Quaking-Primer little Children are taught to take heed to the Light within them that the Scripture the Word of God the sure word of Prophesie may not be regarded by them as their guide or rule of their lives Q. p. 11. Q. Numb 29 Therefore cease from that which is evil and obey the Light within and then shalt thou be delivered from condemnation Pr. Pr. Here these Quaking Primmer-men are subtilly at work to corrupt the injudicious minds of children with gross Popery here is deliverance from condemnation not by faith in Christs Merits but by obeying the Light within them their worst guide It 's a sad case that little children are in danger to be thus basely taught to pronounce the Roman Sibboleth that man is dim-sighted who doth not see that Quakerism serves as a stepping-stone for Popery in this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 13 14. Hearken not to the deceivers Q. Numb 30 who keep you from the Light of Christ Jesus believe them not that turn you from the Light for they are not the Ministers of Christ Pr. Pr. Here you may observe how this Quaking-Primmer is mainly designed to foist these new Vessels by this bad liquor put into them other Teachers whether Archbishops or Bishops Priests or Deacons rightly ordained are but deceivers no Ministers of Christ to whom little children are here taught not to hearken nor believe them By this base suggestion it is here endeavoured to prejudice young children against the Ministry of Gods word by the lawful Ministers of it to make them be slighted as so many deceivers that would keep little children from the light of Christ Jesus to be slenderly regarded by them as being no Ministers of Christ as those that would turn them from the light I may truly say Here is the poyson of Asps with which these Quakers would infect the youth of this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 15. And such also are all deceivers who tell you Q. Numb 31 The only way to come to the knowledg of all truth is by the Scriptures for the knowledg of truth is by the Spirit of truth which doth bring to the knowledg of Jesus Christ and his Spirit leadeth into all truth Pr. Pr. The dangerous design of this Quaking-Primmer is to leaven the minds of young children with this abominably false doctrine That the Holy Scriptures are not the way to know the truth That Gods Ministers are deceivers who teach that the Scriptures are the way to know the truth Behold a sad case here is the Spirit of truth highly exalted to decry the Word of God the holy Scripture from being the way to the knowledg of the truth according to this Quaking-fancy any prophane despiser of the Scriptures may very boldly say That Timothy was ill-instructed in the knowledg of the Scriptures from his youth That St. Paul was grosly mistaken in saying That the Scriptures were able to make him wise unto salvation But you see these Quakers are strangely fond of the Light within so as to cry down the light of Gods own word as if nothing but deceitful knowledg were to be gotten by the Scripture which is Gods Book This Quaking-dotage doth plainly say In vain did Timothy know the Scriptures of a child in vain do any Parents train up their children in the knowledg of them if this be not what is the ready way to lay poor children open to the Spirit of Error to make them a ready prey to the Quakers deluding spirit of truth By pursuing this Quaking-fancy is not the Devil likely to have a rich ingathering in this Church and Kingdom Q. p. 16. Q. Numb 32 And such are deceivers who preach for money and tythes such cannot lead you out of transgression for they are in transgression themselves for Christ said to his Freely you have received freely give and Paul made not the Gospel chargeable but these Priests that preach for filthy lucre deceive people Pr. Pr. In this Quaking-Primmer here is a base charge drawn against all the Ministring-Priests of the Church of England here these Quakers have fired their Beacon that the youth of this Church and Kingdom may have timely notice to beware of their best soul-friends here the silly sheep are slily counselled against their keepers that the Quaking-Wolves in sheeps-cloathing may the better prey upon them Is it not very sad that the youth of this Church and Kingdom must be thus dangerously prejudiced against Gods Priests who are his Ambassadors by whom God doth beseech his Rebel-subjects that they may be reconciled to God Behold here little children are taught to look upon all teaching-Priests as so many deceivers as those Hirelings that preach for money and tythes which is a lying slander as those blind guides that are in the pit of transgression such as are not like Christs true Ministers as burdeners of that Gospel which plain Paul made not chargeable as those Priests that preach for filthy lucre as Cheats who deceive the people According to the baseness of these Quaking-lines it 's a shame for the King 's Sacred Majesty the Defender of the