flesh to the intellect we must live in contemplation lay by all Offices in the Commonwealth and own no fleshly Relations as they call them not the Relation of Brother or Sister not the Relation of a Magistrate or of a Master not the Relation of a Father or Mother Son or Daughter nor love any because of such a Relation but only as Justice binds us to requital for what they have done for us That none should own the Relation of Husband or Wife nor love each other as so related That we should endeavour to be perfect and therefore to forbear all carnall acts of Generation as being of sin and of the Devil and therefore Husband and Wife should part asunder or abstain That all things should be common and none should own propriety with abundance more which are Jounded on certain vain unproved fancies of Behmens That God at first created man a spiritual body in one sex only that containing both sexes vertually having an Angelical power of spiritual Generation and that this gross corporeity and diversity of Sex Marriage and Generation are all the fruits of sin and Satan with abundance more such audacious vanities not worth the reciting Now I shall come more closely to treat of the people among us that are commonly called Quakers The chief Ringleaders are named in the Quotations following CHAP. II. Containing some of the Blasphemies and Errors of the Quakers which they have Published in their Printed Books which I have not taken upon trust but have seen them every one and reduced them to the following Heads Of the Authority of their Words and Writings 1. THat what Christ the Prophets and Apostles spoke and what is spoken or written by the Quakers are all given forth by one Spirit according to measure and that a man may as well slight the one as the other Mr. Camelford Minister of Stasly Chappel in Lancheshire having told Tho. Atkinson in answer to his Queries that his Queries were condemned to the fire to be burned Geo. Fox replies You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the fire Truths defence against resined subtilties By Geo Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 2. and justified by James Nailor in his Answer to Jer. Ives p. 15. 2. That they have as full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scriptures had Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn Truths defence p. 43. 3. That the same gift that worketh miracles is among them as was among the Apostles Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn Truths desence p. 44. Of Antichrist 4. That that denying of Christ to be come in the flesh which is the mark or Character of Antichrist or the Man of sin is the denying of Christ to be come in the flesh of his Saints Masons Answer to Johnson Of Atonement 5. That there is that in the spirituall Man which being turned into and followed can redeem and make Atonement and that in him the Attonement is made IN Answer to Higgenson p. 3. 6. That the light which is in every man sheweth the true Atonement and no other thing can shew it to every particular Person ibid. p. 38. Of civill Titles and Gestures of respect unto Men. 7. That bowing the body and putting off the Hat unto one another is an Heathenish Custome and Idolatry James Parnell's Goliahs head cut off p. 39 40. 8. Mr. Raynor of Lincoln is called Babilonian for directing his Epistle to the Right Worshipfull the Major of Lincoln Masons Answer to Raynor p. 4. Of Christ 9. George Fox being asked whether Christ have a body in Heaven and be a particular man or person incompassed with a body to live for ever ye or no Affirms that Christ hath but one Body and that is the Church Truths defence against refined subtilty by Geo. Fox and Hubberthorn p. 78 79. Edw. Burrough's Answer to Bunion p. 28. 10. Christ hath but one body and that is his Church James Nailor against Ives p. 23. Edw. Burroughs against Bunion p. 30. The destinction of Christs personall presence in Heaven and spirituall presence in his people is denied James Nailor's second Answer to Tho. Moore p. 13. 11. That the Election Ordination and Adoption so often spoken of in the Scriptures is Christ and the drawing is the Spirit of the Father which is administred in the light which draws to Christ the Election James Nailor against Jo. Beacon p. 40. 12. That Christ was the Gospell which the Apostles Preached Ja. Parnell's Goliahs head cut off p. 17. 13. Christs coming in the flesh gave Adam his created estate and recovery Hubberthorn against Tho. Winterton p. 8. 14. Christs coming in person to Judgement is denied Hubberthorns innocency of the righteous seed p. 7 8. he is no where to be looked for but within Mason against Johnson 15. It is no deceit to own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began Edw. Burroughs against Bunion p. 13. Of the Church 16. Christs Church is in God and God hath not a visible or temporall Church in the world nor is the Order or Rule or Government in the Church visible but spirituall and eternall Farnworth against Hagger p. 17 23. 17. That since the Apostles dayes hath been a great Apostacy and not a true Church of Christ could be found and ever since hath the same Generation as now of false Prophets stood under severall formes and appearances deceiving the Nations but now the pure light of Christ shines c. Answer to Griffith Of Religious Education 18. That for Masters and Mistresses to make their Servants read Scriptures and to bring them to the publique Ordinances argues a persecuting Bonner like spirit and is a seeking to dethrone Christ and is treason against the King of Saints and his tender Lambs Masons Answer to Mr. Rayners Precepts p. 37. Of free will and of the power of nature 19. The light of Christ within or the light that is in every Mans Conscience if walked in and hearkened unto will be strength to lead a Man to life Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 12. many of their assertions concerning the light imply the same thing Of internal light and what it can do 20. That the light which is in every one that comes into the world shews a man sin and evil and the deceipts of his own heart Geo. Fox Exhort to the People in Answer to Westm Ministers Pet. 21. And loving this light it will bring you off all the worlds wayes and worships to worship God ibid. And lead you into the light of life Farnworth against Hagger p. 51. Hubberthorn against Tho. Winterton p. 2. From impurity unto holiness Masons Epistle to his Answer to Mr. Rayners Precepts 22. It is spiritaall 23. And the light of Christ wherewith he enlightens every one that comes into the world 24. It is pure and whosoever beleives and follows it shall not abide in darkness but shall have eternal life and whosoever believes it not is damned James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris
upon the Husk c. p. 11. See way to the Kingdome p. 8. See perfect Pharisee p. 17 18. 22. That the Scriptures are not the Saints Rule of knowing God and living unto him but that which was before the Scriptures were written This is also your own concerning which anon more at large Atkinson ubisupra p. 1. Parnell p. 11. 23. That there is no need of outward teachings by reading or hearing of the Scriptures opened and applyed See perfect Pharisee p. 20. 24. That no mens interpretations of the Scripture or Arguments from them are to be received except those that give them are infallible See Quakers Cat. published by Mr Baxter where the Quaerists require Infallibility in a Minister And perfect Pharisee p 23. This is generally their strain We renounce and deny all your meanings interpretations arguments calling them adding to the Scriptures And concerning it we must have a brush or two with you anon 25. That the light in them is the Gospell and the more sure word of Prophecy so sure that some of them say That it is a like for to take a sentence out of their Letters and Preach from it as to take a sentence out of Pauls Epistles Discovery of mysticall Antichrist displaying Christs Banners p. 15 and 33. 26. That there is no call to the Ministry but an immediate Call which is generally proclaimed by them See perfect Pharisee p. 29. J. Parnell p. 16. 27. There is no Baptisme of Christ but with the holy Ghost and fire And no Supper of the Lord but in the spirituall part for as for the visible part The Bread which the world breakes is carnall and naturall See perfect Pharisee p. 28. and J. Parnell p 12 13. 28. That singing Davids Psalmes in English Meeter is to sing the Ballads of Hopkins and Sternhold King James his Fidlers And to sing them is to turn the Scriptures into lies and blasphemies One of them in a Letter here at Reading Henry Clarke in his description of the Prophets p. 9. 29. That God made not man to be Lord over Man but over Creatures and therefore amongst them there are no Superiours after the flesh But are there any Superiours over them then that are not among them see in the next Article J. Parnell p. 22 23. 30. That Christ comes to fulfill and end all outward Lawes and Government of man Ja. Parnell p. 18 19. The righteous are from under the outward Law for they are a Law to themselves Especially if Magistrates be wicked that is not of them the Author quoted in the Margin denies them utterly 31. Ja. Parnell p. 37. That there is no Sabbath now but an everlasting Sabbath and that our Sabbath is but a shadow of which they have the substance and that the first day in the week is no Sabbath 32. That we may not pray before and after Sermons or at set times daies and houres because these things were in the Generation which were enemies to Christ Quaeries sent to the Congregation at Stopport printed in a Book of Mr Eaton 33. That the Ratters themselves had a pure convincement which did convince them And what their convincements were most men know To wit that there is no Heaven Hell Resurrection Judgment to come that there is no sin but what a Man thinks to be so that all that they did was done by the Eternity in them c. Geo. Fox and J. Nailor in a book called A word from the Lord p. 13. 34. That that word 1 John 1.8 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves was spoken by the carnall man Fr. Gawler See Antichrist in man by Mr Miller of Cardiff p. 7. Idem ibid. 35. That if a man hath sin in him he hath none of Christ 36. They will not acknowledge that Christ ascended with his body into Heaven Idem ibid. Since my Catalogue of the Errors and Blasphemies of the Quakers was Printed off I thought good to make this Addition following Of the Trinity WE deny the term of three distinct Persons which you call God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith the Library keeper of Cambridg p. 2. Printed 1659. Of the Authority of the speeches and writings of the Quakers Quest Do you esteem of your speakings to be of as great Authothority as any Chapters in the Bible Answ That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater as Christs words were of greater Authority when he spake then the Pharisees reading the Letter This was Writ and Published by Geo. Whitchead and Geo. Fox the younger in their Truth defended against Mr. Tho. Smith of Cambridge 1659. And themselves say it was written from the Spirit of Truth in Geo. Whitehead and Geo. Fox the younger see the Title Page of Truth defending the Quakers and p. 7. here it is plainly though most grosly and blasphemously affirmed that the Quakers speakings are of greater Authority than the Scriptures Of the Morall Law or Ten Commandements No Rule to the Christians life Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith p. 18. In which Book also these Doctrines are owned That Christs coming in the flesh was but a Figure p. 20. That it s no sin to mend an old Doublet on the Communion Table on the Lords Day in Sermon time though forbidden by the Parrishioners p. 20 21. Of Justification Good works are the meritorious cause of our Justification Fisher the Quaker in the Dispute with Mr. Tho. Danson at Sandwitch Printed 1659. These following Stories I had from my very good Friend Mr. W. Allen of London who will if occasion be satisfie any concerning the truth of them By which as well as by some of the former may be seen that the Devill doth extraordinarily act in and by many of the Quakers A Maid in London being met by a Quaker who addressed himselfe to her with suits of Love was perswaded to drink with him The Quaker took something out of a Paper and put into the drink and in discourse told her she should come after him and that he need not come after her The Maid after this found pressing inclinations within her selfe to go to the Quakers Meeting and was brought into strange Raptures and found her mind exceedingly turned against the Bible And some Christian Friends of hers having observed her to have been under sore distempers as well of body as mind for a certaintime at last kept a day of fasting and Prayer for her having her then in their company though not without much relactancy on her part Whilst they were thus seeking God for her she found her selfe greatly tormented and her body sweld so much that they were fain to unloose her Cloathes to give her ease But before they had finished that daies work she found her selfe delivered and since acknowledged to me the great mercy of God to her in recovering her
