Remark at present I come next to shew what Slight and Contempt they have cast on the Scriptures in order to invalidate their Certainty and Authority and therein to shew G. W. how they value their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures both in words as well as in practice as I shall shew anon for I am not picking at the Rine now but plucking at the Root And tho I must confess they are sturdy Oaks yet the Ax that is laid will level them unless they repent which I pray GOD they may if it be his Will Amen First That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater Serious Apology page 49. By G. Whitehead in his Serious Apology p. 49. G. Whitehead's Ishmael p. 10. Secondly That which is written is the Letter which is Death and killeth Way to the Kingdom p. 8. Thirdly The Scriptures are a declaration of the Word the Husk Fourthly The Letter of the Scripture is carnal Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 7. and the Letter is Death and killeth In one of their Books * The Quakers Refuge fix'd on the Rock of Ages p. 17. they thus query viz. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these or not one Or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some words were not spoken by the grand Imposture 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 Now Reader setting aside the Contempt George Fox George Whitehead and others anciently threw upon the Scriptures as Carnal Dust the Serpent's Meat Husk not of that Authority with what is said to be spoken from the Spirit of Truth and the like I say setting aside THAT what can be the natural Tendency of these Queries but to prejudice the weak Readers against the Authority of the Scriptures especially such who take Examples of them in that they never read a Chapter in their Meetings for the Worship of GOD. If what the true Prophets spake be FALSE If what good Men spake be ILL EXPRESSED If what wise Men spake be ILL APPLIED Then what is there left besides what was spoken by true Prophets good Men and wise Men If there be any as you seem to suggest that 't is spoken by the grand Impostor and by wicked Men and false Prophets c. And if there be some little left that was spoken by true Prophets and is true some by good Men well expressed some by wise Men rightly applied Yet you not having made any distinction who shall know what is true from that which is false that which is well expressed and rightly applied from the contrary since you have left these three wretched Questions unresolved and the Scriptures doubtful ambiguous and uncertain robbing them of that Authority which GOD's People from Age to Age have justly attributed to them As for the five Books of Moses who wrote them Moses or Hermes is now put into the world as a Question Yea whether either or neither be the Author of those Books Yea these very Writings of Moses which I never heard question'd before are now proposed whether Moses or Hermes be the Author of them Now if Moses and Hermes be all one then why is the Query put unless you would have Moses to be Hermes and not Hermes to be Moses And so Moses being lost and Hermes only a Philosopher in Egypt being found the Books going under the Name of Moses's shall be lost also If this was not your mind why do you fill the world with such Atheistical Queries c Christ himself often quoted the Writings of Moses * See Mark 12.16 Luke 16.29 Luke 24.27 Acts 3. Luke 26.27 44. and so did the Apostles I never till now took so much notice of this your wretched Design to bring the Scriptures into Contempt that so you might exalt your own unwritten Traditions and therefore there is Reason enough in this to shew that forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith CHAP. V. Shews that the Forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith IN my Book One Blow more at NEW ROME c. I gave six Reasons why I compared the Quakers to New Rome Rome's Sister c. Amongst which one was That they value their unwritten Traditions above the Scriptures five of those six G. W. never touches But that of their valuing their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures he says is a Lye without giving any one Demonstration c. And therefore to justifie my Charge That you value your unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures I prove thus First it never was from first to last your practice to read any one Chapter of the Bible nor any one Epistle of Paul Peter or any of the Apostles in your Meetings for Worship of GOD when as you have read the Epistles of Robert Sandyland Samuel Cater William Penn George Whitehead and Stephen Crisp with as much Attention and Devotion as the Papists do their Legends and this with what is writ in Chap. IV. is sufficient to prove the Point for I take all which is written in opposition to or in competition with the Scriptures to be unwritten Traditions Now if I can make it first appear that it is a principle of the Papists not to read the Scriptures in their Churches And secondly That it was and is the practice of Protestants to read the Scriptures in their Churches and Assemblies for the Worship of GOD then I hope Geo. Whitehead will not blame me for calling them New Rome who in almost every point follows their Example And also I hope it will be a caution to many of the Quakers to look about them who shall find themselves led by their Teachers into the very Road and High way to Rome before ever they so much as thought of it nay that they are in her very Borders and Territories when they thought all had been well and that they had been as their Teachers tell them and would make them believe even in the Heights of Sion in the Truth and none but THEY and that amongst them ONLY is God known elected before the world began and the like First Then to shew that it was against the principles of the Papists to read the Scriptures in their Churches Mr. HARDING against JEWEL By the Instinct of Satan Defence of the Apol. of Ch. of England p. 580. ye have brought the People from Devotion to careless Idleness from speaking to God with Hearts and Lips to a spiritual Dumbness from Prayers to Chapters from holy Think or silent meeting to unprofitable Hearing Thus much from one of the ablest the Pope had to defend his Errors by which the Reader may observe that
But tho Josiah Coals c. Letters to G. Fox be not only Superstitious but Blasphemous and Idolatrous yet you excuse justify and say well done to such Abominations See their 10th Principle You may also see that tho these blessed Martyrs confessed that the Papists once taught sound and pure Doctrine and doubtless did then commend their Practice Conversation and Deportment and accounted such Doctrine so taught a dispensation of the love of GOD to Mankind yet when they saw that they Apostatized from these things and began to impose Transubstation and other Novelties as GOD's Ordinances you see they then forsook them left them And not only so but did hear a full and ample Testimony against their Pride their Haughtiness their infallible Pretentions their grand Errors and deep Hypocrisies not always picking at the Rine but striking at the Root until at last what by disputing what by writing what by printing and with GOD's blessing upon their endeavours the Pope's Authority in England quite expired But oh what sad Bawling the Pope and his Cardinals Priests and Fryers Jesuits and Nuns and all your Kindred made against Luther Barns Jerom of Prague John Huss Philip Melancthon and the rest of that noble blessed and for ever renowned Army calling them Apostates Self condemned Apostates apparent Apostates manifest Apostates contentious Apostates c. And having then the Law of their side which I thank GOD you have not burnt many of them Thus I hope you may see a lively Figure of your selves and also that as I have acquitted my self of that Dilemma which you dreamed you had cast me into I have left you with your Kindred in that Dilemma which nothing but Repentance and Amendment will deliver you from which GOD of his mercy