true Faith that such base Priests should be owned by him be suffered to preach before him Is it not likewise another standing-shame that the Priests of the Most High God should be thus basely reproacht in print to the corrupting of youth and as yet no exemplary notice taken of it By the way observe it well that the Most Reverend Fathers of this Church are some of those Priests that are thus stigmatized in these Quaking-lines as well as the other dignified and inferior Clergy of this Church and Kingdom The good Lord rebuke this Quaking ill spirit Q. p. 17 18. And such are no Ministers of Gods word Q. Numb 33 who tell you the Scripture is the word of God and these are the Ministers of the Letter who are Ministers of the Scripture and not Ministers of Christ Pr. Pr. You see these Quaking Primmer-men are still busie to sow their bad seed in the young Seminary whilst they do pretend to learn little children to spell they do likewise learn them these Devilish Lessons First That the Scripture is not the Word of God 2. That they are no Ministers of Gods Word who tell little children that the Scripture is the word of God 3. That they are the Ministers of the Letter and not the Ministers of Christ who are Ministers of the Scripture May I not say without offence to any If the Devil were incarnate it would well become him to teach such base Doctrine as this is By this Doctrine once imbib'd little children are well fitted to become bad Scholars in the Devils School Q. p. 25. Q. Numb 34 And these the Father Son and Spirit the world and their Teachers calls Three Persons but they speak they know not what even as they have imagined contrary to the Scripture therefore Children believe them not Pr. Pr. Here George Fox the younger comes on the stage of the Quaking-Primmer to
except a Quaker none can how are the youth of this Kingdom instructed by this Catechizing-Primer to slight all Gods Ambassadors Pudet haec opprobria dici it is a shame of no mean size that such base things should be printed and not signally taken notice of Q. p. 10. Q. Numb 38 Child But are not the Scriptures given forth for a rule to walk by Fath. The Scriptures are a true testimony of what the Saints were made witnesses of but the spirit is the rule the rule unto them that gave forth the Scriptures Pr. Pr. Here the youth of this Nation are taught by this Quaking-father that the Scriptures are not the rule of faith and obedience according to this Quakers vain mind no children shall do well to take heed to the sure word of Prophesie Unto the Law and the Testimony is no rule for any children to walk by the spirit that doth infatuate the Quakers is the foolish guide whom this Quaking-father would have his child to follow is it not lamentable that the youth of this Kingdom together with those who are children in understanding are thus decoyed into the Devils net Q. p. 12. Q. Numb 39 Ch. Then I perceive it is the spirit alone that I am to mind in all things Fath. Yes child for by minding the spirit alone in all things thou wilt come to a good understanding in all things and be able to put a difference betwixt that which is true and that which is false Pr. Pr. Here we have this Quaking-father Catechizing his child so as to undermine the Scriptures to render them good for nothing for he saith the spirit alone is to be minded in all things therefore the Scriptures to speak like this Quaker are to be minded by children or others in nothing observe it well it 's not the Scripture but minding the spirit alone in all things that helps to a good understanding in all things it 's not the Scripture but minding the spirit alone in all things that enables to discern and put a difference betwixt true and false it 's now obvious that the Scripture is basely bespattered by this Quaking-father for there is no coming to a good understanding by minding the Scripture in any thing the Scripture to speak this Quakers mind hath no true light to help any to discern and put a difference betwixt that which is true and that which is false the Quakers ill spirit is to be minded in all things this alone is the true discerner betwixt truth and falshood but pity those poor children that have no better guide to follow Q. p. 33. Q. Numb 40 Ch. Why is not their time and place and person right seeing their time is upon that day called Sunday and their place that which is called a Church and the persons such as are counted the Ministers of Christ Fath. Nay the Lord God of Power is not limited by any of them and as for their Sunday the Heathen named it and the Pope named their Church and their Schools and Colledges made their Ministers Pr. Pr. In these lines this Quaker doth Catechistically teach his child to look upon time place persons necessary circumstances belonging to publick Worship as those that are Heathenish Popish and of mans making the whole Quaking-discourse is a base charge drawn up against the Church of England as if the Lord of Power were