under the hands of a persecuting generation in Colchester-Castle in the year 1656. Published 1675. Pr. Pr. This Quakers scribbles are in no small request with his quaking-friends here you see they are said to be given forth from the Spirit of the Lord which is a profane equalling of them with the holy Scriptures this quaking holy man of God was in the Quakers account no less inspired by the Holy Ghost than the holy Pen-men of Scripture were it 's no slander to say that the Quakers are not a little fly-blown with spiritual pride not a little of it is here published in print behold this James Parnel was the Quakers martyr that bore a faithful testimony for God even unto death in Colchester-Jayl with respect to this Quakers great worth they were a persecuting generation who did persecute this Quaker according to his true demerit This Collection was published in the year 1675 to tell this generation that this Quaker was like Abel who being dead yet speaketh but I shall truly say not like righteous Abel Let us look into some of his Pamphlets for with them all I shall not trouble your patience The first of the Pamphlets is called A trial of Faith which is thus put to the test Q. p. 4. Q. Numb 53 You believe you shall never overcome your sins so long as you are here or be made free from sins here you shew your faith is not built upon Christ who came to destroy the works of the Devil and to cleanse from all sin Pr. Pr. This is the corrupt testimony of this quaking-martyr that they are no sound believers whose faith doth not cleanse them from all their sins that the faith of Christians is not built upon Christ if it doth not make them free from their sins peccatum ne sit a sinless estate reserved for the Kingdom of Heaven is no true Divinity in the Quakers School according to this high-flown Quaker we must either be wholly free from sin like the angels or we can be no true believers in Christ St. Paul burthened with his body of death was a wretched man in the worse sense one that was not built by faith on Christ no truly faithful Christian suppose this Quaker to be in the right what then then St. John was grosly mistaken in saying thus If we say that we have no sin which the Quakers usually do we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us this Quaker is certainly for a more holy faith than God himself did ever require it 's not the ruling power but the being of sin which this Quakers faith makes free from without doubt this is to be righteous overmuch in this world I leave it to others to judg if the ill spirit of the old Catheri was not gotten into this young Quaker however it 's most clear that unless the Quakers idolized perfection be owned as the true only touchstone of faith the best grounded the most stedfast and saving faith of any Christian is not worth a rush it is an unholy faith to speak this Quakers mind that doth not cleanse from all sin in being thus this Quaker being dead hath unrighteously spoken a lye in the name of the Lord by his false Doctrine he hath concluded the Church of England at home all reformed Churches abroad under unbelief for being of this right sound mind that they shall never be made free from all their sins as long as they are here Q. Q. The next Pamphlet of Parnel's is called Christ exalted into his Throne Pr. Pr. Here is seemingly great honour done to our Saviour Christ but it is only in shew not in truth as of old he was arrayed like a King to his own greater disgrace so he is now cried up by this Quaker to the high dishonour of the holy Scriptures which is no honour to our Lord Jesus Christ Q. p. 15. Q. Numb 54 The Scripture was spoken from the Light but is not the Light nor the word nor the life nor the judg nor the rule nor the guide nor the trier of spirits for all this belongs to Christ Pr. Pr. I may truly say without offence this is none of Abel the righteous his language nor a faithful testimony born for God except another Quaker Atheist or Antiscripturist none would have laid such base things to the charge of the holy Scripture except a Quaker no man did ever call Christ the rule this Quaker is guilty of weak reasoning because Christ is the word the light the life therefore Scripture is not the word of God a light the word of life a judg a guide a trier of spirits behold is not this rare quaking Logick is it not a great shame that such dull reasoning as this is should be fathered on the holy Spirit who is God without question it 's for want of good Catechizing that the Quakers vent such irrational things in print these quaking-lines are fitter for pity than a more serious answer however let it be duly considered that at this door hath been brought in all the filth that hath been cast upon the holy Scripture the Scripture is not the light what is it then darkness saith one Quaker not to be minded in any thing saith another not the word what then the letter a dead letter say several Quakers not the life what then putrefaction and corruption not the judg what then it's the spirit alone which gives true discerning saith another Quaker not the rule what then the Scripture is not the rule of my faith and practise saith another Quaker not the guide what then the Light within is the true guide