from that strong Delusion and the sad concommitants of it This Relation for substance I and my Wife had from this Maids own mouth A Woman so low in parts as rendred her esteemed not much better then a Naturall Foole being on a day at a Quakers Meeting in the County of Bucks not farre from Ailsbury where Fox the Quaker was was on a suddain so transported that with much liberty of speech and confidence she spake in the Quakers Tone of matters farre above her capacity though she never pretended to Quakerisme before And continued in those strange Raptures for about two dayes or more But afterward changed her Note and fell into a grievous Rage cursing swearing and blaspheaming and crying out a Fox a Devill a Fox a Devill in which she continued till she died which was about a day or two after that raging Frenzie fit took her And though of her selfe she was almost as weak as a Child yet in this fit could scarcely be held in bed by two or three Men. This I had from one living near the place the truth of whose Relation in this behalf I have no reason to question he being a person of credit and one whom this poor Woman sent to speak with the evening of that day in which she was taken with her Rapture The same Friend likewise told me of a Gentle-Woman whose Husband being inclined to the Quakers though she was not on a certain time brought Fox the Quaker up into her Chamber where she was sitting by the fire The said Fox not using many words comes to her and laid his hand on her forehead after which she became a Quaker for a certain time till God graciously recovered her This Relation my Friend had from the Gentlewomans own month that was thus used A Man in Kent sober of good report and religiously disposed but somewhat of the Seekers strain going to the Quakers Meeting one day was so wrought upon whilst there that he fell to Dancing and afterwards went home under great alteration of mind The violent impression of which exercise soon ended his life having before he died and whilst in his violent fits which were sad to behold complained grievously of Fox his holding him in Chaines This I have by credible information and being objected to an eminent Quaker in Kent he put it off with saying it was the just judgment of God upon him for opposing the Quakers A Prayer added only for their help that need it O Most great and most holy Lord God of Heaven and Earth who hast been so justly provoked by the People of this Land for their setting light of Christ the only Mediator between God and Man after such clear plain affectionate and long continued tenders of HIM and of salvation by HIM from sin and punishment that thou hast in thy wrath and sore displeasure given up thousands of them to their own hearts lust to the casting off subjection to thy Lawes and the pursuing the imaginations of their own hearts Yea to professed enmity against God the Father Son and holy Ghost Oh Lord how do they cry down thy holy Word Ministry Ordinances Sabbaths and the Bloud of Jesus Christ as unholy things inso much that we may truly say This day O Lord is a day of trouble and of rebuke and blasphemy Lord how down thine ears and hear open thine eyes and see the words that they speak from the Devill and the Pope who have sent these Papists Quakers Ranters Socinians to reproach the living God Oh that thou wouldst give Repentance and pardon to profane people to formall outside professers to those that are enemies of reformation that have provoked thee to threaten by the sad posture we are in the exterpation of thy true and holy Religion to those also that having no more knowledg of the true Head and Members of thy Church or zeal to thy glory do under pretence of charity call thy Blasphemous Enemies Godly people and of the godly party Oh that my Lord would give Repentance and pardon to his own peculiar ones for all their miscarriages whereby they have provoked thy Majesty to threaten the setting of the Sun of Righteousness in our dayes and bringing a night of Ignorance Err or and Idolatry upon our Children and Posterity Oh my God do this I pray thee for the Lords sake Good Father stay thine anger let thy spirituall plagues proceed no further undeceive simple well meaning souls that seeing not the worst of Seducers think well of them and so are in danger of being eternally undone by them Convert so many of thine Enemies as are not given up to finall impenitency and from implacable ones Good Lord deliver me and this Nation and all thy Churches and Ministers both from their infection and rage Stir up the Spirit of these Nations to oppose the spreading of Blasphemy of Popery and persecution of true Protestants suffer none of thine Enemies to continue uppermost give us such Magistrates as shall be Nursing-Fathers to the Church Curse and blast all Councels and undertakings that are against the Kingdome of Christ Stir up all thy People to pray earnestly unto thee for our selves and Posterity that thou wouldst continue the Gospell with us in power plenty and purity and however thou in thy Fatherly wisdome shalt deal with us that we may be kept faithfull unto the death to the glory of that power grace and holiness of thine which the Word of Truth that we profess holds forth All these things I beg for the sake of Jesus Christ my dear Saviour Amen FINIS