charles Bathurst Tho. Lower William Phillips Tho. Mincks John Vaughton Nath. Marks John Cooper Tim. Emmerton John Feild Michael Russel John Knight Hen. Goldney Will. Bingly Charles Marshall Will. Sanders Geo. Bowles John Tomkins Tho. Hutson John Evered Dan. Wharly So that when all these came out in the name of the rest I concluded the Foxonian Tribe from the highest to the lowest believed all G. F. taught how Blasphemous soever it was And now to the second part of the paragraph that they say he is the Power of God for proof of this see the third Table or Index to G. Fox's Journal under the Letter M for Miracles where 't is thus said Miracles wrought by the Power of God And when I turned to p. 370 371 where one of the profoundest Miracles he did is recorded and as a Miracle too there is nothing but I George Fox threw away my Stick and Gloves I I I c. If G. Whitehead say 't was the life of Christ in him I tell him No it must be G. Fox for the life of Christ in him need no Stick and Gloves from whence 't is plain they hold parallel with the poor deluded Samaritans calling G. Fox the power of God SECT V. 3. THat G. Fox got a name of great estimation to be an excellent Prophet until his Followers adored him as God The fifth part Christ Qua. disting p. 77. That G. Fox is blessed with honor ahove many Brethren and that thousands will stand by him in a heavenly record That his Life Reigns and is Spotless Innocent and still retains his Integrity whose Eternal honour and Blessed renown remain still yea his presence and the dropping of his tender words in the Lords love was my souls Nourishment c. for more of this see New Rome unm from p. 42 to 48. Yea so dreadful was G. F. 's name to the people beyond Sea that they published it to the world viz. That mentioning the name Geo. Fox did prick them to the heart c. See their book A true Account c. p. 42. The Quakers Challenge c. p. 6. Stand up Muggleton who calls thy book a Looking-glass for Geo. Fox whose name thou art not worthy to take into thy mouth who is a Prophet indeed and hath been faithful in the Lords business from the beginning This Sel. Eccles who wrote the Quakers Challenge is the Prophet who prophesied that John Story should die within one year being then very ill who lived 4 years after and as G. Fox said that neither himself nor his name was known see Sect. 3d. Yea a Prophet equallized with Christ a right Samaritan c. it was said of Christ he was in the world and the world knew him not so it may be said of this true Prophet whom John said he was not but thou shalt feel this Prophet i. e. G. F. one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee and altho the world knows him not yet he is known Next see an Abstract of a Letter sent to Gâ—o Foâ—â— in his Life time from Barbadoes by Josiah Coâ—l one of their eminent Preachers dated the 21st 12th month 1658. and every word of it vindicated by William Pen in their book stiled Judas and the Jews c. p. 44. viz. Dear Geo. Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose life has reached thro us thy childen even to the Isles afar off to the begetting many again to a lively hope for which
Generations to come shall call thee Blessed whose being and habitation is in the power of the highest in which thou Rules and Governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is Established in Peace and the Encrease thereof is without end Next a Letter to G. Fox from John Audland out of the West of England somewhat abstracted c. Dear and pretious one in whom my life is bound up my strength in the stand by thy breathings I am nourished by thee my strength is renewed life and strength come from thee holy one daily do I find thy presence with me which doth exceedingly preserve me for I cannot raign but in thy presence and power pray for me that I may stand in thy dread for evermore I am thine begotten and nourished by thee and in thy power am I preserved glory unto thee holy one for ever c. See this Letter at large in The Discovery of the accursed thing enlarged c. p. See their book stiled This is to go only amongst Friends And thou oh North of England who art counted as desolate and barren and reckon'd the least of the Nation * Mich. 5.2 Matt. 2.6 Joh. 7 42. yet out of thee did the branch spring †Zech. 3.8 and star * Numb 24.17 19. arise which gives light to all the Regions round about In thee the Son of Righteousness appeared †Mal. 4.2 with healing c. and out of thee the terrors of the Lord proceeded which makes the earth to tremble and be removed out of thee Kings Priests and Prophets did come forth Lift up your voices blow the Trumpet sound an Alarum out of the holy mountain proclaim tbe acceptable year and the day of vengeance of our God gird on your sword on your loyns put on the tried Armor Note this is one of their books the worlds people is not to see it 's to go only amongst Friends ride on ride on my brethren and fellow soldiers make all plain before you make the heathen tremble and the uncircumcised fall by the sword spare none neither Ox nor Ass neither old nor young kill cut off destroy bath your sword in the blood of Amalek and all the Philistins and Egyptians hew Agag to pieces break down the Rocks cut down the Ceders make the Devils i. e. the Priests subject cast out the unclean spirit i. e. that pay or receive Tyths