grant you may CHAP. III. Shews a third Reason why forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith FOR it is plain That they deny Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary who suffer'd without the gates of Jerusalem and rose again and ascended up into Heaven and there sits at the Right Hand of GOD From their 3d Principle making Intercession for us And since they err in this fundamental Article of the Christian Faith Search these Scriptures viz. Mat. 13.16 17. Luk. 10.23 24. cap. 1.42 45 68 69 70. cap. 2.20 to 39. Mat. 2.1 to 12. Mat. 21.5 to 17. Mat. 11.1 to 18. Luk. 19.29 Psal 72.15 17. Zach. 9.9 and that against the Testimony of Men and Angels Holy Scripture and the concurrent Testimony of the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors from the beginning I upon that foot and upon that bottom account it no Apostacy to forsake such a People who themselves have so apparently erred from the Faith Search these Scriptures and abundance more to confirm this And that they have so erred see their 3d Principle and that it is against Scripture and the Angel's Testimony Luk. 2.10 11 16 20. Mat. 2.25 Acts 18.5 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 15.3 John 11.35 read Luke 2.10 11 16 20. Then the Angel said unto them be not afraid for behold I bring you tydings of great joy that shall be to all the people that is that unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOVR which is CHRIST the LORD Now as HE was GOD from all Eternity HE was not born of the Virgin did not hunger was not cold did not dye was not spit upon was not smote with the palms of their hands But as he was God-Man the Man Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin according to that heavenly Testimony of the blessed Angels Luke 2. he was the SAVIOVR CHRIST THE LORD which you say was but a Garment a Vail a Vessel WHICH YOV CAN NEVER CALL CHRIST * Question to the Professors p. 33. Nay it is said in plain words by George Fox viz. Christ is the substance of all Figures and his FLESH is a FIGVRE †Saul's Errand c. p. 14. This is I confess an uncouth Saying but I will unriddle their meaning viz. CHRIST as HE is the Light they own HIM but as to HIS Flesh that is only a Figure a Garment something or other which People do love and speak well of but as for George Fox and the Heads that know what they say the Flesh is of little value and to confirm this my opinion see Isaack Peningtons one of their most learned and knowing Writers whose works they have taken care to reprint in Folio who saith thus A Question to the Professors p. 33. viz. Now the Scriptures does expresly distinguish between CHRIST and the GARMENT he wore between HIM that CAME and the BODY in which he CAME between the SVBSTANCE which was VAILED and the VAIL which VAILED it There is plainly HE and the' Body in which HE came there was the outward Vessel and the inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the bodily Garment Christ So that 't is plain The Quakers who are certain and infallible in this are of a contrary Spirit to all the Forefathers Prophets Apostles and Christian Professors to this day See Luk. 2.10 11. Zach. 9.9.10 11 Cap. v. 12 13. Math. 2.6 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 16.10 Acts 2.22 23 36. 3.13 4.10 and 10.43 according to this their Doctrine the Angels message was only of a Garment that was born it 's true it 's allowed to be a bodily Garment a Vail a Figure c. which they can never call Christ and if they can never call him that was born of the Virgin Mary Christ the consequence unavoidably follows that they can never own him to be Christ the Saviour of the World And to confirm this my sense of their principle to all the People called Quakers I will yet add two Reasons more viz. First In that they never in their publick meetings for worship of God nor yet in their Families make confession of their sins to God asking pardon for Christ Jesus sake This is one reason to confirm their Disciples that their Leaders deny Christ Jesus who was born of the Virgin to be both Lord and Christ Secondly In all their books you never yet found that ever they confessed their Sins and asked Pardon for Christ's sake whereby it is manifest that as thereby they deny Christ as aforesaid so they render themselves of a singular Spirit to all the Prophets Apostles Saints Martyrs and Confessors since the world stood as may be seen by the Scriptures in the Margin beginning with Moses Psal 90. to the very Martyrs Yea Psal 51.2 3. Psal 90. Job 7.20 Lam. 3.41 42. Isa 64.6 Dan. 4.9 to the end 1 John 1.8 1 Tim. 1.15 Rom. 7. so singular that without the breach of Charity I may conclude that instead of having a Spirit given to them beyond all the Forefathers so as to know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates as they have vainly boasted They have a
Spirit contrary to the Prophets contrary to the Apostles contrary to the Ancient Fathers and contrary to the Spirit Faith and Principle of the blessed Martyrs but such hath been the art of these Deluders that as they have undervalued Christ calling him a Garment a Vail a Figure c. So have they undervalued the Holy Scriptures by calling them Carnal Death Dust the Serpents Food and the like Antichristian names as anon I shall shew so that it will be hard to perswade their Disciples to read the Scriptures cited And if they do yet not to yield them that Authority which G.W. gives to their speaking by the Spirit who says That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Aurity as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Ser Apoll. p. 49. Oh the consequence of this monstrous opinion if HE that was born c. be not the Christ but a Garment a Vail a Figure c. Then why did not the Prophets foretell that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Garment That a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Vail a Figure c. Oh monstrous So that it s no marvel that you do not pray in the Name of Christ beg pardon in the Name of Christ since you own Him only as a Garment which waxeth old or as a Figure c. Object But perhaps some of your own People may say is it indeed such a Christian duty to make Confession of our Sins to God and to beg Pardon for Jesus Christs sake If we indeed believed it a duty we would notwithstanding the practice of our Teachers who we know does not practice the same c. Answer I hope then there is some such Bereans still left how thin soever they be amongst you and for their sakes in my book The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. I laid down many precepts to which I refer you as also to the Scriptures in the Margin and if you read the Scriptures you shall not read one book from Genesis to the Revelations but you shall find some precept which may strengthen you in this your duty And that I may not leave this point without warrantable proof I will add to the Testimony of the Prophets and Practice of the Apostles and the Precept of Christ who has taught his Disciples and in them all that follow them in the same Faith to say Forgive us our Sins c. The Practice and Judgment of the blessed Martyrs who unanimously as a Cloud of Witnesses concur with the Judgment and Practice of the primitive Chistians And against the singular opinion and singular practice of your Ministers who though they pretend and make you believe they have a Spirit beyond all the Forefathers it is indeed being rightly interpreted a Spirit contrary to all the Forefathers of the Christian Race First then hear Dr. Robert Barnes viz. The whole Church prayeth LORD forgive us our Sins See his works p. 254. wherefore she hath spots and wrincles But by acknowledging them through the Merits of Christ her wrincles be scratched out c. Next hear what Martin Luther says touching this particular duty viz. But thou wilt say the Church is Holy the Fathers are Holy it is true notwithstanding See his Commentary upon Gall. p. 36. albeit the Church is Holy yet is she compelled to pray Forgive us our Trespasses