the Reader to all bookish men that have read the Histories of those years wherein these things are said to fall out and they will tell us that these things are asserted by so many credible Authors at that time living agreeing in the same as takes away all doubt of forgery and slander Or the Reader may find them in Bullinger adv Anabaptist Sleiden hist Heresbachius hist Anabaptistica Lambertus Hortensius of the same Spanhem Diatr hist de Anabap. Joannis Clopenburgius gangrena Anabaptist And also Mr. Robert Baily Mr. Rutterfords Survey And a Peece lately transsated by a Minister of New-England and published by Mr. Hook of the Savoy entituled Johannis Becoldus Redivivus will further satisfie the Reader Anno 1528. Ludovicus Helster Joannis Trajer Seekler and other Enthusiasts were in the matter of Oaths Magistracy c. confuted by Hollerus and Kolvius at Bern and driven to say The Spirit taught them otherwise then the letter of the Scripture spake Rutterfords Surv. p 7. David George born in Delph austere as any Capuchin Frier that did often fast three dayes together by trade a Painter in 1540. did vend these Heresies among others That he was the Son of God the true and spiritual David born of the Spirit whereas Jesus Christ was born of the flesh That the Doctrine of Moses the Prophets Christ and the Apostles was imperfect carnal litteral That his Ministry was the time of perfection when all Ordinances shall be useles That it was the sin against the Holy Ghost to refuse the Spirit in David George his Ministry and to go back to the Prophets and Apostles These seeds he sowed in Germany and Transilvania Rutterfords Survey Gasper Swenck field in Luthers time a great opposer of the Reformation taught That the Doctrine contained in the Scripture is not properly the Word of God but improperly by a Metonimy where the sign is put for the thing signified That Faith and Conversion come not immediately by the Word preached but immediately from heaven by inspiration That the preachers of his time Luther Bucer Calvin Peter Martyr Beza Musculus Grynaeus Tossanus Melancthon c. were not sent of God and that no man was converted or the better for their preaching That no Doctrine in the Scripture CONDUCETH TO SALVATION That God is to be sought in his naked Majesty in dreams inspirations and revelations of the Spirit That our Righteousness and Justification is not in the imputed obedience and righteousness of Christ but in a conformity with Christ in glory by the in-dwelling Spirit of Christ Rutterfords Survey out of the Germne Authors CHAP. V. Of the Quakers of England since the Reformation HEnry Nicholls the head of the Sect called the Family of Love here in England wrote an Epistle to two Daughters of the Earl of Warwick in King Edward the sixth's dayes disswading them from Regeneration by the Word of God read or preached he denied Christ to be God This Epistle was answered by Henry Ainsworth he ascribed his blasphemies and heresies to the holy God as the Author of them saying of himself That he was annointed with the holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Jesus Christ Goded with God in the Spirit of his love illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of perfect being That Christ was not God nor man but the state of perfection in believers or annointing or Sabbath or the holy disposition or Godliness That all Ordinances Hearing Preaching Scripture Scripture-learning Baptisme the Lords Supper all confession of Christ before men all externals in Religion are things of no worth indifferent free trivial laid on us by no Law of God That our second Birth is our Saviour Christ. Rutterford That he could no more erre in what he said then could the Prophets of God or Apostles of Christ His Prophet of the Spirit Cl 13. See 8. quoted by Rutterfords Surv. p. 169. Of this Tribe were Hacket Coppinger and Arthington and that great number called Grundletenians from a Village in York-shire where they met in Queen Elizabeths and King James his dayes concerning whom Mr. Richard Baxter affirms in his Treatise of the sin against the holy Ghost p. 149. I had an old godly Friend that lived near them and went once among them and they breathed on him as to give him the holy Ghost and his Family for three dayes after perceived him as a man of another spirit as half in an extasie but coming to himself he came near them no more The hanging of Hacket in Cheapside 1591. who died blaspheming did much marre their matters and Arthingtons Recantation in a Book called His seduction did stay many CHAP. VI. Of the Quakers of New-England BEcause some Enthusiastis agreeing in many heretical and blasphemous Opinions with the Quakers did sail to New-England in the Reign of King Charles among