say all Quakers not the trier of spirits what then the Scripture cannot help to discern betwixt true and false saith another Quaker Thus you see clearly how the Scripture the word of God is become like a dung-cart to receive what filth the Quakers and the Papists have to throw into it is it not very sad that the Quakers way of exalting Christ is by debasing the good word of God what manner of spirit it is that leads the Quakers let all wise men hence judg Q. p. 16. Q. Numb 55 Of this Light you people and teachers of the world are ignorant and so are doting upon the Scripture without with your dark minds there with the blind Pharisees seeking life where it is not to be found Pr. Pr. The voice of righteous Abel is not yet in these quaking lines with this Quaker both people and Priest are alike they are both alike ignorant of Christ the Light because neither people nor their teachers are fond of this Quakers false Christ the Light within therefore this Quaker saith they do fondly dote upon the Scripture without and this is done with dark minds behold as this Quaker thought this is our great fault because we make the Scripture not the Quakers Light within the rule of our faith and life therefore as this Quaker saith we are ignorant of Christ the Light doting on
us is no less matter in this Quakers account than the Doctrine of a Counterfeit Christian a Doctrine that hath not one place of Scripture to prove it a Doctrine which is denied by this real Quaker a Doctrine which is not expressed in Scripture To make sure work this real Quaker saith in effect That he is a fool or a mad-man a man void of common sense that would prove the Quaker to be no Christian for denying that Christ is a distinct person without us According to this Quakers false measure all the Members of the Church of England not to mention the Reformed Churches abroad are all fools and mad-men they are all void of common sense for they do unanimously affirm That Christ is a distinct Person without them To touch at this Quakers Verily c. Verily that man is a Braggadochio one that doth vainly magnifie the Scripture to be his sole rule nay he is a laughing-stock to all wise men that would prove a Quaker to be no Christian for denying Christ to be a distinct person without us If this be not one of the Quakers base Doctrines asserted by W. P. alias William Pon let all wise men judg According to this real Quakers mind we have no such Saviour as Jesus Christ who is God and Man in one Person distinct without us Q. pag. 79. Q. Numb 2 'T is granted That Christ is a distinct Being though not at a distance from the Saints Next we never said that Christ was not as well without us as within us we never set any limitations to Christs presence they are the false inferences of our enemies let the Reader beware that he be not abused by them for the word Person as thou usest it in telling of Christ God-man a distinct person without thee it is no Scripture-phrase Pr. Pr. In these Quaking-lines we have the way of a Serpent upon a stone here is Christ a distinct Being from the Saints but no distinct person without them this is a point of base unscriptural doctrine the Real Quaker justified saith so in effect The Person of Christ God-man a distinct person without us this is no Scripture-truth nor phrase According to the vain-glorious title of this Quaking-Pamphlet they are Counterfeit-Christians that do affirm Christ to be God-man a distinct Person without them Is it not high time for the Kings Sacred Majesty to arise and judg for by his Quaking-subjects Christ the King of Glory is basely dishonoured this Quakers Pen hath published this high dishonour Q. pag. end i. e. 79. Q. Numb 3 Such-like expressions occasion people to retain mean and dark apprehensions of God and Christ and his place of residence Pr. Pr. W. P 's false spirit doth here put him upon writing in good earnest against Christ God-man a distinct person without us for these are some of those such-like expressions as are of dangerous consequence as this real Quaker saith they do occasion people to retain dark and mean apprehensions of God Christ and his place of residence Without doubt it may be truly said That the Quakers light within is not of God for it prompts them to write so dishonourably of God the Son who was sent by God the Father in the likeness of sinful flesh thus to be God-man a distinct person without us to save us by faith in his Name Take it for a most certain truth It was the Light from below which served this Quaking Pen to write so basely concerning Christ the Word made flesh God blessed for evermore Q. pag. 82. Q. Numb 4 I grant the Scriptures are to be fulfilled and that many Heavenly exhortations reproofs and instructions therein contained are to be regarded by us But that which is my Rule to direct my understanding what is fit for me to embrace and what to reject and how to understand that which is to be received must be the Spirit of Truth which alone gives a true discerning Pr. Pr. The Real Quaker having written so ill concerning Christ God-man a distinct person without us it cannot well be expected that he should write well concerning the Holy Scriptures Like the Devil concerning Christ himself this Quaker ushers