limited by the same as for the Lords-day this Quaker calls it our Sunday which the Heathen named as for the publick place where the members of this visible Church do meet to worship God in a material Church this he saith was made by the Pope as for the persons the Ministers of Gods Word he gives us to understand that they are none of them sent of God for our Schools and Colledges made them all do not these Quaking-lines eat like a canker is not the Church of England debased after a strange manner Q. p. eâd. Ch. Q. Numb 41 But do they not preach sound Doctrine Fath. Nay their Doctrine is after the tradition of men and not after Christ and they get their Doctrine by their arts and languages that they have learned at Schools and Colledges and then they read it or speak it forth in their own wills that are corrupted and there is no soundness in it Pr. Pr. According to the instruction of this Quaking-father all the Preachers of the Gospel within the Church and Kingdom of England are a sort of pitiful fellows for their Doctrine is not from Heaven like the old Pharisees they teach for Doctrine the tradition of men none of them do teach that Doctrine which is after Christ arts and languages learnt here below at Schools and Colledges is the whole skill which they have in the doctrine of Salvation they are all a sort of pitiful readers or speakers out of their own corrupt wills as for their Doctrine it is corrupt like themselves there is no soundness in it to speak after this Quaking-rate they are like so many corrupt trees they bring forth corrupt fruit they are all bad stewards of the Mysteries of the Gospel If this be not base railing let the world judg Q. p. 34 35. Q. Numb 42 Ch. But is not their praying a service which is accepted of God Fath. Nay for they pray not with the spirit nor with the understanding and some of them cannot pray at all but as they have prayers made by others and have them set in a book to read as in the Common-prayer-book so that neither their preaching nor praying is accepted of God Pr. Pr. From this Quaking Catechizer we may truly gather that the preaching and praying of all the Ministers of the Church of England is altogether naught as their Preaching so their Praying is a service which is not accepted of God their prayers are carnal for they pray not with the spirit tremulo judice in their praying they do but offer the sacrifice of fools for they pray not with the understanding as for those ministring Priests that do warrantably use the Common-prayer-book either in the Kings-Chappel or elsewhere to speak this Quakers mind or sense they are a company of dull Ignoramusses they cannot pray at all behold a sad case except it be in the Quakers dumb meeting or amongst those that are acted by the spirit of the Hat there is no calling on the name of God in faith any where besides according to this Quaking rant is not the Kings Majesty basely reflected on hath he not a dull Clergy to minister in his Presence is not this Church whereof he is a nursing-father in a bad case for neither the Preaching nor praying of her Priests this Quaker saith is accepted of God surely the true Christian Religion is at a low ebb in this Kingdom that Quakerism must thus carry the bell according to this vain-minded Quaker we are in a great strait we must now either all turn Quakers or else in Preaching and Praying we do but perform the
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
service which God rejects Q. p. 35. Q. Numb 43 Ch. And is not their singing an acceptable service for they that can sing praises are in a good condition Fath. But they have David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold and given them forth as they were David's condition and the drunkard and the swearer and the lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition and so they sing lyes in Hypocrisie which is not a right service nor accepted of God Pr. Pr. According to this Quakers hard measure our singing of Psalms in the time of Divine-service is as bad as our Preaching and Praying it 's not a right service nor accepted of God observe well for want of a Psalm after the Quaking mode our singing of David's Psalms in Meeter is a despised service for this reason we can make no right melody in our hearts to the Lord like so many fools we do not rightly understand what we sing the Quakers to the shame of true Christianity are they only who sing with the spirit and with understanding when their spirit moves on their waters as for the Ministers and people of the Church of England we are sensual not having the spirit like those that sing Ballads other mens words we do only sing David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold To mount the baseness of Quakerism aloft the singing of Psalms at Court in the Kings-Chappel in the City and Country in Cathedrals and Parish Churches is according to these Quaking-lines a very prophane piece of service for here the drunkard