those godly Ministers and people that went thither to free themselves from Prelatical Monarchy let 's follow them and take a view of them Mrs. Hutcheson and her Disciples taught That Love in the Saints is the very holy Ghost As Christ was God manifested in the flesh so is he incarnate and made flesh in every Saint The new creature or new man love or the Armour of God Eph. 6. is not meant of grace but of Christ himself The Faith that justifieth hath not any actual being out of Christ it is Christ believing in us The search and knowledge of the Scriptures is not a safe way of searching and finding Christ A Christian is not bound to the Law as a rule of his Christian walking In the Saints there is no inherent grace but Christ is all Frequency and length of holy duties argues the Party to be under a Covenant of works All Doctrines Revelations and Spirits must be tryed by Christ rather then by the Word The soul need not go out to Christ for fresh supply but is acted by the inhabiting Spirit In the Saints Christ loves prayes believes praises formally in them and they are wholly Christed and Godded A Christian is not bound to pray nor to any spiritual acts but when the Spirit exciteth and moveth him thereunto He that hath the Seal of the Spirit can infallibly judge of another whether he be elected or not No Minister can convey to another more then he hath experience of in his own soul The Law is no rule of life to a Christian Mrs. Hutcheson said Her own Revelations about future events are as infallible as Scripture the holy Ghost is Author of both That she is obliged with certainty of Faith to believe the one as well as the other Rutterfords Surv. out of Welds Narrative Almost every one of these Errors and Blasphemies are the same for Substance with what the present Quakers hold as may be seen by comparing The Errors and Blasphemies of the Gortinians from Sam. Gorten banished out of New-England about the year 1646. That the Ministers and Churches of New-England that are not
Rule of faith and conversation to walk By Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 22 43. Answer to Io. Griffeth p. 19 32. 67. That to limit a man to the Scriptures to Preach nothing but what he can prove from the vissible Rule of the Scriptures is to debar and limit God Rich. Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 3. 68. That faith comes not by hearing the Scriptures Preached 69. That the Scripture is not the Gospel 70. That men may be saved without it and comforted though disowning the Scriptures Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 21 22. 71. That he that hath no light to walk or speak by but the Scriptures is not like to speak truth Answer to Mr. Breck of N. Eng. Letter p. 7. 72. He is dead in sin that hath no other light nor way to salvation but what he hath out of the Scripture Answer to Mr. Brecks Letter p. 17. 73. Jeremiah Ives Quoting Lev. 19.32 to prove some honour dne unto men which James Nailor Answers in scorn thus What a standing rule is this word of yours the Scriptures that the deceit can thus turn quite into another thing than it speaks The Devil likes such a word as he can turn every way to plead for his Kingdome James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 22. 74. That it is the Devil in men that contends for the Scripture to be the Word of God James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 22. 75. That the Bible is not the written Word of God but a declaration of Christ the Word Answer to Io. Beacon p. 9. 76. The Scripture is not the Gospel that is Christ Jesus that cannot be contained in Paper and Ink. Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 17. Farnworth against Hagger p. 35. 77. That the light which is in all the Indians Americans and other Pagans on earth is sufficient without Scriptures James Nailors Answer to Baxter p. 48. Concerning the Ordinances of Jesus Christ. 78. Psalmes That Davids Psalmes are not to be sung in Meeter Truths defence against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 18 20. 79. Preaching That such a Minister that ownes not the Quakers way as takes a Text of Scripture and makes a Sermon upon it is a Conjurer and what he raiseth must needs be Conjuration James Nailor against Ives p. 13. 80. That he is a false Prophet and a Deceiver which hath not the word immediately from the mouth of the Lord but takes that which the Lord spoke to another and the Prophets Christs and the Apostles words and calls it Gods word and saith the Lord saith it Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 4. 81. That to raise Points Tryals Motives and Uses is adding to the Scriptures Truths defence against refined subtilty By Fox and Hubberthorn p. 40. James Nailors Answer to Io. Beacon p. 40. 