in his pestilent discourse with some truth concerning the Scriptures which serves as a blind for fools Notwithstanding Joab's fair words at first Abner was smitten to death by him at last Though this Quaker hath spoken well of the Holy Scriptures at first yet in his last lines they are basely thrust through he saith plainly that they are not the rule to direct his understanding nor to govern his life by it 's not the Scripture but the Spirit of Truth which is this Real Quaker's Rule it 's the Counterfeit Christian who holds the Scripture to be the Rule of faith and obedience This Real Quaker takes the Scripture to be but a blind guide for it 's the Spirit of Truth that doth alone give true discerning According to this Quaking-doctrine the Holy Scriptures do give no true discerning But hearken what follows Q. pag. 83. Q. Numb 5 The Light within ought to be the rule of faith and practice Pr. Pr. This is the Real Quakers upstart rotten doctrine this Quaking-dotage is not yet thirty years old this is in truth the Real Quakers Golden Image before which all if they are so filly should fall down and worship In the Quakers blind estimate the Holy Scripture is not the Word of God that this Quaking-fondling the Light within them may be set up for the Rule of faith and practice Q. pag. 84. Q. Numb 6 I further told thee That those who gave forth the Scripture came to the enjoyment of those things through the Light and Spirit of God or they could never have writ them therefore the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the rule of their faith Pr. Pr. Here W. P's best reason assisted with his Light within is fondly at work to prove That the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the rule of their faith that gave forth the Scripture Surely it 's matter of lamentation in our Israel that the Quakers false light and their lying spirit do counterfeit the true Light and the Holy Spirit who is God to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of saith and life Who can read these lines without bleeding hearts Whose hearts are not touched to find the Holy Scriptures reproached in this scurvy manner Let wise men judg what hard measure the Holy Scripture meets with from the Real Quaker Q. p. 95. Q. Numb 7 We do receive and believe the Scriptures given forth by holy men of God as they were moved of the Holy Ghost and that they are profitable for doctrine for reproof and for instruction in righteousness yet since they are Writings relating to the things of God no man can understand them or have an assured testimony of them but by the Spirit of God It was not the Scripture but the Father that revealed Christ to Peter Pr. Pr.
act his part to make little children believe this Doctrine to wit Three Persons and one God is a false doctrine That the Father the Son and the Spirit are no otherwise three Persons but as the world and their Teachers calls them so To say that God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost are three Persons but one God this is to speak we know not what a meer fancy as we have imagined a false doctrine contrary to the Scripture Article 1 To say with the Church of England In the Unity of this Godhead there be Three Persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost is in this Quakers account the Doctrine of the world and their Teachers a speaking we know not what a vain imagination a corrupt doctrine contrary to the Scripture If this be not pestilent doctrine for little children to learn let all sober Christians judg Q p. 21. Q Numb 35 Now Children the Scriptures of truth do declare of God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth which are one but the Scriptures cannot bring you to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth Pr. Pr. In this Quaking-Primmer here is a train laid to blow up the knowledg of the Scriptures to prepare little Children to sleight them as being unable to bring them to know God and Christ and the Spirit of Truth according to these Quaking-lines St. Paul was mistaken when he said that the Scripture was profitable for Doctrine for wherein are the holy Scriptures profitable for Doctrine if they are unable to bring those that read them to know God Christ and the Spirit of Truth certainly it is either a true or a false knowledg that is to be gotten of God Christ and the Spirit by the Scriptures to exalt the Quakrs Idol the Light within little Children are here taught to sleight the holy Scriptures as a dull Book in the reading whereof there is nothing of God Christ and the Spirit of Truth to be known There are many more soul-endangering Doctrines in this Primer but I shall dismiss them at this present that I may come to the Quakers Catechism a Book of no less dangerous consequence as Popery of late hath spread in this Kingdom by Popish Catechisms so the Papal Quakers have set their Catechisms forth to gain Proselytes by this means Pharisee-like they make their followers twofold more the children of Hell Q. THe Book now under consideration is thus Titled Q. Two Treatises the one Entituled A New Primer the other A New Catechism both written by William Smith Printed 1668. Pr. Pr. The New Primer is that Book in which is demonstrated the new and