a Man of no Conscience nor Credit in what Relates to them i. e. the Quakers he did not dare say he was a man of no Conscience nor Credit in what Râ—â—â—ted to others because then he might have been disâ—â—â—ved but onely to the Quakers they themselves being Judges also when as you must note if a man does but oppose the Quakers that That is enough to make him a man of no Conscience or Credit with them Oh neat Quibble pray let the Quakers name you ONE man that does oppose and Contradict them that they will say is a Man of Good Conscience and Credit in what Relates to them Who is so silly that cannot see the baseness of such slie and Quibbling Suggestions Pray before I leave this Section hear another of them about the same Person p 39 Mr. Pen says he had as good as confest that he had been Hired by some Professors to disturb us who sees not the Quibble in the words as good as confest That is in plain English he did not tell him so neither is it at all likely but well on the contrary I have heard that some Years since a Quaker would have Hired him to have let them alone the Story runs thus He owed a Quaker a certain sum of money and the Quaker would have forgave it him and writ or would write him an Acquittance as Received so much money of him provided he would not disturb them any more Mr. Chadwel Answered him to this purpose that if he writ he had Received so much money when indeed he Received none that would be a Lye and he would not consent to it So here it seems Fran. Chadwel had more Conscience than the Quaker Sect. 8. And besides the Truth of their abusing punching haling thrusting and throwing the said F. Chadwel out of their meetings by main Force depends not upon his Testimony alone but there are some scores that have been Eye-witnesses of it that can testifie it And if the Quakers can Justifie doing thus to one whom themselves shall alone Judge to be a man of no Conscience nor Credit then they may do it to another and another and to Twenty on the same Ground and at last to whom they please as far as they dare And to be sure none shall want their Judgment and Censure of being Forgers Lyars or Tiplers Men of no Credit nor Conscience if they do but oppose them And so at present I 'le leave them with their Apostatized Persecuting Spirit as to this particular wishing they may for the Future learn more Honesty Humility and the Royal Law of Charity which never fails and that they may put on Bowels of Compassion and Lowlyness of mind to others for if they shew Love to their own Friends onely what are they better than the Publicans Don't they do so SECT IX The Quakers Quibbles and Hypocrisie in their former Practice of Disturbing of Ministers in Parish-Churches with reference to their Practice now Sect. 1. THat it was the Common Practice of the Quakers for many Years to pretend They were sent and moved by the Lord and by the Spirit to come into the Parish-Assemblies to oppose the Ministers and accordingly did commonly every Moneth and sometimes oftner come in and disturb the Ministers and Congregations with their Messages Visions and Revelations from the Lord as they said is so generally known that I need bring no Instances and I think they will not deny it Sect. 2. But now since His MAJESTIES Happy Restauration and Government I do not find but those ORACLES are generally ceased or at least for the most part and now their Common Practice therein is altered which shews either their great Hypocrisie now they think they cannot do it but with more danger or that these motions were only pretences and so very unreasonable as most likely they were or if true motions from the Lord then the Quakers have rarely if any of those true motions from the Lord now among them nor do grow in MORE Experience of such Revelations but are withered Where 's G. Foxe's Lambs of CHRIST which have been sent forth to reprove Sin in the Gates of Cities Markets High-ways and Countries What are they all asleep G. F's Professors Cat. p. 22. What is there no Sin to be Reproved within the Gates now as then What no such Messages from the Lord now Oh Hypocrisie Sect. 3. By this it would appear that Muggleton is the best Prophet of the two and that his Sentence and Curse hath taken hold of the Quakers viz. Because I saith Muggleton have passed Sentence upon the Quakers they shall never grow to have more Experience in Vision and Revelation but shall wither See G. Fox his Answer to Muggleton's Book The Quakers Neck broken p. 11. SECT X. The Quakers Quibbles about the Holy Scriptures Sect. 1. THis is a very weighty Point Dear Friends and Countrey-men consider it well you shall first hear what G.W. himself and three more Quakers say in Answer to one Sampson Townsend a Minister in Norwich in their Book Entituled ISHMAEL c. The Ministers Propositions which he and they opposed were these two 1. That the Scriptures contained in the OLD and NEW Testament Commonly called the BIBLE is the Revealed Will and Word of God 2. That the Scripture which is the Word of God is the onely Foundation of our Faith and onely Rule for our Obedience Now in their Answer to thiâ— I onely desire the Reader to Observe the several Epithetes G.W. gives to the SCRIPTVRE viz. that commonly called the Bible which ONELY the Minister affirmed to be the Foundation and Rule of our Faith and Obedience as above THIS G.W. calls NATVRAL and CARNAL p. 3. Obscure something without them p. 3. Bids him prove that ever it was called by the Saints a Written Word of God and that with these thy Lyes thou hast deceived the Blind p. 4. That which is Written is the Letter which is DEATH and KILLETH p. 10. Thou that sayest that the Scriptures Reveal God thou art a Lyar p. 10. Where did ever any of the Holy men of God say that the Scripture Converts the Soul or makes Laws for mens thoughts p. 11. He calls it a Lye to say the Scripture is the means by which Faith is wrought p. 11. Now that which Matthew Mark Luke and John wrote of Christ could not give Life for that is called a Declaration of those things which was freely delivered among them Luke 1.1 And that thou callest the Word which is DEATH and KILLETH as thou mayst Read 2 C. 3. p. 9. And that which the Minister then called the WORD as G.W. himself and the Quakers tell you just before in the same page was the sayings and doings of our SAVIOVR which are frequently Recorded in the NEW TESTAMENT and hence IT the New Testament is called the word of CHRIST says he and in the Quakers Answer to this G.W. and they tell the Minister and that thou callest the WORD