82. Water-baptisme is denyed and affirmed to be no Ordinance of Christ. James Parnell and James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 14 29. Geo. Whithead against Clapham of singing Psalmes p. 11. 83. That it is a beasticall carnall earthly Tradition never commanded Truths defence against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 98. 84. Lords Supper Mr. Kellet in Laxcheshiere Queries Whether did not Christ institute his last Supper with Bread and Wine Richard Hubberthorn Answers him That Christ spake not of Bread and Wine but the Bread which Christ called his Body is to be understood of the Church that are many Members but one Body 85. But the Cup which thou drinkest we do deny for thy Cup is the Cup of Devils and thy Table is the Table of Devils which is an Idol and imitation and thy Sacrifice is to Devils and not to God And this Answer to Mr. Kellets Q. he saith is by the Spirit of the Lord. Defence against refined subtilty p. 99. And not only this but saith he Our giveng forth Papers and Printed Books is from the immediate eternall Spirit of God p. 104. Of all the Ordinances together 86. The Sacraments and Ordinances are beggerly Rudiments Commandements and Doctrines of Men and not the Ordinance of God Answer to Edw. Brecks Letter p. 10. 87. Although they are commanded by Christ yet to continue but for a time a figure of a substance which being 〈…〉 the Saints the figure ceaseth Answer to Griffith p. 16. Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 11. 88. They are unholy Duties and Ordinances Masons Answer to Rayner p. 17. 89. There is not any profit in sprinkling Infants or your Bread and Wine and those that partake in those Ordinances were never yet washed from their sins and pollutions James Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 73. Whithead against Clapham p. 11. Edw. Burroughs Truths defence p. 11. 90. Preaching the Word Praying Singing are no appointments of Christ but the inventions of men Truth defended against refined subtilty By Geo. Fox and R. Hubberthorne 91. The Priests taking Tythes in the time of the Law was evill and proved them to be false Prophets and Deceivers Burroughs Truth defended p. 5. 92. That the light of God and of Christ which is affirmed to be in every mans Conscience that comes into the world commanded circumsion and the seanenth day to be kept a Sabbath and the worship in the Temple c. And it was the same light that led the Disciples from these things to deny them and yet no offence to God nor contradiction in the light of Christ Burroughs Answer to Firmin p. 20. Of the Sabbath 93. No Sabbath to be kept Answer to Edw. Brecks Letter p. 9. Of Ordination or Call to the Ministry 94. The Ministers of God never were sent forth from God by a mediate sending but were immediately sent Rich. Farnworths Answer to the Westmorland Ministers Petition p. 5. Of Oathes 95. That it is not lawfull to take an Oath before a Magistrate no not to end a Controversie and that he who affirmes it is thereby found in the condemnation of the Devil James Parnels Goliahs head cut off p. 70 71. Of Perfection 96. That those that have received Christ and God are come to perfection because God and Christ are perfection James Nailors Answer to Ives p. 13. 97. That all such as are in Christ are without sin Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 7. Of Sinne. 98. That the Doctrine of Originall Corruption whereby we are deprived of the Image of God c. is a soul destroying God blaspheming Doctrine Masons Answer to Rayner p. 13. Of Vnion with God 99. That the substance of the Diety is communicable unto man so as to confound the natures and change man into the devine substance and essence Masons Answer to Rayners precepts p. 23. compared with Mr. Rayners deniall of such a Union in his Precepts Of the Sufferings of the Quakers 100. That it is for no other cause but for bearing witness for the living God and his truth as it is made manifest in us by the same spirit and life and power as all the holy men of