living way a specious title this Book hath to catch unwary Readers to draw them cunningly into the Devils snare it 's written by way of Question and Answer the Child inquiring the Father informing which is a subtle way to dispense Quakerism the other is a new Catechism both are bound up together both Primer and Catechism are the sittest for Smithfield to receive the Hangmans Imprimatur there the Catechising new Primer is betwixt the Father and Child thus Q. p. 2. Q. Numb 36 Child But is there something of God in my own conscience that will give me the knowledg of him Father Yes and there is not any thing else that can do it Pr. Pr. In the first page of this new Primer this Quaking father endeavours to shew his child how he may come to know God his way and truth which he saith is thus done by something of God in his own conscience but so as that there is not any thing else that can do it as for the Scripture this stands for a cypher for a dead letter like a dumb Idol the Scripture can do nothing to make known God his way and truth the Light within this Quakers fondling is the childs only tutour to help him to know God his way and truth as for the Scripture which is given by inspiration of God which as St. Paul saith Is able to make wise to salvation which is profitable for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work this very Scripture in comparison of the Light within is not able to help children in the least to know God his way and truth it doth still further appear that the Quakers spirit is not of God which doth thus debase the Scripture which is Gods word Q. p. 5. Q. Numb 37 Fath. Such as are not Christs Ministers have their power and authority from man and have each man a place of settlement which is called a Parish in that Parish they have Tythes allowed for their maintenance and they have a law made by man to compel it and if any for conscience sake cannot give it them then by their Law they sue them and imprison them and spoil their goods and these are wolves Child that are let loose among the lambs to rend and tear them and they have places builded in their several Parishes which they call Churches and they observe one day in a week for their worship and few hours in that day to perform it and they have an hour-glass and that is their time of Preaching and their eye will be oft towards the glass to see when it is run because it is a long hour to them when the glass is run they tell their people the time is now spent and what hath been spoken must suffice for that time and this is not the practice of Christs Ministers Pr. Pr. By this Quaking father the children of this Church and Kingdom are basely taught in a ridiculous manner to despise all Gods Ministers of what degree soever throughout this whole Kingdom from the Kings Chappel to the meanest Congregation we are all alike none of Christs Ministers like Jeroboams Priests or Baals Prophets this Quaker saith we derive our authority from man the Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops the Ordination of Priests and Deacons is no more but an humane invention for they have their power and authority from man in this Quakers account there is no true Ministry belonging to the Church of England the Priests are but so many Tythmongers setled in every Parish bloody wolves let loose among the lamb-like Quakers to rend and tear them like the Jews they have a law made by man to compel that which is unjust they are time-servers who do observe one day in a week for their worship and a few hours in that day to perform it an hour-glass measures the time of their Preaching which their eyes are oft upon their glass run and their time are both spent together thus in this Quakers eye they are no better than so many hour-glass-Preachers behold what a silly scandalous charge is here drawn up against all the Ministers of Gods Word in this Church and Kingdom who can believe that the foregoing discourse was indited by the infallible spirit who is God
the Scripture observe it well to read in to meditate of to study to believe to live according to the Scriptures is as this Quaker calls it our doting on them and this is done with our dark minds there except Quakers who cannot but have a very good opinion of themselves who follow the Light within them as their Lord God and Saviour all others both people and teachers of this world do but dote on the Scriptures with their dark minds nay to take this Quakers mind more at large they are like the blind Pharisees the people being blind themselves are led by their blind teachers thus they go blind-folded seeking life in the Scripture doted on where it is not to be found I may now truly say according to this Quakers mind that the Scripture is basely accounted of either as a dead letter which hath no life in it or as Christs tomb or empty grave where Christ the true Light is not to be found Q. p. eâd. Q. Numb 56 Thus with your dark minds you would take the authority from Christ and would give it to the dead Letter Pr. Pr. Now this Quaker speaks plainly but not yet like righteous Abel he doth harp still upon his old string as if Christ were dethroned because the Scripture Gods Word is a light unto our feet behold if either people learn or are