obscure something without them is A RVLE of the Quakers Faith and that 's not all neither But if what Sam. Fisher said be true then VV.P. hath a NOSE OF VVAX for a Rule of his Faith and Practice or one of the Quakers Rules for their Faith and Practice is no better than a Nose of VVax Nay if you will believe Sam. Fisher himself is not CAPABLE of being ANY OTHER to them that have the Scriptures which the Quakers have and as to them that have them not they can be surely nothing at all not so much as a Nose of VVax And is not this an Excellent Rule according to the Quakers own Confession that they now say they have for a Rule of their Faith and Practice Sect. 7. I am sorry that before I conclude I should have Occasion given me to Tax Mr. Pen of INSINCERITY and deceitful dealing about this matter of the Quakers Doctrine touching the Holy Scriptures by Reading the late little Book he set out Entituled A just Rebuke but more properly a huffing Rebuke p. 10. Those very words he tells his Opponents reflect most justly as a just Rebuke on himself I must tell him he hath Acted with them herein far from a Man of Common Ingenuity For whereas W.P. asserts The Quakers deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God in that sence wherein they deny them viz. The Word that was God the Essential Word Does not W.P. in his Conscience know that none of these Presbyterians Independents nor any others ever asserted against the Quakers that the Scriptures were in that sence the Word of God and consequently is no part of the matter in Dispute And not onely so but doth not W. P's Conscience witness that the Quakers have and do deny the Scriptures to be the written Word of God In which sence those men do not deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and the Quakers do and therefore W.P. must Act against his Conscience in taxing them of being herein far from Men of Common Ingenuity when it is onely his own dis-ingenuity thus to Quibble and deceive People And Secondly The like Fallacy double dealing and Insincerity W.P. manifests in his words about the Scripture being a Rule as if the Quakers owned the Scripture to be a Rule in some things or some parts of the Scripture to be a Rule to them whereas it is manifest that the Quakers have over and over again denyed the Scriptures in general and not some part of it onely to be their Rule yea in these express words The Books of the Old and New Testament called the BIBLE See the beginning of this Section Oh Quakers REPENT REPENT of such wickedness and for shame leave off such double hearted dealing and most unparallel'd Confidence Do not think all your Countrey-men Fools besides your selves as if they could not discern such petty slights and Quibbles and take Notice of them and you also as not single-hearted in them Sect. 8. For my Part I never thought any man blame-worthy nor would be he that should blame any man for changing his Opinion or Judgment if so be he did it upon better ground and did not pretend to INFALLIBILITY nor scorn nor blame others for Confessing their Fallibility but did Honestly and Ingenuously acknowledge that he was before mistaken and in an Error But for Men to change their Opinions either really and yet endeavour confidently to vindicate and justifie their former Absurdities and Errors or pretendedly onely to fawn and flatter or curry favour with their Adversaries or any others of the World and yet still to pretend to Infallibility is so low abominably base and Hypocritical or so Impudent that it is not to be admitted by or among any Sober and Honest Men. Now whether this change alteration and difference in the Quakers words and Writings Epithets and Phrases about the Holy Scriptures be real or onely Hypocritical and Temporizing out of design to blind others and to ingratiate themselves a little more into Peoples Affections and good-will of the World God and their own Consciences best know yet the last is much to be feared for this Reason because they are so far from dis-owning their former mistakes and mis-expressing themselves that they stand to vindicate and justifie it But be it either way they thereby shew their uncertainty inconstancy and self-contradictions Confusions and the effects of their Fallibility Sect. 9. And therefore I would onely desire G.W. to tell me honestly if there be any such thing left in him or that he may return to without Quibbling or Equivocation or if not me that he would acquaint his Countrey-men 1. Whether he doth NOW Believe That the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament commonly called the Bible be the Letter which is Death and Killeth or whether they be the Letter mentioned or meant by the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 3.6 And 2. If he doâ—h NOW believe That were the Scriptures never so certain and entire yet that they are not capable to be to all men any other than a Nose of Wax 3. And whether he or W. Pen and the