and swearer and lyar sing together who know nothing of David's condition thus in singing Psalms we do nothing else but sing lyes in hypocrisie if this be not a base lying charge drawn up by this Quaker against the known practise of the Church of England let the unbyassed Reader judg Q. p. 36. Q. Numb 44 Ch. I would know father how it is with those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine which are much used in their worship Fath. Why child as to those things they rose from the Popes invention who hath had power in the night of Apostacy and hath set up his devices which are yet continued in England and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their institution by the Pope and were never so ordained of Christ for he did not ordain sprinkling water in a childs face neither did he ordain bread and wine to be so used and received and the wine is another of the Popes inventions who hath invented a silver cup and pours wine into it and then the Priest gives it to the people and tells them that is the blood of Christ that is shed for them when it is wine and not blood and gives them bread and tells them that is the body of Christ that is broken for them when people neither discern the body nor the blood of Christ and so eat and drink damnation to themselves true Baptism child is in the spirit which baptizeth into one body the true meat and drink is the body and blood of Christ which the worthy receiver feeds upon in his heart so that these things be false and not to be regarded by the true Christians who live in the spirit who is the substance Pr. Pr. This Quaker hath given us a long chase in the pursuit we have quite lost Baptism and the Lords-Supper as to their right use in the Church of England as for those things called Ordinances as Baptism Bread and Wine which are much used in our publick worship this Quaker doth boldly say they rose from the Popes invention in the night of Apostacy they were conceived and brought forth they are only devices of the Popes setting up they are continued yet in England as the Pope left them nay further this Quaker doth basely add that the whole practice of those things called Ordinances as baptism and bread and wine as we use them had their institution by the Pope they were never so ordained of Christ behold is not this rake-shame stuff is it of the Spirit of God to affirm that Baptism the Lords-Supper rose from the Popes invention who before this Quaker did term them devices of the Popes setting up is it not high base to say as this Quaker doth that the whole practise of Baptism and the Lords-Supper as we use them have their institution by the Pope that they were never so ordained of Christ according to this Quakers wild assertions is it not very plain that we baptize in the Popes name and receive bread and wine only according to the Popes institution how doth this Quaker in a ridiculous manner assert that Baptism is only sprinkling water in a child face which Christ did never ordain who can read this consident ignorance without blushing Is it not another base boldness to say that neither did Christ ordain bread and wine to be so used and received as they are in the Church of England except this deluded Quaker who hath said that the wine is another of the Popes inventions risum teneatis amici who can but laugh this Baals Prophet to scorn or rather who can but pity his great ignorance the rest of his discourse is a confused Chaos surely his hasty spirit was not at leisure to digest it better only let this be noted that this Quaker owns no other baptism but that which is in the spirit which certainly is no Scripture-baptism As for the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper there is in this Quakers eye no such thing for the body and blood of Christ is as he tells us the true meat and drink but bread and wine in the Lords-Supper are not so these things i. e. baptism bread and wine according to this Quakers mind are false things not to be regarded by true Christians who live in the spirit according to the sense of this Quaking-father all Quakers are those true Christians who do so live in the spirit as that they are above Baptism and the Lords Supper these are those false things which are not regarded by them may it not be truly said Alas poor despised Church of England how low art thou fallen What 's become of thy two Sacraments which are generally necessary to salvation Art thou now beholding to the Popes invention for them How are Christs own Ordinances now made to be the Popes devices In baptizing and receiving the Lords Supper what is the whole practice but according to the Popes institution Did thine Husband the Lord Jesus Christ ever ordain Baptism and the Lords Supper so as thou usest them Why dost thou receive bread and wine according to Christs institution did he ever ordain bread and wine to be so used and received Dost thou not know that the wine in the Cup is another of the Popes inventions Dost thou not consider that Baptism and the Lords Supper are two falshoods How far art thou from true Christianity from living in the spirit