Brazen-fac't Beast Covetous Idolatrous Priests Tleeves Devilish Priests Priests of the world Foxes Ministers of Antichrist Proud Pharisees Envious malicious Priests Egyptians Sodomites Gog and Magog a Seed of evil doers children of the devil Blinde Watchmen Back-biters Raylers Seducers Taskmasters of Egypt Devouring Lions Firebrands of hell Sonnes of Belial What would not these men that use such language do if they had power to their will Many of the Quakers are no doubt inchanted and bewitched and possessed by the Devill I could instance in Glipin of Kendell and Tolderby as may appear by their severall Narratives published by themselves And of a Physitian in Lincoln who with his consent was made a Quaker for twenty four houres by a Quaker who he privately convicted to be a man in Popish Orders beyond Sea The Agreement was That at the end of so many houres he should cease to be a Quaker which so fell out but he affirmed that for that time he could not chuse but Preach and Pray at the Quakers rate but at the end of the said time he found himself exceeding weary and as indisposed to such work as ever In Colchester Gole within this last two years Parnell the Quaker would needs fast fourty daies and nights as Christ did who after he had fasted eight or nine daies suffered some food to be applyed to him but his body by fasting having lost its power of reception and concoction he dyed And after he was laid in his Grave a man Quaker how many more then one I cannot say waited by his Grave untill the end of three dayes expecting his Resurrection but James not rising the poor man ranmad upon it and so continued many weekss but at last got loose both from his madness and Quaking through Gods mercy to him These Stories following are Published by Mr. Ford and Mr. Fowler Ministers of Reading in their Answer to Speed p. 75. 1656. A Quaker acted that most abominable unnameable sin with a Mare Another poor wretch hanged himself these two you may find at large added to the relation of Gilpin of Kendall and confessed by the Prime of that way to be true what may be your thoughts of those Some Quakers killed their Mother They were taught to hearken to and follow after the Light within them this Light taught them they ought to destroy the Originall of Sin and by the said Light they apprehend their Mother to be the Originall and from thence still by the said Light they most wickedly embrued their hands in the bloud of their Mother this you may read in Mr. William Keys Minister of Stokesly his Answer to eighteen Quaeries who was with them in Prison Nicholas Kate of Harwell in this County of Berks about ten moneths since came into Newberry between eight and nine in the morning on the Lords day starke naked in a most immodest manner even beyond the Pagans and so walked through a long Street only with an inchanted belt about him which belt we have ground to call inchanted this man did not converse or live as a Husband with his wife for many moneths before this we will tell you what his Doctrines were 1. That Marriage was made by Man 2. That Christians were worse than Beasts 3. That any woman was as free to him as his Wife 4. That his Wife was no Wife of his she was a limb of the Devill 5. That he was holy and all things that he toucht were holy as his very Hatchet his pot his Knife 6. That when the fullness of time was come he should work miracles This man hath left his own Family his Land and Stock of a very considerable value entred upon by Persons whom the Countrey esteemeth Ranters his Wife a weak diseased Woman who brought him a valuable portion left to the mercies of these Persons which are cruell enough to her the Farmer Kate himself since his departure was never heard of by his wife or any of her friends if any Person can tell where he is or what is become of him they may do a charitable Christian Office to informe his much distressed Wife One of Bristoll who lately even the twenty ninth of Aprill last at Marleborough in the County of Wilts in a discourse with a Godly discreet and Learned Friend held out this Light 1. He knew no such things as the Resurrection of the body 2. That the Body of Christ was not in Heaven neither should be come thence with a body 3. He defended those that went naked but as yet he had no command to do so 4. That of late he went to bed with a woman who was not his wife and that he did it without Sin 5. That that very Christ crucified at Jerusalem was in-dwelling in him 6. That he was confident of his perfect holiness and on that account went to bed with the woman and yet afterwards excused himself saying there was a necessity for it there was no other spare bed in the house CHAP. IV. Some Observations upon the whole History 1. THat men may talk much of God Christ the Spirit and all the things of Religion and all in vain and worse then in vain even to the blaspheming of God and Christ and the holy Ghost and the infecting the minds of people And to my certain knowledge there are very many that sometimes use to express themselves about matters divine after an extraordinary rate as to sublimity and experience in shew who at other times among their Comrades like Devils incarnate will most jocularly blaspheme and jeer at the greatest things in Divinity 2. The necessity of divine knowledg of the Principles of Religion A firme knowledg and assent to Principles held forth and proved in many Catechismes or Systeme among us would arm