Quakers do NOW Witness and Believe that the Letter of the Scripture is CARNAL A proper direct Answer is desired and required to this without any Quibbling or mental Reservations if the Quakers are indeed what they now would pretend to the World they are and will manifest themselves to be no Dissemblers The Conclusion To Sum up all in short and to Conclude this Mess and Medly of their most irreconcileable Contradictions and irrecoverable Gulph of Confusions in which they have plunged themselves o're Head and Ears take it thus Sometimes they can call yea and positively assert the Letter of the Scripture is CARNAL and the Letter is DEATH and KILLETH But their own pityful Scriblings or Books they can call The LIGHT and LIFE of Christ within and yet to go round again at other times they tell us that they prefer the Bible BEFORE all other Books extant in the World but then to go round again they tell us without excepting one that THEIR WRITINGS and BOOKS are given forth from the immediate ETERNAL SPIRIT of God Yet to face about again That their Intention and Principle NEVER WAS to bring their Books in COMPARISON with the Scriptures but yet to go round again though to their own Confusion the same man hath given us to understand that what the Quakers speak from the Spirit of Truth is not onely of AS GREAT Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are but GREATER And the Quakers can sometimes tell us that one might AS WELL condemn the SCRIPTURES to be BURNED as Their WRITINGS But come once more to turn about Robin Hood W. Pen now hath the Scripture positively says Mr. Keith as a Secondary Rule of Faith and Practice and yet to step half-way back again and Janus-like look two ways at once it is but much like the SHADOW of the true Rule and in that Respect
him as that he would be ashamed of it when I consider his Learning but that his undertaking to vindicate G.F. for notorious falshoods and nonsence evident to mens Eyes and Senses and against his own senses and ocular demonstration makes me much to doubt it see Contr. ended p. 39. being sorry to see that so ingenuous a Man as W.P. once was should Sacrifice his own Senses Reason Honour and Reputation to keep up the Credit of such a Man as G. F. who hath written in many things so ridiculously that it's impossible for any Man to vindicate him without making himself more ridiculous and by his Tautologies and incoherency a sober Man would take him to be Craz'd witness his Professors Catechism Testimony of the True Light and his Primmer for the Scholars and Doctors of Europe And which is yet more G. I have this to add That I do not think Thoâ— nor all the Quakers in England can bring Express Scripture for that which is your First and Grand Principle of all whâ—ch you talk of so much above all viz. The Light of Christ within every Man or Christ the Light within every Man Now to speak in G.F. and J. Stubb's words I charge you Quâ—kers Let us see where the Scripture speaks thus in these â—xpress words Let us see where it is written come do not Shuffle for we are resolved that the Scriptures shall buffet you Quakers about and that you shall be whipped about with the Rule Give us plain Scripture for it without shuffling adding or diminishing I charge you QUAKERS to give us Printed Scriptures for all these foregoing words and let us see in what Chapter and Verse they are Printed and if they do that I think I may promise them to turn Quaker presently But besides this their Hypocrisie herein is more gross For to what end except to deceive should they pretend that they cannot own this or that in theâ— Creed if it be not expressed in plain Scripture wheâ— they have so often and so plainly avowed That thâ— Scripture is not their Rule either for Faith or Prâ—ctice But now for the Protestants to call for plaiâ—-plaiâ—-Scripture is but according to their Principle becausâ— they own it for their Rule 7. So again p. 19. G.W. confesses that JESUS CHRIST is MAN one at first view might think hâ— spoke well so he does if he did but mean truly whâ—â— he speaks But that you may plainly see he doth not and may see what kind of Man he means in the samâ— Page he gives you to understand that it is such â— Man as hath not HUMANE NATURE and p. 24 such a Man as is not a Person without us and whâ—â— kind of Man think you must or can this be Is noâ— this a fine Quibble Judg you That this their Equivocation may appear more plain even to the Capacitâ— of the Vulgar consider That when the Quakerâ— say that Jesus Christ is Man They must meaâ— either That he is truly and substantially a Man a created Body and Soul or that he is an Imaginary and Fictitious one only If the first then they must own he is a distinct Person haâ—h as essential to him Humane Nature For to be a Man is to have the Nature of Man and every substantial Man is a distinct Person But this they deny of Christ therefore they do not mean he is such a Man If the other viz. an Imaginary or Fictitious Man let them say so if they dare and consider how Blasphemous it would be and what horrible Consequences would follow thereon And therefore to go round again let the Quakers equivocate as much as they will they must hold that indeed Christ is not Man or else fall into the BLASPHEMY or Absurdity abovementioned In plainness G. is Jesus Christ a Man and not a Person Seeing thou dost define a Person to be a MAN c. In the Introduction of thy Book intituled the Divinity of Christ What meanest thou by the word MAN A Created Body and Soul or some uncreated thing Now G. use plainness and honesty in this particular if there be any in thee or whoever he be that undertakes to Answer for thee Generally all Men in the World that use the Term Man as properly an English word understand