so tho the Fathers are Holy yet are they saved through the Forgiveness of sins These two have given joint Testimony that 't is the Churches Duty nay she is compelled to confess and beg pardon of her Sins I come next to holy Bradfords practice that humble and constant Martyr of Jesus Christ in his Epistle to his London Friends which for the excellency of it I could willingly have recited the whole but brevity forces only an Abridgment viz. To all that profess the Gospel Fox's Acts Monuments p. 1176 1177. and true Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the City of London John Bradford an unworthy Servant of the LORD But with THEE is Mercifulness that thou mighst be worshipped Oh then be mercyful unto us that we might truly worship THEE help us for the Glory of thy Name be merciful unto our Sins for they are great Oh heal us and help us for thine Hoaour let not the wicked people say where is their GOD On this sort my right dearly beloved let us heartily bewail our Sins repent us of our former evil Life and heartily and earnestly purpose to amend our Lives in all things continually watch in Prayer diligently and reverently attend hear and read the Holy Scriptures By which you may perceive Firrst This holy mans humility acknowledgeth himself unworthy Secondly The like is not to be found in any of the Quakers former books His acknowledging his Sins Thirdly That he begged pardon for His Mercy sake Fourthly His holy Resolution and heavenly Exhortation And now to finish this Chapter I shall conclude in the words of Dr. Barnes whose Faith in Christ does as much differ from the Faith of and Principles of the Quakers as Light from Darkness See their 3d. and 4th Principle in the first Chapter For in Him which they call a bodily Garment and which they say they can never own to be Christ did this blessed Martyr at the Flames confess to be his LORD and Saviour also his practice of asking Pardon of Sin is directly contrary to their practice pray hear him Dr. R. Barnes his protestation which he made at the Stake concerning his Faith in Christ Jesus I am said he come hither to be burned as an Heretick and you shall hear my Belief Acts and Monuments p. 610. whereby you shall perceive what erronious opinions I hold and now hearken to my Faith I believe in the Holy and Blessed Trinity * I have often marvelled why the Quaker would not own the word Trinity but now I do not since they deny the 2d Person that created and made all the world I believe that without mans will or power Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and took Flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary That he suffered Thirst Hunger Cold †Which he could not do as he was God but as he was man viz. the man Christ Jesus and other Passions of our bodies Sin excepted according to the saying of St. Peter I belive that this his Death and Passion was the sufficient Ransom for the Sins of all the world * Then surely he was more than a Garment or Vail or Figure and the Quakers saying they can never own this bodily Garment to be Christ as their phrase is t is as much as if they had said they do not own the Christ of GOD. And I believe that thorow his Death he overcame Sin Death and Hell And that there is no other satisfaction unto the Father but His Death and Passion only Mind this ye
Glory Honour Power Might Majesty and Dominion for evermore Amen Now Noble Berean whether Christian or Quaker for some such I hope their are in every Society If thou doubt or question the soundness of this recited Creed pray examine and read these following Scriptures for thy Information and Satisfaction Luke 2.10.11 Acts 5.30 31 32. and 10.39 to 40. Acts 1.9 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 and 16.10 Zeck 9.9 and 11 12 13. Mark 1.10 Acts 2.22 to 32. Numb 24.17.19 Duet 18.15 Isa 9.6 7. Luke 24.4.51 John 20.12 Matt. 28.2 Acts 3.13 to 32. and 4.10 11 12. Heb. 7.25 and 9.24 John 17.20 21. 1 John 2.1 2. And here thou wilt find that he that was born of the Virgin the Glorious Angels call'd Christ the Lord And you will find that the holy Apostles said him that you slew and hanged on a Tree him hath God exalted to be both a Prince and a Saviour yea and Christ the Lord whose Body was not of a Perishing Nature for it saw no Corruption And that all the Prophets gave witness to this Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World Now if on the contrary you find in the Quakers Creed that they believe and say that they cannot call him Christ who thus was born of the Virgin who was by wicked Men slain and hanged on a Tree if you find them to say his Body was of a perishing Nature and if you find as you may perceive p. 78 79. of this Treatise that the Quakers Prophets give witness to G. Fox instead of this Christ that they call him G. Fox the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem then maist thou have cause to think that their Notions invert the Faith and seek to overturn the Christian Religion Read Try and Judge The Quakers Creed I. A Question to the Professors p. 33. NOW the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which he wore between him and the Body in which he came between the Substance which was vailed and the Vail which vailed it Lo I come a Body hast thou prepared me there is plainly he and the Body in which he came There was the outward Vessel and the inward Life this we certainly know and can never call the Bodily Garment Christ But that Heavenly Treasure which appeared and dwelt in the Body Remark Come into the Light and see if this Creed of theirs be not contrary to the Testimony of the Blessed and Glorious Angels Holy Apostles Blessed Martyrs and true Confessors for these 1600 Years here you may see if you will but come into the Light I mean to the holy Apostles Writings wherein they differ from all Christians they cannot call his Body Christ only a Garment a Vail a Vessel What! Did the Prophets fore-tell that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Garment Is this their Scripture Language they so often call for in Opposition to the Trinity and Sacraments Oh horrible Blasphemy But to this agrees John Whitehead's Doctrine in their Book The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 37 38. viz. Nothing which was Mortal was called Christ The Quakers Creed II. A Quest c. p. 22. IF I or any one else have felt the saving Arm of the Lord revealed in us If we have felt a measure of the same Life Power and Anointing revealed in our Vessels as was revealed in his Is it not of the same Nature Is it not the same thing Is not Christ the Seed And is not this Seed sown in the Heart Now if this Seed spring and grow up in me into a Spiritual shape and form Is not Christ then formed in me If I be ingrafted into and grow up in it Am not I ingrafted into Christ And do I not grow up in him And is not this the same Christ that took upon him the Body of Flesh and offered it without the Gates of Ierusalem Is there any more than one Or is there any other than he Is Christ devided is there one Christ within and another without Remark Come and see thou searching Berean and behold the Quakers Creed They cannot as in the first Branch of their Creed call him that was born of the Virgin Christ him that by wicked Hands was slain and hanged on a Tree Christ And no marvel if the same Christ that offered up that Body or Garment or Vail or Figure as they frame it be in them as they say it is even the very same that suffered Death at Jerusalem Oh horrible Blasphemy The Quakers Creed III. A Quest p. 20. TO whom do the Names and Titles of Iesus and Christ chiefly and in the first place belong Do they belong to the Body which was took by him or to him who took the Body For that which he took upon him was our Garment even the Flesh and Blood of our Nature which is of an Earthly perishing Nature And p. 27. Is not the Substance the Life the Anointing called Christ where-ever it is found doth not the Name belong to the whole Body and every Member in the Body as well as to the Head