raise the dead shut up in Prison bring out of Prison cast in your Nets launch into the deep bind the tares in bundles cast them into the fire the good Angel i. e. G. Fox is come thrust in your Cicles reap the earth silence all Disputers and Diviners for ever triumph upon all the chaff the mire and dung for ever prepare your selves to battle for the Nation doth defie our God saying Who is the God of the Quakers A rebellious people that will not come under our Law c. and so on see New Rome unm c. p. 85. more at large And thus you see that as 't is written Acts 10.34 To him gave all the Prophets witness c. so you see that all the Quakers Prophets being 400 in number give witness to Geo. Fox and adore him as the Branch the Star the Sun of Righteousness whose being and habitation is in the power of the highest ruling in his Kingdom the increase of which is without end as say the Quakers his Idolatrous Adorers by which 't is clear he outstrips Simon Magus SECT VI. 4. THat G. Fox was a slighter of the Scriptures a denyer of the Law of Moses and ordinances of Iesus Christ and a Blasphemer of the Blessed Trinity News coming up c. p. 14. Your original is carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and the light is carnal the Letter and your Baptism is carnal and their Sacrament is carnal and their Communion is carnal so dust is the Serpents meat their original is but dust which is the letter which is death so the Serpent feeds upon dust and their Gospel is dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the letter p. 34. A voice and a word to all you Deceivers who deceive the people and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemy and Hypocrisy that tell people of a Sacrament and tell them it is the Ordinance of God blush blush and tremble before the Almighty for dreadful is he that will pour out his vengeance upon you who live in the Witchery and bewitch the people and these things i. e. Baptism and the Lords Supper that God never commanded are given forth by you who are brazened with deceit and no Witch must live in Israel i. e. no Priest The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 17. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes or whether both these are not one or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether some words were not spoken by the Grand Impostor some by wicked men some by wise men ill applied some by good men ill expressed some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false c. Now this being proposed as doubtful overthrows the certainty and authority of the Scriptures for if what the true Prophets spake was false and what wise and good men spoke was either ill applied or ill expressed and what the false Prophets spoke be true what certainty is here this put to the Quakers practice in laying aside in their Families as well as in their Worship the use of the Ten Commandments Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed together with what is above recited is plain that Geo. Fox and his Followers are Slighters of the Scriptures Now to the 3d part of the Paragraph viz. A Blasphemer of the Blessed Trinity one of his Sons books The Sandy Foundation shaken c. p. 10. No one substance can have three distinct subsistencies and preserve its own unity for granting them i. e. Trinitarians the most favourable definition every subsistence will have its own substance so that three distinct subsistences will require three distinct substances or beings consequently three Gods p. 16. The vulgar doctrine of satisfaction being dependent on the second person of the imagined Trinity refuted from Scripture c. says W. Pen but I say neither he nor all the Sons of Simon Magus are able to refute that Article of the true Christian Faith SECT VII I Am now coming to Ignatius Loyola the first Founder of the Jesuits and to shew that as G. Fox was one with Simon Magus in Doctrine yet in Discipline he very much resembles Ignatius Loyola and before I proceed I shall shew that I am not alone in this opinion and that from the judgment of two Learned Divines of the Church of England out of two books the one intituled The Good Old Way c. p. 121 122. But of all the Sects which are among us undoubtedly the Quakers have been
are not say they obliging unless a man be convinced c. SECT IX HAving by the foregoing shewed W. Pen to be for and against himself for conformity to the laws orders and decrees of G. Fox conviction or no conviction against conformity to the commands of God in Scripture unless convinced shewing himself thereby to be tot quot omnis every thing and nothing I am now coming to the latter part of the paragraph wherein you sorely complain of Mr. Faldo But if upon an impartial consideration he shall be found to clip or pervert our matter and to shuffle with us in his own Once do a poor people right c. Mr. Pen I am loath to provoke you but if I should I do not fear you you complain of Mr. Faldo's clipping and perverting your matter and shuffling with you in his word a crime no people upon the face of the whole earth more guilty than your selves and at which none better than your self G. Whitebread and G. Fox in his time and I must tell you G. W. hath stood in great need of you and does still one that can make a black thing appear white but I fear the Quakers will not yet