by it a PERSON or a RATIONAL CREATURE distinct from all other Men one that is in some certain Place and cannot be in distinct Places at the same time that hath in respect of his Body Dimensions of Length Breadth and Depth that is visible one that began to exist at a certain time one that hath a head and a body so closely united that when-ever they two are severed the Man ceases to be But the Quakers they seem to mean quite another thing by the term MAN sometimes one thing and sometimes another I believe themselves know not well what By the term MAN Do you not mean one that is not a Person or Rational Creature but Flesh Blood and Bones of an eternal Nature J. P's Qu. p. 20. an infinite Soul One whose Flesh is and he is in a multitude of Men and Women in distant Countreys at the same instant of time Myst p. 68. Christ ascend p. 18. One that is not in Heaven as a place to live in remote from Men that live on Earth Spir. of Truth p. 12. Christ ascen p. 21. one that is not VISIBLE Christ ascend p. 37. one that begâ—n not to be for he was eternal one that is as far remote from his Body as Heaven is from Earth and yet lives See Quak. Plainness p. 23. In fine it seems Jesus Christ is a Man whose Glorious Body in Heaven is not a Humane or Man 's Body see the same p. 23. and doth not the Quaker use now admirable Plainness in his Confession of Faith in Scripture-Language Doth Europe or America afford such Equivocation 8. G.W. p. 19. says further That Christ's Body of Flesh and Blood that was born of the VIRGIN-MARY and that suffered was Crucifyed Dye++d and Rose again the third day is called the Body of Jesus But yet G. thou wilt not say nor own That that Living Body is Jesus or that BODY is so much as a part of Jesus Consider this serious Reader here 's still the Quakers Quibble and a clear proof of the Quakers Mystery whereby their poor unwary Hearers are deluded and deceived So they will say the seventh day of the week called Saturday and the eleventh Month called January and the Scripture called the word of God and the Writing or Declaration of Matthew called the Gospel of St. Matthew and abundance the like Which yet they do not one whit the more Believe it for Truth for saying it is called so But Believe quite the Contrary as they believe the Scripture is not the Word of God though it may be called so so they can say by their Equivocation The Body that was born of the Virgin Mary is called in Scripture the Body of Jesus and
there such an expression in the Scripture as Proper least Proper c. are not these Philosophical Terms SECT III. In Reply to his third Section shewing G. W's and the Quakers Ignorance of the true Spirits Evidence who deny the Gift of Tongues Prophecy Signs c. to be such 1. IN my Epistle to W.P. p. 8. I minded him of the Apostle Paul's words 2 Cor. 12.12 13. Truly the SIGNS of an Apostle were wrought AMONG YOU in all Patience in SIGNS and WONDERS and MIGHTY DEEDS For what is it wherein ye were INFERIOR to other Churches Here was a Church indeed that had the Spirits evidenee and here was an Apostle indeed that had Divine Revelation the Gift of Prophecying Tongues and Interpretation of Scripture such an Apostle was one who indeed was not of Men neither by Man but sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 But no such Apostles nor Friends of the Ministry can I find amongst the Quakers who yet pretend to be Apostles not of Men nor by Man but immediately sent by God and pretend to have the same Spirit Calling and Power that the Apostle Paul had And yet alas do not EVIDENCE it any MORE than OTHERS do who pretend to it with as much Confidence as themselves Nay and so far are they from that that I do not see they are able to produce any MORE or give any better Demonstration of it than those who do not pretend at all immediately to it and therefore I told W.P. if he had had the GIFT OF TONGUES given him by the SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY upon his turning QUAKER Or if he could shew but ONE in all his Church that had such a spiritual Gift or Gifts upon his Conversion to their way it would put a clear difference betwixt them and the Baptists Churches and herein would the Quakers plainly then exceed and excel them and that one such Testimony if true in the Quakers Church would more confute the Anabaptists and Convince their Auditors than a hundred such days brawling disputes where the Quakers shew'd no more POWER OF THE SPIRIT than their Adversaries only fenced with words as well as they could as their wits would serve them best to Distinguish Evade or Answer And therefore I told W.P. I found his Church as Poor and Low as the Baptists whom yet they condemned I finding he had the words of Man's Wisdom in making plausible Orations but askt him Where was the Demonstration of the Spirit in Power and Sign 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 2. Now at this I find George is put to a great loss saying p. 14. What if God will not bestow such Gifts and Signs now Being afraid to say God will and yet not daring to say God will not what George art thou in a Maze Is not this Scripture-Phrase Is not this according to Scripture-Language 1 Cor. 4.19 20. I will know not the Speech of them that are puffed up but the Power For the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power see also Revel 2.2 And is not this according to your own Language G. Foxes Epistle before thy Book Divin of Christ have you the same Power and Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures And such miraculous Gifts are no more than what we find testifyed to have been and remained in the Christian-Church about two hundred or three hundred years after Christ Irenaeus who lived one hundred and eighty years