so that the Name is not given to the Vessel but to the Nature to the Heavenly Treasure to that which is of Him in the Vessel Remark From the Premises pray observe though they propose this Branch of their Creed by way of Query yet do but turn it and you shall observe the true and natural consequences of it is 1. That the Name Iesus and Christ do not so properly belong to the Body as to the Treasure in the Body here they seperate that which GOD hath for ever joyned together See their Book viz. The malice of the Independant Agent p. 23. Confusion and whereas they say that His Body was of an Earthly perishing Nature read Acts 2.27 and 13.35 and their Error soon appears And the Name Christ say they belongs to the whole Body as well as to the Head yea and to every Member of the Body so that they having the Light the Treasure the Life of Christ in them even the same that suffered Death at Jerusalem to be in them And the Name Christ not properly belonging to that Body which suffered Death at Jerusalem as aforesaid c. The Name by their Logick belongs to every believing Quaker so that there is as many Christs by their Doctrine as there is believing Quakers Oh horrible Blasphemy Read Matt. 24.24 The Quakers Creed IV. G. F.'s News coming up out of the North p. 14. 15. 34. A Word to all you Deceivers who deceive the People and Blasphemers who utter forth your Blasphemies and Hypocrisies that tell People of a Sacrament and tell them it is the ordinance of God Blush blush and tremble you who live in the Witchery and bewitch People Page 14. So Dust is the Serpents Meat their original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death their Church is Dust and their Gospel is
against thee and thou art bound with two Bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven And this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these Bonds till thou art reconciled to the Brethren O haste to to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to Geo. Fox who is Gods Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of Jesus Christ haste away to the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy Brother if possibly you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least that their Blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going For this is the word of the Lord to thee That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God The first Day of the first Month 1677. Soll. Eccles. See the first part of Babels Builders unmasking themselves by Thomas Crisp p 15. Oh the Impudence of this Imposture and false Prophet of G. Fox In that First he avouched Womens Meetings to be the Good Ordinances of Jesus Christ which he had set up in his Church Secondly In saying that to the reconciled to the Body of the Quakers which he deemed to be the Body of Christ was the only way to find Mercy Thirdly In delivering that great Lye in the Name of the Lord. This year shalt thou John Story dye who at that time was very ill and not like to recover but it pleased God that he lived about four years after Fourthly This was he even he that burnt his Fiddles on Tower-hill Fifthly This was he yea even he that went as a great sign and notable wonder stark naked with a Pan of Coals on his Head to Bartholomew-Fair enough to deceive the very Elect as Christ said if it were possible Sixthly This is he who in his Musick Lector c. p. 22. said viz. I do affirm that if John the Apostle had said he had been a Sinner he had lyed Seventhly This is he yea even that false Prophet who writ thus of G. Fox his Master viz. A Prophet indeed it was said of Christ he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet G. Fox whom John said he was not Quakers Chal. p. 6. Now Reader Upon our Christian Creed this is down-right Blasphemy But according to the Quakers Principles it harmonizes with their Creed which is doubtless the very reason why they never to this day condemned it by publick Censure mark the fifth Branch of their Creed which is as followeth The Quakers Creed V. THE Light Christ The Great Mist c. by G. Fox p. 254. by which all things were made and created glorified with the Father before the World began which the Scripture testifies of is above the Scripture before the Scripture was they that be not in this Christ are Reprobates in which the Scripture end and testifie of and so is Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever that the Saints came to witness within them not another Christ nor many Christs c. Remark Now who can blame Soll. Eccles upon the Quakers Creed for saying first That G. Fox was in the World secondly that the World was made by him thirdly that the World knew him not as to the first my self and Thousands more can bear him witness as to the second according to their Creed last recited the same Christ by which all things were made and Created is in them which if true then that proves sufficiently what Eccles says and as to the third see p. 1. of G. Fox his own Book call'd News coming out of the North c. which says viz. Writ from the Mouth of the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which if true who can blame Sollomon For though he was not a wise Man he was a Prophet I mean one of Geo. Fox's Prophets According to the old Proverb as was the Master so was the Man viz. Both false Prophets false Pretenders and great Impostors Indeed G. Whitehead in his Vindication of Solomon in his Book Serious Search p. 58. does a little complain in a little failer in Syntax but to amend it and to help Sollomon Eccles John Blackling and other Idolaters in the right wording the Matter he says Judgment fixed c. p. 19. For I affirm G. Fox doth deny the same in reference to himself as a perticular Man or Person whose Days and Years are limited only the truth of the Immortal Seed Christ in him he stands to maintain against all Opposers and Persecuting Gain-sayers and Apostates See also his Innocency against Envy c. p. 18. to the same purpose so that had Solomon said the Light in G. Fox was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not he had then acted according to their innate Principle and suitable to their Creed which had been I say equally Idolatrous and Blasphemous The Quakers Creed VI. A brief Discovery of a Three-fold Estate of Antichrist p. 15. ALL teaching which is given forth by Jesus Christ is to bring up the hearers to Perfection even to the Measure Stature and Fulness of Christ this the Scripture witnesseth and I witness the Scripture fulfilled in me G. Fox * See your Book Intituled A New England Firebrand quenched being an Answer to a Book put forth by Mr. Roger Williams intituled Geo. Fox digged out of his Burrow c. in two parts containing 488 pages in Quarto one thing is worthy of observation that where the said Firebrand takes notice of G. Fox's great Mistery Yea and may well also be ashamed of the said Firebrand which is as full of Errors almost as Leafs and yet G. VVhitehead in the second part p 236 assists G. Fox what he can with a Marginal Note c. of which perhaps more hereafter It is no horrible Blasphemy to say the Soul is a part of God c. G. Fox's Answer to the Westm Pet. p. 33. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Writings you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power Truths Defence c. p. 21 to 24. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries for our giving forth Papers oâ— Printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God p. 92. we are elected to Salvation we have the Witness within us Praises be to the Glorious Lord God for ever who hath elected and chosen us before the Foundation of the World But thou meaning the Querist art ordained of old for Condemnation and Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates
even the Protestants began with blood for meer Religion and taught the Romanists in succeeding times how to deal with them See also Judgment fixed p. 259. by Geo. VVhitehead more of this hereafter c. 11. The Quakers Principles 11. That the Martyrs were Persecutors and asserted corrupt Doctrine 12. The Quakers Books 12. The Apostate Incendiary by Geo. VVhitehead p. 16. In Answer to VVilliam Mucklow 's Liberty of Conscience Asserted c. 12. The Quakers Principles 12. I affirm that the true Church is in the true Faith that is in God and we must either believe this as the true Church believes or else it were but both a folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members thereof G. VV. Apostate Incendiary p. 16. CHAP. II. Shewing that the forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith BEfore I proceed to shew the dangerous Consequences which these erronious Principles produce as in the first Chapter set forth I may speak something to their uncharitable sensure of me calling me an Apostate but had they left off there I could have born it because 't is not equal with Heresie and something must be born by any body that hath to do with them but when I see by their last two Books that they expose me to the World a self condemned Apostate an apparent Apostate a contentious Apostate c. with all the aggravating Circumstances which they could possibly invent and all this publick besides several private Letters sent me by Post both in Verse and Prose as full of cursing Language as Muggleton could have filled them withal calling me Julian the Apostate * Which are said to be Stephen Crispâ—'s but had no Name to them for which there deserves another Hue and Cry which all put together gives me just cause to vindicate my self since my Name Credit Estimation and all that is dear to me and my Relations are under a very severe sensure For a self condemned Apostate in plainer English is an Heretick and if so had they the power that the Papists had in King Henry the VIIIth's time I might rationally expect the same fate which Doctor Robert Barns and others met withal But thanks be to GOD as 't is no Apostasie from the Christian Faith to separate from them neither have they now a Popish King to animate and incourage them neither do I fear what they can do and therefore am bold to call them out of their holes and challenge them into the Field and bid defiance to all their Weapons of War and all their Malice they can invent either publick Print or private Letters Well however to justifie my self from this their sensure of Heresie or self condemned Apostate I would premise to the Reader that according to the Judgment of St. Augustin every Error doth not make a Man an Heretick or a self condemned Apostate for says he errare possum hereticus esse non possum in an error I may be but a Heretick I cannot be for their is says he three things necessary for just proof of Heresie First That it be an Error that I hold Secondly That it be an Error against the Truth of God's word for otherwise every Error maketh not a man an Heretick Thirdly And that it be stoutly and wilfully maintained otherwise an Error against the Truth of God's Word without wilful maintenance is no Heresie Object But G. W. objects by his Book The content Apost recharged p. 1. viz. The charge is evident by his own Confession to the Principles Foundation Doctrine Ministry Faith Love spiritual Testimony of the said People as in the beginning being that Church whereof Christ Jesus was the Head and Law-giver c. And consequently that the said People called Quakers were once a true Church the People of God in the true Faith and bore a true Testimony according to Fra. Bugg's ample and solemn Confession in the second part of his Book de Chr. lib. c. printed 82. c. and seconded in his Book The Quakers detected c. Answ Having taken in enough out of Geo. VVhiteheads Book to shew what my Mind and perswasion was once of them and for that Reason G. VV. no doubt quoted them I do still say whatever were my Thoughts of them in the beginning they were not so of them at the time when I wrote them Books as the ample Testimony against their walking and acting contrary to what in the beginning they pretended too as will sufficiently appear out of the same Book quoted by G. VV. see * Part of my Book The Qua. detected c. is recited Qua. detect an abstract whereof followeth viz. And having thus mounted the seat of Government rich and poor high and low bond and free must submit to their Church Government And it became a vain thing to plead the sufficiency of the Light of Christ to lead direct or guide us thus have they by their late Doctrine and Example rendered their Ancient Doctrine and Example a meer Decoy to catch simple Souls by and being once caught it is altogether in vain to pretend the Sufficiency of the Light of Christ to Lead Teach and Guide no no the Church now hath given forth Rules Laws and outward Directory and by Vertue of her Apostolical Authority as she pretends she imposes them on her Members whether they believe that what she imposes be a Duty incumbent on them to practice yea or nay And your Edicts must be obeyed whether motion or no motion nay tho a motion against the observation of it or else they cannot be looked upon in the Unity These Commands of yours are binding and obligatory upon all though the Scripture commands to one See their 5th Principle you say are not binding to another Thus do you make the Commands of GOD of none effect throw your Traditions What shall I say unto you Oh ye Leaders of this People Who would impose your unscriptural Practices upon your Brethren and record such out of your Unity that are not conformable thereunto for I have surveyed your Old and New Doctrine and measured your past and present Practices and I have compared your fair pretences with your foul Hypocrisies and when I have done all this I want words to set forth your deep Hypocrisies Deceit and Self-contradictions who sometimes are against giving Respect to your Superiors but by and by your own Servants and Apprentices in your own Houses and Shops must stand bare-headed before you This piece of Hypocrisie I testified against near 18 years since which was before S. Cater's difference for as I saw Errors arise amongst us so I withstood them and testified against them sometimes you are for Preaching freely and Teaching and Instructing people freely and for Suffering and Recording Marriages freely but now they can take Three Pounds at a time for Preaching Ten Pounds at a time for Suffering * Sam. Cater took Ten Pound for his Suffering a Fine and though his
first Principle c. 2dly That he was elected before the World began * Fourth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 84. 3dly That he had power to bind and to loose †The Quakers unmasked c. p. 27. 4thly That his Marriage was above the state of the first Adam in his Innocency and that he never fell nor changed See the same page 5thly If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles said G. Fox you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power * G. F's Answer to the Westmorland Petition p. 30. 6thly You may as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries Our giving forth Papers and printed Books it is from the immediate eternal Spirit of God You are now answered from the mouth of the Lord †Truth 's Defence G. F. and R. H. p 2. 89 104. 7thly He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with God G. Fox * Saul's Errand c. p. 8. Thus Friendly Reader I have herein as well as in divers places in this Treatise manifested that G. F. gave out himself to be some GREAT MAN to whom the Quakers for many Years my self for one gave heed almost from the least to the greatest and I think that neither Simon nor Becket could give out more to shew themselves GREAT MEN. Next follows what divers of their Preachers and People attributed to him and tho such Letters were in his Life-time frequently sent to him yet I never heard that he ever rejected them nor yet reproved the Authors of them See Fourth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 83 84. See first Josiah Coal in Letter of his from Barbadoes recorded in their Book of Audland's Letters Dear G. Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose Life hath reach'd through us thy Children even to the Isles afar off to the begetting many again to a lively hope for which Generations to come shall call thee Blessed whose Being and Habitation is in the power of the Highest in which thou rulest and governs in Righteousness and THY KINGDOM IS ESTABLISHED IN PEACE AND THE INCREASE THEREOF IS WITHOVT END Next that of Solomon Eccles. who writ of G. Fox these words which were not fit to be said of any Mortal viz. A Prophet indeed It was said of Christ that he was in the world and the world was made by HIM and the world knew him not SO it may be said of this true Prophet whom John said he was not but thou shalt feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee and though the world knows him not yet he is known c. Quakers Challenge p. 6. Next that of John Audlands in a Letter of his to G. Fox from the West of England viz. See the 5th Part of Babel's Builders p. 7. Dear and precious one in whom my life is bound up and my strength in thee stands By thy breathings I am nourished by thee my strength is renewed Blessed art thou for evermore and Blessed are all that enjoy thee life and strength comes from thee Holy One. Daily do I find thy presence with me which doth exceedingly preserve me for I cannot raign but in thy presence and power Pray for me that I may stand in thy Dread for evermore I am thine begotten and nourished by thee and in thy power am I preserved Glory unto thee Holy one for ever See also part of a Certificate that John Blaikling gave forth on the behalf of George Fox Fifth Part of the Christian Quaker distinguished c. p. 77. against William Rogers That G. Fox is blessed with Honour above many Brethren and that thousands will stand by him in a HEAVENLY Record unto the integrity of his Soul to truth that still lives with him That his LIFE REIGNS and is spotless innocent and still retains his Integrity whose ETERNAL HONOUR and BLESSED RENOWN shall remain yea his presence and the dropping of his tender words in the Lord's love was my Soul's nourishment c. Yea so sacred or so dreadful was G. F's Name to the People beyond Seas that they printed and published it to the World viz. That mentioning the Name George Fox did prick them to the heart See their Book A true Account p. 42. This is enough to shew that Josiah Coal Solomon Eccles John Audland and John Blaikling and others too many here to enumerate together with those Preachers who preached at his Funeral where they stiled him the great Apostle a Prophet the Jacob of the Age c. I say 't is enough to shew that they walk hand in hand with the Papists in this matter as well as in almost every thing else G. W. I question whether they be their Letters as cited F. B. But if they be proved theirs will you stand by them or retract them G. W. If they be theirs might there not be a more favourable Construction put upon them than Idolatry and Blasphemy May not a Man write a Letter to his Friend to pray for him is there any hurt in that F. B. What! did they pray to G. Fox to solicit the Virgin Mary to pray c G. W. No I do not say to a Saint departed but to a living Saint Mr. R. Russell Indeed Mr. Whitehead I do not understand those Sayings in those Letters to be any other than Blasphemy G. W. I do not approve of those Letters so that whether theirs or not theirs I do not own them OBSERVATION Note That John Blaikling's Certificate on the behalf of G. Fox I did not read at the Conference For tho' I had seen it before yet being surprized and not knowing of G. W's being in Town till late over Night I could not find it but being one in Nature with the other three I thought it meet to incert it in the recited Parallel in two Columns c. F. B. Well George then be plain if you do not own them deny them in writing under your hand c. G. W. I do not care to write I will not trouble my self to write F. B. Then I will write for you if you please G. W. So thou may'st if thou wilt F. B. As for those three Letters said to be wrote by Sol. Eccles Josiah Coal and John Audland I am apt to believe they are none of theirs as cited but if they be I do disown them George dost thou like this Is this thy Sence If so subscribe it G. W. I do say before all these People that whether they be or be not of their Writing I disown them F. B. Well George then subscribe what your Sense is that we may be at a Certainty F. W. I will not write after thee thou shalt not be a Dictator to me S. B. George I only write your sense and when I missed you gave me apt words to put in and make it your sense thereby making
its Nature and Properties Now the Query is WHICH was the appointed Saviour of the Father Which was the Anointed of the Father chiefly and in the first place WHETHER the BODY prepared or HE for whom the Body was prepared c By which 't is plain that they deny notwithstanding G. Whitehead's counterfeit Confession HIM that was born of the Virgin HIM that was pierced HIM that was Crucify'd and hang'd on a Tree and by wicked hands slain to be the Son of GOD the Saviour of the World whereby they declare themselves not to be of the Prophets and Apostles Creed read these Scriptures Zach. 9.9 11 12 13. Micah 5.2 Acts 2.22 23 36. 3.13 4.10 10.43 Luke 2.10 11 12 13. Mat. 2.5 6 7. and you will perceive the Faith of the Apostles and Evangelists and the Testimony of the blessed and glorious Angels to differ as much and as clearly from this Faith and Testimony of the Quakers as light from utter darkness c. But because G. W. in his recited Book makes such a serious Pretence to own the Man Christ Jesus his Death and Sufferings c. I may recite another Passage out of their great Doctor Is Penington's aforesaid Book p. 20. Quest 7. What is Christ's Flesh and Blood which we are to partake of Is it the Flesh and Blood of the Body which was prepared for and taken for HIM wherein HE tabernacled and appeared OR is it the Flesh and Blood of HIM who took tabernacled and appeared in the Body For that which HE took upon HIM was our Garment even the Flesh and Blood of our Nature which is of a perishing Nature c. Now what is more plain than that they deny the true Christ his Humanity yea his Merits Death and Sufferings especially if you add what is in pag. 33. said by this their Champion in defence of their Faith which is as followeth viz. Now the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which HE wore between HIM that came and the BODY in which HE came between the Substance which was vailed and the Vail which vailed it there is plainly HE and the BODY in which HE came there was the outward Vessel and the inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the bodily garment Christ * Yes we believe you are all of that mind and shall until these and other of your pernicious Errors be publickly condemned notwithstanding G. W's Pretence to the contrary c. But having before spoken largely to this Point I shall at present pass it by desiring the Reader still to peruse the recited Epistle and to consider of it for that being directed TO GO ONLY AMONGST THE QVAKERS there you may see their inside for to them their Leaders and Captains as they stile themselves unbosom themselves telling the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth of what they believe if there be that sincerity in them which they pretend to And then you shall hear a loud noise of strange Acts great Miracles viz. the Prison doors opened the Dead raised unclean Spirits cast out Yea a wonderful noise of War of Leaders and Captains and Commanders mighty hewing cutting killing going into the Field to Battel as if all the World were now at an end and that they would drive all before them * And yet are themselves got now so close into their Holes Dens and lurking places where they lie skulking to deceive the simple as that 't is impossible to get them out into the Field c. But not a word as I have observed setting forth the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures not a word of the Humanity of Christ not a word in all the 23 Pages of