depute you and my reason is Mr. Meads aversness to your Preface to Fox his Journal being bound up therewith but like some Lackey it is forced to run shrugging afoot in a poor thin blue coat waiting at the Readers Elbow like A Noun Adjective wanting a word to shew its signification as well as why it 's left to shift for it self c. Well William I have not forgot your complaint I am now coming to do right between you As to Mr. Faldo I have not read all he writ but so far as I have I find him fair and ingenuous leaving out your glosses wiping off your paintings and discovering your fallacies but William cast an eye upon G. Fox s Gr. myst and compare it with the Books which he pretends to answer and you will find it the greatest Mystery of Iniquity that ever appeared in the world under pretence of a religious contest of which Mr. Crisp has made a clear discovery in his Book entitled The Discovery of the accursed thing in the Foxonian Quakers Camp enlarged c. and An Essay c. to allay G. F. s Spirit Oh the horrible clipping mincing and shameful pervertions cutting sentences in two taking the middle of a line and leaving both ends altering the sense laming the argument and defacing the whole matter and if you please to do me right for once against his Son and your Companion that stood up stoutly for you when time was i. e. G. W.'s answer stiled The content Apost recharged c. to mine entitled Battering Rams against New Rome c. where he took one line here another there and sometimes five words out of the middle of a line sometimes but one word in a line and leaves the next and take the next and leap two or three lines off and take two or three words more see New Rome unmaskt p. 75. where this is fully discovered it may be some may think this is not worth the mentioning but if they do but consider first how they have prevailed with these people to believe that what their Teachers say is by an infallible spirit they will not err a jot but do right to all impartially next that they hinder their Hearers from reading the Answers or selling Books that are against them together with their way of spreading their own Books which suggest this and I do say it is one of the cunningest stratagems that Satan has assisted them in and a deep design to misrepresent their Adversaries I could write a Folio on this head but Fox his Book stiled The Great myst being examined and compared is a sufficient demonstration and if they will not examine but the blind will follow their blind Leaders be it upon themselves for what can a man say to such as are willingly ignorant and resolve to oppose conviction I remember one little pretty story in Fox's Journal see the 3d Table or Index Treachery against Geo. Fox his Horse Alas treason for W. Pen knows G. F was a King if he that has a Kingdom be a King see Judas and the Jews p. 44 45 46. of his own justifying too Well however it was either Treachery or Treason that 's certain as you may find it printed in the 255 page And I looked back and the Hostler was filing his Pocket with the Provender that was giving to my Horse c. I confess it was a naughty trick and the worse considering whose Horse it was but whether it deserves to be chronicled I leave the Reader to judge But Friend William if you please to look into the 77 page of G. F. his Great mystery there you will find him justifying Felony upon pretence of a motion which shew that the 8th Commandment Exod. 20.15 was not binding to the Quakers at least to G. Fox their great Apostle and Prophet and Jacob of the age well pray hear him And as for any being moved of the Lord to take away your the Ministers hour-glass from you by the eternal power it is owned c. Here you see he owns Theft in the Quakers with this proviso That if they be moved to it And what Thief will not to save his Bacon as the Proverb is say he is moved But the poor Thievish Hostler did but steal 2 or 3 handfuls of Oats and he must be upon Record to posterity for a Thief only G. F. was so kind as not to write his name down no more than he did the names of several upon whom he wrought his Miracles nor indeed where they dwelt only some in Maryland some in Barbadoes and some in Ireland But as to G. F. owning the Felony 't is not strange for if he was not convinced at that time of his duty to Gods command in the 8th Commandment he is by W. Pen justified and that this position is of a dangerous tendency and doth indeed carry in it all iniquity I shall yet further observe SECT X. HAving already treated of the Quakers Doctrine particularly that position which says That no command in Scripture is any further obliging upon any man than as he finds a conviction upon his own conscience c. which is such a pernicious principle as Mr. Faldo said that it carries all iniquity in the womb of it and indeed is the very floodgate by which Quakerism was first let in among us which came in as a mighty stream flowing over all our Banks of Laws Order and Government both divine and humane overturning the very Ordinances instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ the authority of the Scriptures to the great scandal of our Christian Religion and in the mean while valuing their own Papers Laws and Orders as superior to them And therefore as I have begun with the first planting of Quakerism which was in the year 1650.