after Christ affirmeth that in his time the working of Miracles the Raising of the Dead the casting out of Devils healing of the sick by laying on of hands and Prophesying were in being and that some that were so raised from the dead remained among them alive long after Niceph. Eccles. Hist Tom. 1. lib. 4. cap. 13. Tertullian and Cyprian which last lived till above 250 years after Christ do both make mention of the ordinary casting out of Devils and challenged the Heathen to come and see it 3. But says he p. 31. this is very strange But what then George It is not more strange than true And I say Is it not very strange that you will pretend to the Power and the Spirit and talk of being sent immediately by God as Paul was and have a Dâ—vine Commission to Prophesie and yet cannot bring any Evidence to prove it more than Others And instead of Producing one such Apostle Prophet or Minister in thy Church the best thing which yet alas is bad enough thou canst say for thy self Oh! our opposers do argue as just like the Papists and Jesuites as if they had served seven years at Rome Reply Ah Quibbler this will not serve thy turn above all Persons for who Argues more like a Papist or Jesuite than your selves about proving the Scriptures not to be the Rule of your Faith Who uses the Jesuites Arguments to prove good works the meritorious cause of our Justification more than you Was it not one of the most eminent and learnedst Men that ever you had amongst you that positively asserts THE SCRIPTURE TO BE A NOSE OF WAX yea and says it is CAPABLE of being NO OTHER Sam. Fisher Additional Appendix p. 21. And is not this the Jesuites Phrase in terminis And none but Papists except your selves use it Andrad Orth. Explic. lib. 2. p. 104. What had S. Fisher served seven years at Rome Nay I can shew you and others may see if they mind it that almost all the Arguments that Mr. Fisher uses to prove the Scripture is not the Rule of Faith are the very same that the Papists and Jesuites have used these hundred years and so G.F. in the Epistle before thy said Book says where doth the Scripture say that it self is the Word of God Just so do the Papists Argue What now George Is the Argument the better or the worse because the Jesuites have used it Dost thou think in thy Conscience this is a good Answer You can sometimes tell us that the Papists may use good Arguments and so the Jesuites make use of the Scriptures yet never the worse for that nay do but see how thou hast Answered this matter thy self in thy own Book Divin of Christ p. 38. It is but a mean way of Arguing to accuse or miscal any for owning any Truth that any sort if they do err in some things do hold for by that way I may as well be reckoned a Papist a Jew or a Turk c. How now George and yet dost thou use this mean way of Arguing against me For shame do not forget thy self and shuffle backwards and forwards thus but use some Consciencâ— in thy Scribling if thou hast any tenderness and plainness in thee lay thy hand upon thy Mouth 4. But further I 'le tell thee that I have oft used this Argument against the Papists and to chuse would use it before any other and the first and best thing as I verily think that I could use if I was to Dispute with a Iesuite
should be to put him to the Proof of his Church and its Infallibility That 's their first Principle and their Foundation and without doubt any person that will make Tryal shall find it best there to begin with them and it is but equitable just and reasonable that if they say or propose their Church to be infallible and the only true Church that they should first prove it to be so and there would I begin with a Quaker it being both necessary and reasonable Wherefore this is so far from being only a Jesuite's Argument that I am of the Opinion there can be no better way of Arguing against them I need no better Authority than the Example of worthy Mr. Chillingwâ—rth and I would advise all people to go that way to work with the Quakers their main Principles being easily reduced in effect to those of the Church of Rome and those Arguments that prove effectual against one may as effectually serve against the other Take but THEIR LIGHT WITHIN for the POPE and their INFALLIBILITY which now of late is run out of particular persons into that OF THE BODY for the CHURCH and the business is done For as the Papists calls it the CHURCH so the Quakers now call their CHURCH the BODY the BODY of Friends So here 's only the difference of words and who-ever discreetly considers this and makes use of it will doubtless find the ease and Benefit of it in Disputing with a Papist or a Quaker I have already shew'd it to be both necessary and equitable Now Reader canst thou think this was a good or sufficient Answer from G.W. alas it is a sign he was hard put to it that he could find no better Evasion 5. Then he says p. 31 and 32. the Baptists produce no such signs and I so told him before that I found them both a like poor and low in this respect so far as I knew with certainty and hereby then he grants that he stands upon no better ground than the Baptist-Churches why then will be condemn them since they have if not better yet as good demonstrations as the Quakers for ought yet appears But besides the Baptists here have this to say for themselves they do not pretend to immediate Divine Revelations and such inspirations nor to a Gift of Infallibility nor yet to any such immediate Commission from Heaven as the Quakers do and therefore no wonder if they hold there 's no need of Miracles or Signs to Evidence or prove that which they do not pretend to Wherefore George is at a loss and beside the bâ—siness here by thinking to Answer me by Quotations out of the Baptists Books for what 