the Incarnation Birth Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ not a word of their hopes of being saved through the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness No how should they if they would speak their minds truly since they cannot call that BODY which suffered at Jerusalem CHRIST but a Garment a Vail a Figure And therefore what ever they pretend when they write publickly since when they write privately they write the contrary they are not to be believed for saith Ireneus in his third Book against Heresies viz. Whilst that Hereticks speak like the Faithful they not only mean otherwise than they say but clean contrary and by their Tenents full of Blasphemies they destroy the Souls of those who with their fair words suck in the poyson of their foul Opinions c. I have divers others of their Epistles by me as particularly Robert Sandilands * One of George Whitehead's Select Friends by way of Vision and Revelation Richard Huberthorn Josiah Coal both in Print and Manuscript which bears not the least Resemblance to what they now seemingly set forth as their Faith and Belief But the recited Epistle with their dark-lanthorn Title viz. THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS is sufficient to set forth how they applaud and speak smooth things to their own People like the false Prophets of old who healed the Wound deceitfully who daubed with untempered Mortar and surely never was Mortar worse tempered than in this Epistle wherein Darkness is put for Light and Bitter for Sweet viz. the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem George Fox for Christ and almost all the Prophesies and Sayings of the holy Penmen inverted and turned into an affected Rhetorick and mystical Allegories as well as in many of their other Writings which both amuse and puff up their Hearers And as I have elsewhere herein observed make them believe that they are got into the Holy Land even spiritual Canaan when indeed they are but in the Borders of Egypt and posting to OLD ROME think themselves rich full wanting nothing when they are poor blind miserable and want all things through their mistaken Zeal and following the Dictates of their blind Guides who instead of setting forth the solid Principles of Religion have so leavened them into their Pharisaical lump that they have erred concerning the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin who suffered was dead and buried who rose again the third day and ascended up into Heaven above * This G. W. begins to confess too but when he says above according to his and their own Principles he means beneath viz. in their corrupt Bodies let him deny it if he can at the Right Hand of GOD where he sits in Majesty on High as our Advocate and Intercessor as the Second Person of the glorious Trinity And who will come in like manner as He was taken up which G. W. acknowledges was visibly seen to judge the Quick and Dead And then the Graves shall give up their Dead and there shall be a general Resurrection of the Bodies out of the Graves both of the just and unjust But alas All this and much more in this recited Epistle of theirs
that the Prosperity of his Affairs and our peaceable Fruition of the Exercise of our Consciences beareth the same Date Dated June 1637. Thus Reader you see that from England to Scotland and from Scotland to England they sounded his Fame in the Highest strain of words praying GOD for his Preservation and praising GOD for defeating his Enemies But alas Has King William been without Enemies Hath their been no Plotting against him I will not say by some of themselves No Contrivance nor no Conspiracies against his Royal Person Yea against the Kingdom that they cannot afford one Prayer for his long Life one Praise to God for his Deliverance Hath not he granted all they can reasonably desire of him I know they will be angry at me for reminding them of these things but why should they be hid that never hid any body Why should not they be discovered and known to be really what they are that for 30 years have made it their business or a great part of it at least to render all sorts of People as odious as they could and what they really were not and their end could be nothing but to exalt their own Horn c. But Providence hath so ordered it that the same Pit they digged for others they are justly fallen into themselves and are left as Mr. Baxter says in his Penitential Confession p. 63. 1691. viz. A disgraced broken Sect as the Quakers be amongst us now c. A broken Sect indeed divided wholly in many places One sort shut up the Meeting-house against the other divided in Cities and Towns yea almost in every Village The Foxonian Government is in many places quite thrown off See J. Hogs book and in others weakening every day Well but to return see another of their Addresses viz. The Humble Address of the People called QVAKERS to K. James II. from their Yearly meeting in London The 6th Day of June 1688. WE the Kings loving and peaceable Subjects from divers parts of his Domimions being met together in this City after our usual manner to * * Rather inâ—ect inspect the Affairs of our Christian Society THROVGHOVT THE WORLD think it our Duty humbly to represent to him the blessed Effects the Liberty he has gratiously granted his People to worship God according to their Consciences hath had both on our Persons and Estates For as formerly we had ever long and sorrowful Lists brought to us from almost all parts of his Territories of Prisoners and the spoil of Goods by violent and ill men upon account of Conscience We bless God and thank the King the Goals are every where clear except in cases of Tythes and the repair of Parish Churches and some few about Oaths And we do in all Humility lay it before the King to consider the hardships our Friends are yet under for Conscience sake being in the one chiefly exposed to the present anger of the Offended * * Oh! They knew how taking this would be cunning Foxes Clergy who have therefore lately imprisoned some of them till Death And in the other they are rendred very unprofitable to the publick and themselves both in reference to Freedoms in ††They thought this a good motive that so their Voices c. Corporations Probates of Wills and Testaments and Administrations Answers in Chancery and Exchequer Tryals of our just Titles and Debts Proceeding in our Trade at the Custom house serving the Office of Constable c. they are disabled and great Advantages taken against them unless the King's favour do interpose As we humbly hope he may relieve so we confidently assure our selves he will ease us what he can Now since it hath pleased thee O King to renew to all thy Subjects by thy last Declaration thy gratious Assurance to persue the Establishment of this Christian Liberty and Property upon an VNALTERABLE Foundation And in order to it to hold a Parliament in November next at furthest we think our selves deeply ingaged to renew our Assurances of Fidelity and Affection and with Gods help intend to do our parts * * To Vote c. for the effecting so blessed and glorious a work that so it may be out of the power of any one Party to hurt another upon the account of Conscience And as we firmly believe that God will never desert this Just and Righteous cause of Liberty NOR THE KING in maintaining of it so we hope by God's Grace to let the World see we can honestly and heartily appear for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE * * And yet at the same time great Oppressors of it in your dissenting Friends but Hypocrisy will have its reward and be inviolable true to our own Religion whatever the Folly or Madness on that account may suggest to the contrary Thus Reader you see here is nothing wanting but bended Knees Here is in ALL Humility in ALL Fidelity with ALL Affection yea ALL ALL ALL All Prayers for him for long Life for prosperous Raign Laud and Praise in the highest for his deliverance for the defeating his enemies yea it would be too long to enumerate them besides Book