and fortific the soul against all contrary Doctrine and against all such foolish glosses upon Scripture as overthrow the said Principles and Analogy of Faith Oh that people were convinced of the good of Catechising It s the best part of good education even for the greatest persons 3. The great danger that we are in of having the whole Nation overrun with these poysonous Weeds to the everlasting undoing of so many of our selves Wives Children Relations as shall take down the venome thereof As the coming in of darkness puts out light and sickness health so doth the coming in of error and misbelief thrust out truth faith piety and happiness The Land is sick and the disease increaseth threatning death And if it once come to be predominant England is undone And then may it be said to be so when error and ungodliness come to wield the Sword and the Scepter 4. The great danger of Hipocrasie and Formality in Religion of mens having the forme of goldiness but denying the power thereof of living under the tenders of the truth without receiving the love of it For which cause God threatens to send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned
this substance is the same holy Ghost by which the Apostles were endued and the Christ of God the Redeemer from sin That the Garden of Eden is the world that the Trees thereof are all living beings That Paradice is in man That man fell by harkning to the wicked which was the fleshly mind and that not the Woman properly but the silliest and weakest part was the Woman that tempted him That Adam was the earthly nature in Man That the Redeemer of Man is not that person the Son of God that dyed at Jerusalem but the light which is in every particular Man by which he is given to see sin and inabled by it if obedient to be redeemed from sin That searching the Scriptures is not the way to find out the knowledg of Christ but the turning the mind within there to be taught the measure of God the Law written in the heart That Scripture ought not to be interpreted This Collection following of the Opinions of the Quakers was made by two very Reverend and most credible men Mr. Christopher Fowler and Mr. Simon Ford Ministers of the Gospell in Reading in their Book Intituled A sober Answer to an Angry Epistle of Tho. Speeds a Quaker in Bristol The Quakers Doctrines 1. Sect. 54. Perfect Pharisee p. 3. See also the Relation of the it-religious Northern Quakers THat they are equall with God as holy just and good as God himself Affirmed by G. Fox and J Nailor before Witnesses who attest it in a Book called the perfect Pharisee published by five Ministers of Newcastle 2. Sultable hereunto was the Blasphemy of one of your she-Quakers lately in hold in this Town who being convented before the Major of this Corporation and asked what she was and what was her name roundly answered and stood to it again the next day I AM THAT I AM which will be attested upon Oath by the Major and one of the Constables 3. Suitable to this was the Blasphemy of another of your Brethren who meeting with a godly Londiner occasionally being in this Town on a Lords day lately and asking him the way as he met him to one of our Churches answered him in these words The Church is in God and the Church is God 4. That the being of God is not distinct from them that are begotten by him Sword of the Lord by James Atkinson Quaker 5. That the Nature and Glory of the Elect differ not from the Nature and Glory of the Creator For the Elect are one with the Creator in his Nature enjoying his glory That the Elect is not distinct from the Creator Howgill and Burroughs two Quakers in an answer to Reeve 6 And that God is not distinct from living Creatures for in him living Creatures lives moves c. 7. That God is three Persons or subsistences they say is a lye That there is no distinctions of Persons in the Godhead Sword of the Lord by J. Atkinson G. Fox Errand to Damascus 8. That the soul is a part of the Divine Essence See perfect Pharisee p. 6. 9. That Jesus Christ is God and Man in one person they say is a lye 10. They deny and detest this Doctrine That Christ being the only God and Man in one person remaines for ever a distinct person from all Saints and Angels notwithstanding their Vnion and communion with him Sword of the Lord by James Atkinson 11. That the person that Son of God which died at Jerusalem is not the Redeemer of Man from sin but the Redeemer is in every man that light by which he is given to see him c. The discourse of a Quaker with J. Toldervy Foot out of the Snare p. 7. 12. That Christ is in every man even Heathen Indians and in the Reprobates he is hold under corruption 13. That Christ was a man had his failings for he distrusted God upon the Crosse J. Nailor See perfect Pharisee p. 7. Rob. Collison See Gilpins Book p. 2. 