's all this to the Quakers who do pretend to immediate Divine Revelations and Inspirations as the Apostles had to a gift of infallibility and to an immediate Commission from Heaven to go forth as Prophets Apostles c What because the Baptists that pretend not to this need bring no Miracles to prove that which they lay no Claim to must therefore the Quakers who do lay Claim to all this be believed that â—hey have it without giving us any visible Evidence Sign or Demonstration that they so have it indeed only their bare word a very good one as If I should lay Claim to an Estate and yet need bring no more Evidence to prove my Title than all other Persons that lay no Claim nor pretend to it at all But yet this is not all For I find there are three sorts of Persons now in the World that do in a more eminent manner pretend a Title and lay all Claim to infallibility a Divine Commission and a power or Gift of the Right Interpretation of Scripture viz. The Papists or the Church of Rome The Quakers or their Friends of the Ministry or Body The Muggletonians or their Prophet Here the Quakers have two grand Competitors which lay Claim to what they pretend to How will they do here TO EVINCE THAT THEY HAVE IT MORE THAN THE OTHER the least of which viz. Muggleton seems to stand upon even ground with the Quakers but the Papists seem to have a grand advantage above them for they produce a claim of above a thousand years standing whereas the Quaker's is but an Up-start Besides they pretend to be in possession of it and how the Quakers will dispossess them I cannot tell since they have now left going to Rome and I hear no more of Divine Commâ—ssions they receive to convert the Pope of late years Now George Thou hadst dealt honestly and plainly if thou hadst told me this and this is it which is both Rational and necessary if thou expectest or claimest credence before them and this I expect of thee For it is not enough to say Thou art in the Truth and they are in Error and Blasphemy for they say that of thee and this I told W.P. that he knew in his Conscience was but a shameful begging of the Question For why shouldst thou be believed on THY BARE SAY-SO more than they And this is so honest G. that it is according to thy own arguing with me p. 41. sayest thou as if they were all bound to believe his Accusations on his bare word so say I are we all or any bound to believe thy Pretensions and thy Commission from Heaven upon thy bare word or if not upon thy bare word upon what then Answer this George plainly 6. Pag. 32. G. would mince the matter if he could saying Now as we have not this way imposed our Faith upon our Opposers so we shall not thus impose upon this Man or the Baptists But desire he and they may seek and try further Reply Thanks to thee for nothing George Thou and thy Friends have been UNCHRISTIANING of of us these twenty years and UNCHURCHING all the Churches in England and Europe calling the Priests and Professors of all sorts all the abominable names that you could invent and now truly when you are questioned your selves and find that notwithstanding all your boasting pretences and Braggadocio's you can produce NO MORE than others whom you have condemned and unchristianed oh truely then thou sayest we shall not thus impose our Faith upon the Baptists or this Man Pray tell us which way thou wilt impose it or what way dost thou propose for a Discrimination and a Rule to try you by since you have disowned the SCRIPTURES fit for that see S. Fisher Addit Append. p. 21. which Transcriptions and Translations WERE THEY NEVER SO CERTAIN and intire by Answering to the first Original Copies yet are not CAPABLE to be to all Men any other than a Lesbian Rule or Nose of Wax c. If you say the SPIRIT shall be the Rule to try you The Papists and Muggleton say you have it not but each of them are as certain as you they have it therefore it will be absolutely requisite for you to Evince and give some such Demonstration that you have the Spirit
CONFIDENCE of the Leading Quakers of the Foxonian Tribe audacious Attempts in such Evasive Replies to their Opponents daubed over to beguile the simple-hearted or deceived Quakers with seeming Vindications when their dreadful accusing Consciences if not absolutely seared at the same time cannot but tell them how greatly the sincerer sort of Quakers have been burthenâ—d yea grievously afflicted these many years under the sence of Guilt that rests on those called the BODY I may say even to the highest Degree of Perplexity witness J.P. W.M. J.O. W.G. T.M. M.S. T.F. J.F. M.P. A.M. with many more and although some of them may have trâ—ckled under the TYRANNICAL power of this BODY so called i. e. their Church though it be indeed Principally but of G. Foxes Building yet their Consciences cannot but bear Witness to what I have said in this Respect Here 's all that can be said in favour of such wicked Practices that it seems they must by Decree to uphold their Cause as long as they can set SOMETHING forth in Print as an Answer or that bears the Title of an Answer to all that comes out against them 6. It must be a very strong and notorious Delusion these Leading-Quakers are under if they do not see themselves manifestly Guilty of Abominable Equivocations and Quibbling in the greatest matters of Faith and Religion controverted between them and others Insomuch that notwithstanding their now loud pretences of professing Christ according to the Holy Scriptures so long as they do not nor will disclaim their Forâ—er Professions to the Contrary and their former abuses put upon the Scriptures and notwithstanding their loud Clamors against the Socinians as denying the Divinity of Christ yet themselves must know that they deny CHRIST to be