and shewed by what arts they have come on and advanced their Errors I am now coming to shew the way of Lucius the first Christian King as History saith that the world ever knew to propagate the Christian Faith he did not stay at this place and that to write Papers and Books to spread truth nor did the Bishop of Rome at that time order him so to do as was the practice of Geo. Fox no to the Law and to the Testimony this was the way that every planter of the true Christian Faith took of which I will give you a noble instance * Eng. Chron. by John Heath p. 19 20. This Royal King Lucius being mindful of Religion that dearest part of Government more than any other consideration the better to prosper the work so prosperously begun sent two learned men to Elutherus then Bishop of Rome to be farther instructed in the Christian Faith who thereupon sent him Fagarius and Damianus with his Letter in the following words as saith the Historian viz. You have received in the Kingdom of Briton by Gods mercy both the Law and Faith of Christ you have both the Old and New Testament out of the same thro Gods Grace by the Advice of your Realm take a Law and by the same through Gods Sufference rule your Kingdom of Brittain c. Having such a good example from this Learned Bishop and Religious King I shall first set down some Scriptures which have been both by Kings and Subjects thought special commands and binding and obliging all men whether all have been so perswaded yea or nay yet I say the faithful Christians in all ages and generations have taken them as their Rule of Obedience and to be of that authority to quell and subdue all those diabolical delusions which will suggest the contrary viz. Mat. 22.21 Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods St. Paul to Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates to be ready to every good work 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well Honour all men love the brotherhood fear God honour the King Rom. 13.1 2 3. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation for rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil Wilt thou * G. F. heed not a Cart Load of Warrants then not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same †W. Tyndals works i. e. of the obedience of a Christian man p. 111. For God hath made the King in every Realm judge over all and over him there is no Judge he that resisteth the King resisteth God If the Subjects sin they must be brought to the Kings judgment if the King sin he must be reserved unto the judgment of God and as it is to resist the King so is it to resist his Officers which are set or sent to execute the Kings commandment for it is written let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers * G. W. what think you of this Doctrine here is no man exempt but all souls must obey Thus I have given a brief account of the Christian Faith First what Christ who is the Head of the Christian Church and Author of the Christian Faith he said Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and his Apostle Paul bid Titus put the believing Christians in mind to obey Magistrates and to confirm this point St. Peter is very express Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake not so much that he favours us or is kind and governs gently by wholsome Laws these things indeed are good and great mercies to a people but our submission ought to be for the Lords sake who hath ordained Magistracy and Government for so saith St. Paul the powers that be are ordained of God and whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God Likewise you may read the Doctrine of W. Tyndal in his Book entitled The Obedience of a Christian man and see how the blessed Martyrs espoused and maintained the same delivered by the Apostles SECT XI NOW in order to give a right understanding and that from plain matter of fact of the difference between the faith and practice of the Quakers of the one part and the faith and practice of the Christians in all ages since the days of Christ I have a purpose to set forth as a particular instance the practice of the Reformed Churches of France in regard they live under a Popish King rather than the Church of England and chiefly for this reason beeause the Quakers are so prejudiced against our Clergy Tho I believe there is not sounder men nor a better disciplined Church in the world yet I say they having always been so prejudiced against them as to call them Beasts Dogs Baals Priests Witches Devils Antichrists Blasphemers and a thousand such unchristian and horrible names on purpose to beget an ill opinion in the people of them as Burrough in his Epistle to Fox his Mystery confesseth that so they might leave and forsake them also considering how frequently they have in their Books arraigned impeached and condemned the Magistracy of England under the odious names of the Beast which carry the Whore the Persecuters of Gods People the Antichrists c. That I think it more proper to take a foreign parallel that if possible they may at last be brought to a confession of their Errors burn their Books renounce their Religion and bethink themselves where they have been what they have been doing and how scandalous their antimagistratical principles have been to the Christian Religion not that I have leisure or parts to set forth this matter as it ought to be done but am content to be as a Carpenters Man to hew off the knots and make the work fit for better Workmen to compleat what I leave imperfect and in order to this I shall abstract some few passages of the 28th Synod held at Charenton in France viz. The Acts of the 28 Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by his Majestys Permission at Charenton near Paris on Monday the 26th day of December 1644 and ended Thursday the 26th of January 1645. See the Acts Decisions and Decrees of the Reformed Churches of France per John Quick vol. 2. p. 425. First Monsieur Drelincourt opened the Sessions with Prayer and then the Lord Marquis of Clermont General Deputy presented