14. That we are not justified by that righteousness of Christ which he in his own person did fulfill without us And that whosoever expects to be saved by him that died at Jerusalem shall be deceived For Christ in the flesh was in all that he died and suffered a Figure and nothing but an example 15. That we are therefore to be saved not by the righteousness of Christ imputed to us but by the righteousness of Christ inherent in us See both these in the perfect Pharisee with their Testimonies p. 9 10 11. And Howgill and Burroughs Answer to Bennet Q. 9. And another to the same purpose saith That the faith and justification which stands in the comprehension of Christ without will stand us in no stead Fr. Gawler to Mr. Miller of Cardiff 16. That God and man cannot be perfectly reconciled till he be brought into the state of the first Adam and able in his own power to stand perfect And that holy workes and lives of Saints are not excluded from justification Howgill c. Answer to Bennets 11 12 Quaeries 17. That no man that is not perfectly holy or commits sin can ever enter into the Kingdome of Heaven except there be a Purgatory And there is no Saint but he that is so perfectly holy in this life without sin 18. That to Preach the impossibility of such a freedome here on earth is to Preach up sin while the world stands and to bring men into Covenant with the Devill for tearm of life Nailor perfect Pharisee p. 11 12 13. See also J. Parnell Shield of faith p. 29. to both these Nailor in his answer to Mr Baxter p. 28. 19. That Christ took not humane flesh upon him at any time otherwise then he daily doth and that Christ is now conversant on earth among men since his ascension as he was in the Apostles times It is the summe of Howgills and Burroughs answer to two Quaeries of Mr Bennet See Howgill c. in their answer to Bennets 18 and 19 Qu. 20. That the Scriptures are not the Word of God This is their constant judgment though they dare not profess it for fear of the Law as one of the most eminent in these parts confessed before the Magistrates here in the hearing of one of us asking Whether if the Bible were burnt the Word of God were burnt or words sully to this purpose See the proof perfect Pharisee p. 23. T.C. Parnells book p. 10. saith He that saith the Letter is the Word is a Deceiver 21. That they had a light in them sufficient to lead them to salvation if they had never seen or heard of the Bible The substance of this was affirmed before some Magistrates of this Town and one of us by the same party And this light extended to Heathen Indians by him Suitable to the assertions of James Nailor in a discourse of his in the Book quoted here And he that saith the Letter is the Rule and guid of the people of God is without feeding
who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11. 5. The impudence of sin that with a Brazen Whoorish forehead dare hold forth its abominable Doctrines of Devils and rebellious practices for precious truths and holy workes as may be seen in this History 6. The patience of God that a Nation of the greatest provocations is not utterly destroyed That London the source of these Abominations hath not been yet made more miserable than blasphemous Cracovia 7. The nature and consequence of scisme and causeless separation from the Church and Churches of Christ Where as many as will may turn Masters and orderless no marvell if confusion and every evill work follow besides one sin many times causes God to give a man up to another and so on 8. What great need all that think they stand have to take heed least they fall Oh let us watch and pray be jealous of our selves and trust in the Lord in the use of all the meanes that he hath appointed A great reason of falling from the truth is peoples pride and selfe-confidence and want of that tenderness of Conscience and fear of sinning that puts a man upon care pains and diligent inquiry in the matters of saith and life to prevent our miscarrying 9. How wicked a thing it is and how highly displeasing unto God to call all persons whatsoever that pretend to godliness and though free from common notorious and unmasked wickedness a godly party or godly persons whenas many such pretenders hold forth such opinions as deny the Lord that bought us and maintain the works of the flesh and damnable Heresies And woe be to him that calls good evill and evill good which respects persons as well as things 10. How much it concerns all the Servants of the most high God the Disciples of Jesus Christ both Magistrates Ministers and People from this Alarm to Arm themselves as the faithfull Souldiers of Jesus Christ and by all holy wayes and meanes to set themselves