either God or Man in the sence that Christians acknowledg him to be so see Contest for Christianity p. 115 116 117. and Controv. ended p. 44. to 54. And consequently they Introduce into the profession of Religion and the Scriptures such Equivocations and ambiguous Quibbling as Renders the most Religious Confessions Profound Deceits and the Words of God Recorded in Scripture no better than a Nose of Wax most dangerous and false 7. There are five or six little Books that do very ingeniously and fully set forth and give an accompt of the Deceit Impostures intolerable Pride Hypocrisy and Tyranny with the Popish Principles and vile Practices of some of your Leaders and Ministers of the Foxonian party chiefly in Matters of Fact which are visible to the Eyes and subject to the Senses of Men viz. The Spirit of the Quakers tryed Controversy ended The Spirit of the Hat Tyranny and Hypocrisy detected Questions for the Quakers to which may be added The Quakers Spiritual-Court The which or some of them at least I should advise all Persons Judiciously to peruse that would be inforâ—ed concerning them For notwithstanding that the Quakers have Printed something that bears the Name of Answers I do seriously think and hereby advertise them that those Books are IN EFFECT as much un-answered as if they had not writ twenty lines about it for indeed what these Quakers have writ in Reply is but ABOUT it not TO it They beat about the Bush and that 's all they make the greatest noise like the Lapwing when indeed they are farthest off What shall I say to your poor pittiful slight shifting evasive and equivocating Replies to these Books What shall I say to that heavy Charge of TYRANNY and HYPOCRISY exhibited against you in the Book bearing that Title What shall I say to that equal just and fair Proffer made to you therein and your not-accepting of it p. 49. and Title-Page 'T is offered over and over again to the Quakers To refer the Judgment of matters of Fact to the verdict of twelve impartial and honest men EQUALLY to be chosen and that in case the Quakers the others should not agree in the choice of the Persons it was proposed that the Vmpirage should be referred to the LORD-MAJOR of London or any Alderman on the Bench or to any one of twenty Common Council-men and if the Quakers would put it to this just honest and fair Issue that they should signifie it in writing and leave it with Francis Smith Bookseller dwelling in Cornhil and they should find their Accusers ready to comply therewith Now why dare and do you not thus adventure the Tryal of it And why will W.P. notwithstanding Cry out for Proof and exclaim that you are horribly belied and slandered and that they are all Lies Slanders and Forgeries and this is the chiefest part of your Answers If they are so indeed or ye Quakers so innocent therein as you would pretend nothing could possibly more honour and advantage the Quakers and their Cause here as clearly to Evince it and have this Judged for them by honest and impartial Men on both sides and it being only matter of Fact such men are capable to judg of it for shame then W.P. and ye Quakers do not any more cry out Gross Lies Slanders and Forgeries till you have agreed to this fair propose and have had the matters indifferently heard as so long profferred you and it be proved so what will ye thus decline the Proof and Tryal and yet exclaim as wronged oh unreasonable 8. What shall I say What can be said to such Men What can be expected from them Or who that is not infatuated can believe them or approve of their Confidence whereby they make themselves ridiculous and manifest to the world that some of them have neither tender Consciences nor shame in them to stand in things with such perverseness of Spirit not to say Impudence against not only Common Sense and REASON But OCULAR DEMONSTRATION saying any thing Backwards or Forwards as they please and that without Blushing I will name but three Instances now 1. Witness those many Texts of Scripture perverted â—ltered changed and corrupted by G. Fox when he charges others with falshood corrupting and perverting the Scriptures for doing the like or less as is set forth in several particulars in the Spirit of the Quakers tryed where in some places G. Fox puts THEM for HIM Col. 3.10 Conscience for Thoughts Rom. 2.15 he puts Christ's Belly for the Believers Belly John 7.38 puts another person into the Text John 10.29 Leaves out the SPIRIT in 1 Cor. 2.10 puts IT for WE in 2 Cor. 2.16 IS for WAS in 2 Cor. 5.19 Leaves out the word WILFULLY in Heb. 10.26 puts speaking for Prophecying 1 Cor. 14.31 c. Now as that Author says well any one that can but Read and understand English and knows that A is not B or HIM is not THEM or that IT is not nor can be WE may know that G. Fox hath committed Falshoods altered changed and corrupted several Scriptures and yet Mr. Penn hath undertaken to vindicate him in these matters though against his own other Mens Eyes and yet if you will credit W. Penn