due as this Quaker doth ill understand this point Besides this quaking-father is grosly mistaken for dominium non fundatur in gratia it 's not true grace that doth intitle any Princes only to their Crowns and Scepters Cyrus that was no truly gracious man was King of Persia and the Lords anointed King Darius an heathen was owned and honoured by Daniel But this Quaker hath not yet done here 's more lamentable bad doctrine against the Lords anointed I hope I may write without offence that here are Treason and Rebellion taught against our Soveraign according to the tenour of his own words you may take this supposition Suppose the King were a proud heady high-minded man what then in this case what is to be done This Quaker saith there is no honour due to him though he be great in the world and be in place to rule Is it not plain according to this quaking-doctrine that without goodness there is no true honour due to the Kings greatness nay behold more of this abominable stuff here is the power of God mentioned by this Quaker in which power enjoyed or lived in the poor is as honourable as the rich and the beggar as he that rules according to the true meaning of this Quakers words the Kings high honour is basely degraded his Majesty is ranked with the meanest of his subjects that is a Quaker one that is in the power of God for unless that this Quakers power of God be in the King or more plainly thus unless the King be a Quaker the beggar-Quaker is as honourable as himself and the reason of this Levelling-Quakers vile doctrine is this for the honour is given as due unto the power and not to any mans person is it not plain from this wild reason that there is no true honour due to the Kings person at all But suppose the power of God as this Quaker cants were in the King what would be got by it he would not be one jot better than the meanest dry or wet Quaker the poorest Quaker in the same power of God would be as honourable as his Soveraign that rules Surely this wretchedly base doctrine is not fit to be told in Gath nor published in Ashkelon the greater is the shame of Quakerism that it should be published in our Valley of Vision this Quakers doctrine tends directly to nothing more than to lay the Kings honour in the dust to strike the Crown from his Majesty's head and to share with the King in his high honour it may be truly said Beware of Quakers for like the Jesuited Papists they are not in truth the Kings Loyal subjects Q. p. 43 44. Q. Numb 49 Ch. I would be informed of another thing Father what language I am to speak to a single person whether Thou or You be the true language to a single person Fa. Why Child a single person being one and no more the true language is Thou unto him or her and hath been the language spoken by all that have been guided by the Spirit of God without respect of persons and we do not read of another that was spoken by the holy men of God unto any person whether a King or any in authority under him for the spirit of truth leads into all truth and Thou to one is the language of truth without respect and the spirit of truth teacheth to speak it and not another Ch. But how is it then that the people use the word You to one another when they speak one to one F. Because in that thing they do not mind the Spirit of God and its teachings and so the false spirit acting brings fortha false word for You to one is an apostate language and is become seated in the pride of heart Pr. Pr. In these lines this quaking-father is teaching his Scholar an odd new language here his quaking-spirit is turned Grammarian after his quaking-fashion to teach little children to speak properly to give Thou to one person and no more but You to more than one Thou is become the Quakers Shibboleth to distinguish them from all others it 's in truth a main principle of the Quakers delusion distinctly to character them from all whom they count counterfeit Christians by them great stress is laid upon this word Thou it 's no less than a language with this Quaker like Jacob's Ladder it 's made by them to reach to Heaven they are all from below that do not use Thou to a single person probably at the confusion of languages Thou is the true language which is fallen to the Babel-quakers share this Quaker tells us that they who use not Thou to a single person are none of them guided by the spirit of God to mount this Quakers folly to its full height to say to the King May it please your Majesty to any Peer of the Realm Your Grace Your Honour to any great man Your Excellency to others Your Worship these are according to this Quaker such expressions of civil honour as were never spoken by any holy men of God I may truly say that Thou like Moses his Rod hath swallowed up all these Serpentine words they whether at Court or Country who do not use this