of receiving them and their Testimony you have caused them * Here Sam. thinks to blind the poor Quakers and make them believe he was a 20 l. sufferer when he lost not a groat to suffer And them also that did receive them and their Testimony The Lord forgive you is the desire of him that chuses rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God than to live in the pleasures of this world Sam. Cater I have laid a snare for thee and thou art taken O Babylon and thou wast not aware thou art found and also caught put your selves in array against Babylon round about all you that bend the Bow shoot at her spare no Arrows for the Lord hath opened his Armoury and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation for this is the work of the Lord God of Hosts Jer. 50.14 24 25. SECT XVI Fr. King WE do forbid you to print any Books in any place whatsoever concerning Religion which are not Attested i. e. Licensed by two Manual Certificates at least under pain of losing the whole Impression Prot. Nor as his Majesty hath demanded of us will we suffer thâ—se Canons of our National Synod concerning the Approbation i. e. Licensing of Books that shall be pâ—inâ—â—d on matters of Religion to be violated it being our sincere and most fixed Resolution to obâ—erve in the precisest and strictest manner their Majesties Edicts and under the benefit of them to lâ—ad a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Quak. Epist ibid. p. 3. It 's desired that the monthly and quarterly meetings respectively takes notice of all Friends Books that are or may be sent to them according to former agreement and take care for the dispersing the same for the service of Truth c. and take care to advise the Correspondents for the Counties to write only to your Correspondents in London about their sufferings lest their suffering case be delayed Renewed advice to the respective Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales and for the preserving and spreading Friends Books for Truths service Dear Friends THese are to let you understand that our Friends have at several yearly Meetings had under their serious consideration hw all those Books that are printed for the service of Truth and the unity of Friends might most effectually be spread for a general service to Truth and Information unto Friends and others And at the last yearly Meeting it was left unto this meeting who have settled as followeth viz. That those that print friends books shall the first opportunity after printed within one month at most send to one of the Correspondents in the several Counties viz. For each Monthly Meeting two Books of a sort if under Sixpence and one of a sort if above Sixpence for these reasons 1. For Friends to have general notice of what Books are printed 2. That they may send for what other quantities they may see a service for 3. That the Printer may be encouraged in printing for friends 4. That one Book at least of a sort that shall be printed except Collections may be kept in each Monthly and Quarterly Meeting for the service of Friends and Truth as there shall be â—ccasion for the future 5. It 's agreed that the Printer will allow two pence in the shilling for all such Books 6. It 's Agreed That some here shall be appointed to examine the Printer to see that they send no Books but such as are appointed by Friends 7. It 's Agreed and Advised that the Printers account be fully cleared once a year at least by those Friends the Country shall send up to the yearly Meeting 8. It 's Agreed That the name of the Printer imployed by Friends should be sent with directions how to write to him Dear Friends and Brethren it 's tenderly advised and recommended to you that you be careful and diligent in the spreading of all such Books that are printed for the service of Truth and are written either in defence of it or Christian Doctrine or Holy profession or by way of Epistle Warning Caution Exhortation or Prophecy that so we may not be remiss or negligent in promoting the holy truth that nothing may be wanting on our parts to promote it and the spreading of it that the Nations may be informed and brought into the knowledge of it that in the end we may give an account with joy An ancient friend the Printers name is as follows to whom direct thus For Andrew Soale at the Crooked Billet in Holy-well-lane in Shoreditch London Or to Thomas Northcoat at his Shop in George-yard in Lombard-street London And this we think needful you should record in your Quarterly Books and sometimes read it for remâ—mbrance and notice Signed in the behalf of the Meeting the 18th of the â—â—th mâ—nth 1693. by Benjamin Bealing The yearly Meeting Epistle the 27th of the 3d month 1675. It is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and the authority of his Power and Sprit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible names and expressions as calling men and womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burthensome And that faithful Friends Papers which we Testifie have been given forth by the Power and Spirit of God are mens Edicts or Canons or embracing them bowing to men Elders in the service of Truth Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them But let Gods power be set upon the top of that unsavoury Spirit and them that use it Signed by George Whitehead William Pen and others I am the larger in this Citation to convince the world that the Quakers prefer their own Books before and above the Scripture contrary to their pretence in their sheet they delivered to the Parliament as also to shew the impudence of some amongst them that tell people they have no Epistles read amongst them as Francis Bugg sets forth which I know they can no more be ignorant of than of the Suns shining at noon-day And in order to a further discovery thereof I shall recite the Titles of some of their Epistles as I did in New Rome Arraigned p. 41. which to this day they have not denyed c. 1. Two General Epistles to the Flock of God where-ever they are dispersed by M. Fell and J. Park printed 1664. 2. To Friends in England Ireland Scotland Holland New England Barbadoes or any where else where the Lord shall order this to come c. 3. A General Epistle to be read in the fear of God in the Assembly of his people by W. D. 4. The word of the Lord to Syon the New Jerusalem the Bride the Lambs Wife the excellency of all the Glory that is amongst the people by W. D. printed 1664. 5. An Epistle to Friends every where to be read distinctly in their Meetings by K. W. printed 1681. 6. All Friends every