taught such true doctrine as this is then the people and their teachers with their dark minds do as this Quaker saith take the authority from Christ and give it to the Scripture which is saith this Quaker a dead letter Without doubt this is a base slander the Grand Seignior would not suffer his Alchoran to be thus reproacht however in this point their elder brethren the Papists and our modern Quakers are well agreed to both of them the Holy Scripture is no more but a dead letter By the way let it be observed that here is James Parnel a servant of God whose Writings were pretended to be given forth from the Spirit of the Lord a Martyr one that gave his testimony for God who called the Scripture a dead letter is not this corrupt tree plainly to be known by this bad fruit do you not espy a wolf in sheeps cloathing are not those streams which make glad the City of God basely fouled by him I am sure the testimony of this Quaking-Martyr is not the testimony which the Scripture bears of it self no undeluded Christian can believe that it is from the true Spirit of the Lord to term the Scripture a dead letter without controversie it is a standing-shame to Christianity that Christ the light of life cannot be rightly exalted but the Scripture must first be declared to be a dead letter this abominable doctrine was first hatcht amongst the Papists and and is now maintained amongst the Quakers Q. p. 16 17. Q. Numb 57 Your Leaders cause you to err for their own ends and of the Scripture they make an idol to get money by which they lead you in blindness in vain are you worshipping a God whom you know not crying up the Scripture exalting it in the place of Christ Pr. Pr. By this Quakers testimony all Ministers of the Gospel are basely bespattered they are in this Quakers account such Leaders as cause the people to err they are no better than a base sort of self-ended Teachers who lead the people into error for their own ends nay worse they are Idolaters and the Scripture he saith is their Idol to speak this Quakers mind more fully as Diana of the Ephesians was Demetrius his Idol so the Scripture saith this Quaker is the Idol of all Gospel-Ministers to get money by by instructing the people out of Gods word Ministers if you can believe this Quaker do nothing else but cause people to err and lead them in blindness by following the Doctrine taught by Gods Ministers the people are like the heathen Athenians this Quaker saith they do in vain worship a God whom they know not by making the Scripture to be the rule of their faith and life this Quaker saith they cry up the Scripture to the Lord Christs high dishonour exalting it in Christs place if this be not high base doctrine then what is such The Turkish Alchoran was never so debased by any Mahometans nor Heathen Priests so vilified in any part of the world by their Vassals as the Word and Ministers of the Most High God have been by this deluded Quaker Q. p. 18. Q. Numb 58 He is the Word and the Scripture is not He is the Light and the Scripture is not He is the Rule and the Guide and Teacher and Judg and the Scripture is not Pr. Pr. Here we have this Quakers cramb the second part of the same tune this Quakers dream is double according to this Quakers mind his false doctrine is established if any are so foolish as to regard it it is an Oracle from this Quakers lying spirit That the Scripture is not the Word of God nor a light unto our feet nor the Rule Guide Teacher or Judg because Christ is so this is the Quakers old weak reason fit to be dismissed as such But whither doth this Quakers wild doctrine tend Is not this the true meaning of it That the holy Apostle St. Peter was grosly mistaken that the holy men of God mentioned by him did not speak the word of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost That the sure word of Prophecy is no light shining in a dark place That those primitive Christians did very ill to take heed to any such light without them as the Scripture the sure word of Prophecy is To speak a little more according to this Quakers mind by no means the Law and the Testimony mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah may now be our Rule we do all follow a blind guide if we are led by the Scripture Hath not this man quaked to purpose Is not the Scripture by him shaken to nothing for it 's no word of God no Light no Rule no Guide no Teacher no Judg. Surely it's matter of lamentation that a false Christ the Light within who is not God and Man in one person must by Quakers be thus exalted to lay the honour of the Scripture in the dust to make the word of God of none effect Q. p. 19. Q. Numb 59 Saying among themselves If we let go the authority of the Scriptures then all is gone that is to say Take away our Idol then take away our maintenance then down with our Ministry Pr. Pr. Here this Quaker pretends to be the Priests Cabin-Counsellor to discover their secrets he brings them to light as being such as do only hold fast the divine authority of the Scripture to save their main stake mark how he supposes them to say among themselves even that which none but this Quaker or others like himself did ever hear If we let go the authority of the Scripture then all is gone This he