Quakers Thou to a single person whether King Peer or Subject are sensual not having that spirit of truth who leads into all truth without Thou Charles to the Kings Sacred Majesty without Thou to every Peer of this Realm without respect the language of truth saith this Quaker is not in that mans mouth that man that is not a Thou and Thee-quaker is not taught by the spirit of truth according to this Quakers mind when we do speak one to one we must beware of You to one another for all they that do use You to the King to the Nobility to the Magistrates and Gentry of this Kingdom do in this thing not mind the Spirit of God and its teachings This Quaker saith moreover that to use You to any one man is that false word brought forth by the Devil the false spirit acting in them that use it nay which is worse You to a single person is the apostate language now is not this inference rightly drawn from his own words to say to the King Your Majesty to the Peers Your Grace your Honour to others Your Worship are no less than false words brought forth by the Devil no less than an apostate language Thus you see that this word Thou is so doted on by this Quaker as that for its sake all that use You instead of it to a single person do speak as the Devil the false spirit acts them they are all apostates such as are faln from the true Christian faith to give full weight they are all proud like Lucifer who have You seated in the pride of their hearts may it not be truly said this Quakers spirit is both bold and blind who durst write after this silly rate Q. p. 45. Q. Numb 50 Ch. But is it
not a thing that will become me to use good manners and people do not take the word Thou to be good manners when I speak to my betters Fath. It is evil words child that corrupts good manners but true words is mannerly and is spoken in the manner of truth which is good manners and thou must not mind what others say but mind thou the Lord and his teachings and he will teach thee to speak good words and true words which is good manners and people that know not the teachings of God nor the truth of God they know not the manner of it and so are seeking how to honour one another and to speak to one another and after what manner to do it which is not in the manner of truth but in the false spirit which corrupts their words and actions and so corrupts good manners Pr. Pr. As this Quaking-father did just now endeavour to teach children to speak properly so he is here instructing them to be mannerly after the Quakers rude fashion it is certainly a dull spirit that moves in this Quakers wheels for he hath not helpt him to write true English evil words that corrupts good manners is that false English which cannot be made into true Latin by any Quaker amongst them all but this was not a stumble by chance we have his Quaking-spirit tripping again true words is mannerly and is spoken in the manner of truth which is good manners give me leave to say perhaps this mans spirit was in some great heat or haste and so was not at leisure to help him to write better English Now let us see if this Quakers manners are any better than his non-sense the old Proverb may not amiss be applied to him As the fool thinks so the bell clinks to speak in the manner of truth is with this Quaker good manners except the tongue and then it 's plain that this Quaker knows not what belongs to good manners to speak this Quakers mind fully Thou to the King to the Peers to the Gentry of this Realm spoken in the manner of truth that is spoken as the Quakers do is all the good manners this Quaker owns you may see that what is more than Thou and Thee is a parcel of evil words which do corrupt good manners according to this Quaking instructor St. Paul was ill manner'd he did not speak in the manner of truth when he said most noble Festus according to this Quakers estimate to bow the body to any superiors to honour them by word or gesture is that which is not of the Lord nor proceeds from his teachings except Quakers you see that no people do know the teachings of God nor the truth of God nor do speak in the manner of truth that do give civil honour to their superiors this rude Quakers discourse serves to be-clown all Courtiers that do honour the King in their words and gestures for in effect this Quaker tells them that they do not speak in the manner of truth those good and true words which are mannerly words they neither know the teachings of God nor the truth of God which is far worse Thus you see that here is the Quakers School their rude Court to learn those manners which are in the manner of truth as for our civil way of speaking to our superiors betters and equals by being thus mannerly we do but seek to honour others in the false spirit who is the Devil if this Doctrine do not tend to make men Clowns to re-baptize them into the Quakers false spirit to make their Proselytes as errant Clowns as themselves are known to be then let any wise men judg