after Book in favour of the Government and one Epistle after another and printed Letters first second and third sounding his fame throughout the World But since King William and Queen Mary came to the Crown as in the Letter to the Quakers was well observed NO Salutation NO Message NO Prayer for nor NO Address to K. W. and Q. M. made Publick NO Book writ in favour of him NO In all Humility NO In all Fidelity NO In all Affection NO Publick Prayers for his long and prosperous Reign NO Laud and Praise that his enemies are defeated here is all NO NO NO NO Tho thanks be to GOD he is now settled peaceably in his three Kingdoms COME what can you say for your selves Are you like those 1 Sam. 10.27 The children of Belial who said How shall this man save us And they despised him See your 12th principle and brought him no presents no Prayers no Addresses I know you have too much espoused the Romish principles some of which are 1. We must believe as the Church i. e. your Church believes 2. That the your Church cannot err 3. That she hath power to bind and loose 4. And that it is abominable Pride not to submit to her i. e. your Judgment You may remember you have had many Favors by Their Majesties particularly Liberty of Conscience established by Law which is one and not the least and yet having had three Annual Meetings in London not one Address c. Nay worse than so And as an aggravation of your Ingratitude you made an ORDER for the calling in the Widow Whitrow's Books she being formerly of your Society which was writ but in favour of this Government what Scripture had you for that You say that Christ and his Apostles did not require you to pray for Kings by Name I say so too
But since you prayed for and addressed your selves to King James by Name why can you not as well pray for Their Majesties by Name Well but since you can bring the Scriptures to cover and excuse your not addressing or praying for them by Name where do you find any Text for calling in and hindering the Sale of the Widow Whitro'ws Book aforesaid That is the Question which in your next you are desired to answer And tho I hope you did not order it to be burned as I am told and that by one of your own People too that George Whitehead ordered my Books to be burnt throughout all his Dominion I am sure therein he followed Rome exactly The way is first condemn the Man then condemn his Books but first burn the Man then his Books And sometimes when she cannot help it she do's otherwise and so do you you have first condemned me as a Self-condemned Apostate next my Books you have order'd to be burnt But I have not as yet heard that you have ordered a Stake to be prepared for me I do thank GOD you cannot 't is an old saying 'T is good that curst Cows have short Horns You that burn my Books if you had power which GOD grant you never may I would not trust you to burn me I tell you what thoughts soever I had of you in 1686 I have worse thoughts of you now And G. W. is one principal Man that hath raised these thoughts First By his defaming me endeavouring to destroy my Reputation according to the Jesuits Morals and the Papists Practises to the Martyrs all along Secondly By charging me in divers things as a great Criminal where his Conscience tells him I am clear * Particularly his second Charge in his last where he finds no Cause And Thirdly That instead of seeking Peace in the way of Peace he acts as contrary thereto as light is to darkness And tho he writes three Books against me in nine Months time yet he exposes me the Contentious Person And thus he goes on and says He neither consults Events nor fears Effects And the People his Disciples love to have it so if they did not they would not suffer such a Make-bate such a peevish waspish Man to sit and scrible one Book after another and yet will not come forth to prove his Accusation nor defend his Charge wherewith he and his Brethren stand charged And now by this my Book I do hereby challenge four or six of their ablest Preachers to come forth in the vindication of their Twelve Principles in the first Chapter if they can giving me a months notice and I will GOD permitting meet them in Milden-Hall and prove them erroneous and pernicious to the Christian Religion As also accept of the Three Charges exhibited by George Whitehead against me in his last Pamphlet styled The Contentious Apostate recharged c. And this will be better than everlastingly to print And tho in 1682 you would take no notice of what is said de Christiana Libertate p. 213. nor in the Painted Harlot c. p. 70 71. Yet if you look therein you may perceive my then Resolution in case you proceeded in that base and unworthy way in which S. Cater began tho indeed I always took G. W. to have a hand in that Book I say I was resolved to spare no Arrow which might light on the skirts of this well-favour'd Harlot tho I can say I have been slow and if I could any way have prevailed with them in the least to have acknowledged their Faults wherein they had done amiss it would have abated the edge of my Pen which has been severe upon G. W. as his just Demerit for his great Injustice and base way of writing Thus at present I only refer him to his Grandfather's practice Pope Leo X. * and others see Fox's Acts and Monuments Fox's Acts and Mon. p. 238 416 417 483. p. 238 416 417 483. But to return I remember George Fox put forth 2434 Queries to all the Scholars and Doctors in Europe to answer and bid them come out of their Holes Dens and lurking places into the Fields we shall see said George whether you can draw your weapons c. The said Questions consist chiefly in these and the like words viz. Quest What is a Genetive Case What is a Dative Case What is a Participle What is a Dipthong What is a Noun Why are these Declined And why is the word called Declined Who was the first Author of it And by whom it came And why is the word called Adverb And what is an Adverb the word itself and where was its rise c See for more of them in Battering Rams c. p. 18. This Book G. F. intituled A Primer for all the Doctors and Scholars in Europe printed 1659. And now what if I for once thrust in a Query amongst these or at the end of them as I found it the other day in an untoward Book intituled The Jacobites Catechism p. 5. to George Whitehead * He and three more deliver'd this Address at Windsor to King Charles the Second wherein they shewed what they were for who about the time of the Execution of the Lord Russell presented to King Charles the Second an Address crying out extremely against all HELLISH PLOTS AND TRAYTEROVS CONSPIRACIES The meaning was against the Lord RVSSELL the Lord Essex Sidney Cornish Bateman c. The knotty Query is this that followeth c. Query What made the Quakers no more concerned for the loss of those brave Patriots of your Country Essex and Russell c. who lost their Lives in defence of your Country and its Liberties c Come George this is as I said a knotty Question it will be difficult for you and W. P. to answer for all your subtilty and cunning tho many observe you are much fill'd therewith as most of the Jesuitical Race Well I will not insist too much on this Point lest you say I expose you But why should you talk of Exposing I only tell you your Duty And are you so proud having had the Rein to propose Questions to Bishops Ministers Presbyterians Anabaptists and all sorts caling them Witches See Edw. B's Works p. 54 55. A just Rebuke to 21 Divines c. The Way cast up c. Saul's Errand c. Truth 's Defence c. Plain and peaceable Advice c. Rusticus c. Devils Sots Conjurers Beasts Tinkers Moll 's Lizards Fiery Fighters such as can defend their Religion with the Sword to be turned into the Pit eternally Blood-thirsty Tyranical Projects c. Now if I should call you so then you might say I expose you but I only tell you of your Duty and remind you of the Leaven of the Pharisees which is Hypocrisy CHAP. VII Shews that forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith I AM now come to the Conference I had with George Whitehead