against this flood of Blasphemy and Error and the Captain thereof who strives to be sole Prince of England This this with all his Armies is the common enemy he hath many Armies great Revenues he hath great experience craft and policy which never appeared so much as it would if he could perswade the Christians of these Nations that error is truth and wickedness godliness and the incouraging of them a good old Cause 11. What cause we have to fear that while persons of such corrupt minds and heads increase our Judicatures even from the highest to the lowest will be in danger of being corrupted because they are made up of the distributed people unless it were made a fundamentall Order of those Courts that none who are either by Apostacy or Education enemies to Christ and the known avowed Christian Religion shall be members thereof 12. That the Quakers have no reason in the world to cry out of perfection nor to boast of their sufferings as they do for it s as plain as the Sun that they have suffered as evill doers for being uncivill to Magistrates disturbing Gods People in their Assemblies for being busie bodies or some other known wickedness and if so all their charging the Courts Justices Constables and those that assisted or abetted them with persecution falls flat to the ground 13. What a great mercy of God it is that though there are so many thousands of them their number is not greater they being such an unruly people and so full of deadly hatred against Jesus Christ his Ministers People and Ordinances If they had power to their will they that now frequently affront and disturb a Minister and Congregation would pull the Minister out of the Pulpit and instead of being turned out of the Church would turn out the Congregation and then our bloud might be mingled with our Sacrifice And moreover would not they that scorn to petition a Parliament or be uncovered before the greatest Throne of a Nation pull them out by the eares if they were able unless all Civill power were in their hands and then what Persecutors they would be may be easily concluded from the sight of their teeth before hand 14. That it is high time for all the Redeemed ones the Sanctified ones the Children of the great God the Favourites of Heaven honest godly sincere Christians Children that will not lye to improve their interest in God through Jesus Christ for this poor sinfull divided Nation that God would not impute unto the Nation the Abominations of many and so depart from us and suffer us to relaps into Popery or Paganisme But that he would arise for the recovery of the interest of true Religion that is brought very low in England as indeed it is abroad in other Nations It s time for God to arise for men have made void his Law That God would either deliver us from unreasonable men and give us such Magistrates as shall be nursing Fathers to his Church Or prepare us so for sufferings that we may be ready to dye for the Name of the Lord Jesus his Person Natures Word Offices Ministry Ordinances thereby demonstrating as much as in us lies the power of godliness the transcendent exceilency of true Religion above the honours pleasures profits of this world and life it self that so through God blessing our very sufferings may indeere our Religion unto surviving Generations When they shall consider not only what it cost their Ancestors by way of testimony to the Truth but what it wrought their hearts unto as the Instrument of the Spirit of God making them to forgoe all for God their portion and Jesus Christ their Redeemer CHAP. V. AS to Satans design in stirring up such kinds of people I had a purpose to have done it more fully than now I shall for having taken up more Paper already than agrees with the small price I intended this Book to be sold for that so it might come into the more hands of such as I Writ it for viz. those that do not know so much as myself I shall at this time say but thus much Satans design is That he may solely rule in and over every Man and Woman in these Nations to their everlasting damnation that not one of our Children and Posterity may be saved To which end he would reduce us unto Popery or Infidelity as abundantly appears by the foresaid Doctrines which according to his will are propagated all the Land over by all the ranks and orders of his Kingdome These Opinions following are affirmed to be the Opinions of the Quakers by Toldervey who was a Quaker which he affirmes in his Retractation Intitled The foot out of the snare THat the Word of God is not the Scripture but the life or the substance whence the Scriptures are spoken That the substance the Word of life is the measure of God manifested in man the gift of the holy Spirit manifest in flesh made known in all That