Q. p. 46 47 48 49 50. Q. Numb 51 Ch. And how must I do concerning Oaths seeing that swearing in many things is required Fath. Whatever men requires of thee child thou must mind what the Lord requires of thee Christ Jesus hath forbidden all Oaths it 's not lawful to swear upon any account because Christ hath commanded not to swear at all if thou lovest him thou wilt keep his Commandments and not transgress against him because men require thee do thou mind the spirit of truth and it will teach thee to speak truth in what thou art called unto Let thy yea be yea for what is more cometh of evil Ch. But there is much said concerning the lawfulness of an Oath as to end strife or engage to a Ruler and there are many Scriptures brought for it Fath. They that bring Scriptures to plead for swearing in this day do not understand the Scriptures for he who is Lord of all saith swear not at all but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for what is more comes of evil thou art to obey Jesus Christ whose Doctrine is true who ends the dispensation of Oaths where strife was now Jesus Christ who endeth all changeable things saith swear not at all it is without putting any difference betwixt vain Oaths and solemn Oaths he saith not at all nor by any thing therefore child obey thou Christs Doctrine if thy yea will not be taken let nothing else be done by thee lest thou fallest into condemnation Pr. Pr. In this rambling discourse this Quakers drift is to inform his Scholar about Oaths but his Light within is so grosly dark as that lawful and unlawful swearing are altogether confused and condemned alike by him all swearing indifferently is condemned by this Quaker as that sin which reacheth to damnation in hell according to the tenor of his quaking-lines all the Kings subjects who have taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance have done that which the Lord forbids them that which is contrary to what Christ hath commanded them by thus swearing they have not minded the spirit of truth nor so loved the Lord Jesus as to keep his Commandments by shewing their obedience to the King in taking the foresaid Oaths they have transgressed against the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings by taking these Oaths they have done that which comes of evil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Devil the evil one by this Quakers decrying all swearing without exception and his perverting Christs own words it 's easie to observe what manner of persons the Kings subjects are let us view them in this Quakers glass are they loyal to the King below this Quaker makes them for their sworn Allegiance to be disobedient to the Lord above have they religiously taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance they have likewise irreligiously sworn that which the Lord requires not of them hath the Law enjoined them to swear the said Oaths they have done that which is unlawful Christ Jesus hath forbidden all Oaths it was not lawful for them to swear upon any account though the law of man did require it by taking the said Oaths what love have they shewed to Jesus Christ for in so doing they have broken his Commandments by thus swearing they have presumptuously transgressed against him
thee execute his vengeance on those generations Pr. Pr. In these lines you may behold this Quaker crying up Oliver Cromwel as being not unlike the man Christ Jesus for he saith that Oliver Cromwel was the man who did bear as upon a common shoulder the sufferings of the oppressed but what tender consciences many of them had it hath been better understood since that time their tender consciences had no feeling of Rebellion Treason and other mens estates To go on with this Quakers comparing tacitely Oliver Cromwel and Christ together he saith that their sufferings went to his heart that he felt their sufferings on his shoulder that he could have laid down his life for one of them that his heart was tender that his bowels did sound that the hearts of his sufferers flowed in to him that in them and him there was but one spirit and one heart but in all the time of his Rebellion and High-treason whose servant whose instrument was whose work did Oliver Cromwel Behold what this Quaker saith of him the Lord did call and raise him up to head his Armies he made him his Sword and the Lord did execute by this Oliver Cromwell his vengeance on those generations Doth not this Quaker plainly tell us that the Rebel-Army under Cromwells command was Gods Army that called and raised this Traytor to be the head of his Army that God made Cromwell his Sword that God by Cromwell did execute vengeance onthose generations who these generations were the Reader must judg Q. p. 9 10. Q. Num. 115 Charles Stuart could have put off from himself the sufferings of the Puritans upon the Bishops and have alledged that they were a nonconformable factious generation and did contrary to the Law but that could