WHICH IS DEATH and KILLETH Oh horrid abominable and wicked besides the falshood of it how near to Blasphemy is it Not to say much to his words in p. 5. where he maketh himself a Judge for others to be Judged by viz. Let all that read these Scriptures Judge thee BY ME to be a Lyar. Nor to their words in the Title Page where they say these their Words or Writings were GIVEN FORTH from the SPIRIT of the Lord IN VS You may enough ghess at it and the Impudence of it your selves Will not the Impartial Reader now think this Book ISHMAEL a Rare Piece for the bigness of it for 't is but about three sheets I must needs think that many Sober Readers that shall see and duly Consider these Words will almost conclude it incredible it being so abominably gross but that they may see it with their own Eyes in the Quakers own Book if they dare give Credit to their Eye-sight more than to the Quakers false Tongues and therefore I refer all such to the Book it self for better Satisfaction Sect. 2. Sam. Fisher in his Addit Appendix p. 21. Speaking of the Holy Scriptures says Which Transcriptions and Translations were they never so certain and entire by Answering to the first Original Copies yet are NOT CAPABLE to be to all Men ANY OTHER than a Lesbian Rule or NOSE OF WAX Forasmuch as even where Men have them as half the World has not they are lyable to be wrested and Actually twisted Twenty ways by Interpreters whose Expositions Sences and meanings which are as many and various as the Thoughts Conceits and Inventions of men are who Comment upon them must be the Rule to such as can Read them neither in Hebrew and Greek nor in their own Mother-Tongues neither And further the said Sam. Fisher in the same page tells us that He and the Quakers have put it to the Question How it may be known assuredly uncontroulably infallibly that the Scripture is at ALL of God and not a cunningly DEVISED FABLE and INVENTION of Men Do ye not think now Impartial Readers that the Quakers are High Honourers of Holy Scripture to use such Terms and Language in Querying about it as a cunningly devised FABLE and INVENTION of Men And in his very next words he gives us and the World to understand that the Church and Clergy of England do but go-round or Dance in a Circle when they tell the Quakers and us That the Scripture may be known to be of God by the Testimony of the Spirit and that we may try and find assuredly that Spirit to be of God by the Scripture Sect. 3. Ed. Burroughâ— p. 834. The ONELY perfect Rule of â—onscience in the Exercise to God is the SPIRIT of Christ and not any other thing G.W. Again the Question being put Do you esteem of your speakings to be of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible makes this Answer in his Serious Apol. p. 49. viz. That which was spoken from the Spirit of Truth in ANY â—s of AS GREAT Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and GREATER c. Sect. 4. W. Pen also that he for his Worthiness and sincerity may not Complain as left out shall give in his Verdict in his Spirit of Truth Vindicated p. 38. Thus the Scripture is much like the shadow of the True Rule c. Now all men know a shadow is an empty and vain thing and the most uncertain thing in the World sometimes shorter and sometimes much longer than the Substance it self Sect. 5. But now to wheel about and run round again though one would think no man possibly that pretends to Honesty or common Reputation could either have the Face or Confidence to do it having so rivetted and fixed the Contrary in Print as above nay some cannot believe that any Ordinary Romancer would Publish it in Print with such a Stupendious confidence as the Quakers have lately done viz. G.W. Quakers Plainness p. 70 71. Nor did we EVER prefer our Books before the Bible as unjustly we are charged but do prefer the Bible BEFORE ALL other Books extant in the World Our Intention and Principle NEVER was to bring our Books in Comparison to the Scriptures No G Is this True Does not thy own Conscience smite thee and fly in thy Face Nay is this possible to be true When G.W. himself calls the Scriâ—ture which the Minister asserted was the Foundation of Faith as I have already told you NATURAL and CARNAL the LETTER which is DEATH and KILLETH What can be worse than Natural Carnal that which is Death and Killeth Are your Writings worse than that Then further do but consider the Titles and Epithets this very G.VV. gives to some of his own Books viz. The Glory of Christs Light within Expelling Darkness Another The Light and LIFE of Christ within well go thy ways GEORGE not onely for a QUIBBLER but an AUDACIOUS CONFIDENT surely Geo. thou hadst not forgot that your Book ISHMAEL was given forth from the SPIRIT of the Lord in you Or did you deal therein falsely with the World And with God too Was any of the Holy Scriptures any more than given forth from the spirit of the Lord And if that you say be true I am sure your Books must be EQUAL at least with the Scriptures but what need I talk of that when Geo. himself assures me that some of their Writings or speeches were GREATER if ever the spirit of Truth spoke in any of them it is of AS GREAT Authority says he as the SCRIPTURES and CHAPTERS are and GREATER Sect. 6 And to face quite about again G. Keith told us positively That W.P. hath the Scripture as the Secondary Rule of his Faith and Practice Narrative of the Second Dispute published by the Quakers themselves p. 57. Who doth not see now that these men will say any thing Or care not what they say Mr. Pen himself at best does but say The Scripture is much like the SHADOW of the true Rule so far is it from being any either Primary or Secundary true and Substantial Rule to him but onely much like the shadow of it and a shadow is sometimes three or four times longer or shorter than the Truth and Substance and in that Respect says VV.P. it may be a KIND of a Secondary Rule Observe Reader how mincingly and Quibblingly VV.P. words it 1. In that Respect as it is much like the shadow 2. a kind of Secondary Rule a shadowy Kind but neither the true substantial or certain Rule and it all comes in with it may be suppositively now which of these two Quakers is the Quibbler Both May be one Must be But that is not all neither for worse absurdities will still follow for if that be true which G.VV. said then that which is DEATH and KILLETH is A RULE of VV. Pen's Faith and Practice and that which is Natural and carnal is A RULE of the Quakers Faith and Practice then an