not excuse him nor his standing still whilst he had power to remedy it but did not nor that those Laws were of long standing nor the disaffection of great men and nobles and rulers and bishops and priests and the generality of the Nation to that way from the judgment of God which hath taken hold on him and his children and his party whom he hath made a dreadful example of his vengeance and that by thy Sword as an instrument Pr. Pr. These lines of this quaking Bishop are abominable not to point at every base passage in them this is plainly the mind of this wild inspirado that the judgment of God to use his own words hath taken hold on Charles Stuart and his Children and his party that the Lord hath made the King his Children his party a dreadful example of his vengeance and that Oliver Cromwell's sword was the Lords instrument of this judgment and of the vengeance executed on the late King and his Children and his party that I may not be looked upon as a bloody Priest I shall squeeze these lines no further only let me say without offence that no man of any common sense dare justifie what this Quaker hath written to be the moving of Gods spirit without question these are such traytorous lines as were never seen in print from the eternal God before Q. p. 14. Q. Num. 116 Who wa st the Lords battel-axe and weapon of war to the cutting dovvn of him Pr. Pr. This traytorly Quaker goes on still to tell Oliver Cromwell that he was once the Lords battel-axe his weapon of war to the cutting down of the King behold how this Quaker in print doth justifie the basest of murthers as if it had been the Lords doing by Cromwell as his battel-axe as the Lords weapon of war for this bloody work Thus I have done with this Quakers Letter to Oliver Cromwell which was dated from Bristol the 16 of the fifth Month 1656. Subscribed thus George Bishop Surely this lamentable Quaker was strongly huffed up by his rebellious and traytorous spirit when he took himself to be moved of the Lord to publish them again in the year 1660 he that desires to know more of this Quakers pretended warnings of the Lord or to see how a Quakers light within him can act the part of disloyalty rebellion and high Treason against the Kings Sacred Majesty may peruse this quaking-Pamphlet more at large THE next book which might be transcribed is called A comparison between the true and false Ministers by Nicholas Knight printed 1675. Pr. By the late Impression of this Quakers scribble it 's evident against which Ministers this quaking-author writes that they are the Ministers of the Church of England that are the false Ministers here meant to ease my Readers patience and consult my own ease I shall contract his whole book thus Q. p. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Q. Num. 117 Pr. Pr. In this quaking-book the false Ministers of England are thus described They are false Teachers who go and are not sent they go forth in their own names without any commission from God only in the will of man they call themselves the Ministers of Christ but are not their doctrine is false and traditional it 's not from heaven but men below they do teach for doctrine the traditions of men they are the false Teachers they preach a divination of their own brains they come not in at the door they climb up another way they speak in the wisdom of mens words they are men-pleasers by inticing and feigned words they are deceivers seekers of their own praise they seek more the fleece than the flock they preach for hire and divine for money they expect gain from their quarters like the Scribes and Pharisees they make long prayers and under that pretence devour widows houses such as say and do not they limit the Church of Christ to a Nation they are blind leaders of the blind and both fall into the ditch they hold the truth in hypocrisie and unrighteousness they take the words of God into their mouths when they hate to be reformed they have a form of godliness and deny the power they are deceivers and being deceived cause the Name of God to be blasphemed and evil spoken of they observe months and days and consecrated places their preaching is limited to days hours and hour-glasses and to the wills of men to outward observations traditions and ceremonies by their fruits these trees may be known out of the evil treasure of their hearts they bring forth evil things they are an ill savour clouds that hold no water they are sounding-brass and tinkling cymbals they do not profit the people at all being weighed they are still found too light they do neither believe nor understand what they preach they have no experience of the word of life like those silly women they are always learning but never able to come to the knowledg of the truth they flee the cross they are not willing to forsake all for Christ they chuse rather to be subject to the corrupt laws and wills of men than to obey Christ in denying themselves they lay heavy burthens on mens