one and that too much too Secondly Do you think he values and prefers the Scriptures before all Books extant in the World I think not my Reasons are many First you hear he calls the Scriptures Dust Death and Serpents-meat Beastly Wares dangerous to read see Truths Defence c. p. 101. yea so uncertain that whether Moses or Hermes be the first Pen-man of Holy Writ is a question But as for what G. Fox c. wrote their Yearly Meeting testifies it was given forth by the Eternal Spirit yea the same Men that charged their Disciples in the Name of the Lord not to call their Papers Edicts or Canons call the Scriptures Death Dust and Serpents-meat judge Reader which they prefer Yea G. W. avouches that what is spoke from the Spirit of Truth in any much more in them is of equal nay of greater Authority than the Scriptures judge Reader which they prefer They say 't is Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and that 't is the Devil that so pleads Yet they say of their own Epistles This is the Word of God judge which they preferr They say we may as well burn the Bible as their Papers and Queries judge which they prefer Come G. W. what Gloss have you in store your Paint begins to vanish and your Jugglings will not now do And as to you that are mis-led by your Teachers I exhort you to read the Scriptures and pray to God to open the Mysteries of Salvation held forth in them that so you may come to have your Judgments rectified Likewise read G. K's Ten Articles which came providentially to my Hand which being sound and orthodox I have exposed them to publick view for general Service desiring from my Heart that you may receive them in the same love they were writ and now exposed yet if you will not hear me nor receive them I of all Men may bear with you in that I once was as averse to Information as the most of you but I obtained Mercy in that I did not wilfully persist against Conviction c. Some of the Principles of G. Keith and his Friends 1. That Bodily Sickness and Death came in by the Fall 2. That Christ has now in Heaven a Soul and a Body that is not the Godhead but the Temple of it and most gloriously united therewith 3. That Christ's Body that was crucified and buried without us rose again without us and is now in Heaven without us 4. That the Man Christ Jesus will come again in that Body without us to judge the Quick and the Dead 5. That there shall be a general day of Judgment that all the deceased Saints are in expectation of 6. That we get not the Resurrection of the Body either in this mortal Life or immediately after Death 7. That Faith in the Man Christ without us as he died for us rose again and is gone into Heaven wrought in us by the Spirit of Christ is universally necessary to make Men true Christians and Children of God born of the Free Woman who have the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father 8. That Christ's Obedience and Righteousness which he performed in himself without us is imputed to us by Faith for the Remission of Sins 9. That Christ is not only God's Elect but all that shall be saved from the beginning to the end of the World are God's Elect being chosen in him not only before they believe and repent but before the Foundation of the World 10. That all and every one of the Members of the Church of Christ who are at age and can speak ought to confess with their Mouths in the hearing of some of their Fellow Members the Fundamental Principles of their Christian Faith before they can be own'd to be Members of the Church that by the same as well as by a Good Life and Conversation it may be known who are qualified to be Members of our Church which is Aboundary Terms and Bond of our Union the Spirit being the Principal which may be easily done by Answering to some plain Questions This is a Copy of G. Keith's c. sound and necessary Articles of the Christian Faith proposed to the Quakers of whom I wish it may not be said Oh how oft would I have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but you would not but now the things which belong to your Peace are hid from your Eyes I remember G. W. queried of me Count. Conv. p. 15. Whether I when a Quaker denied Jesus of Nazareth to be the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation Answ I do believe I then did not hold the worst part of Quakerism as by my Book de Chr. Lib. c. which he so often quotes to justifie the Quakers from what I now charge them with may be seen yet I do freely acknowledge that I was in great Errors particularly touching the Point of Justification for I then expected Salvation thro' my Obedience to the Light which the Quakers taught was sufficient to Salvation But since it pleased God to open my Eyes I believe that Salvation it attained through the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus by Faith in the Merits of his Passion and Obedience to his Precepts Again G. W. says Count. Conv. p. 29. Not reading the Scriptures in our Meetings for Worship is no Proof that we have not a Spiritual Worship nor Evidence that we disbelieve the Doctrines contained in them Answ I do not give it as the only Evidence but as a Demonstration yet if you did in good earnest believe the Doctrines and Precepts of Christ in the Gospel to be blessed and holy as you pretend you would read the Scripture and prefer the Bible before any other Book extant in the World you would read the Scriptures in your Meetings if any Book at all and if you recommend any Book to your Friends beyond Sea it would be the Scripture But since you do neither but instead thereof read and recommend your own Epistles and that as you say for the spreading of Truth this is a Demonstration that you do not believe the Doctrine and Precepts of the Bible to be blessed and holy and an infallible Evidence that you prefer your own Books Papers and Epistles before the Scriptures unless you be arrant Cheats indeed to read and recommend that which you know is worst and hide and keep from them that which is best which I can hardly think And as impertinent as G. W. renders my Ten Reasons I find him not able to confute them As for his Pretence to Pray after the manner Christ taught his Disciples I deny it for it you kept to the manner though not to the form you would not be alone But let the Reader observe all the Prayers of Steph. Crisp R. Ashby W. Bingly and others printed at the end of their Sermons nay all your Books extant in the World and he will not find this passage Forgive us our Sins as we forgive them that
the Church and the Light in them the Christ this I take to be his meaning And that it may appear so I will produce a Text out of their own Scriptures I mean out of Jos Coals Works p. 332. in answer to John Newman about the Body of Christ he thus expresses himself viz. If by the Body of Flesh that Christ had he means his Church which the Apostle speaks of which was the Body of which Christ was Head and they Members of then I am one with him for his having that Body after his Ascension I never denied nor intend to do And such a Body we own Christ had after his Ascension Thus then it appears plainly that they deny HIM to be Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary who suffered death on the Cross in that they say nothing which was Mortal was called Christ and they say the bodily Garment we can never call Christ And when J. W. made his distinction between Christ and his Body it doth appear by J. Coals Testimony that CHRIST after he ascended had no other Body but his Church consequently did not ascend in His Body which was seen apparently Acts 1. 9 10 11. So that the Light in the Quakers is the one only Christ and the Quakers the Body of Christ And no other Christ nor Body of Christ do I by their Doctrine find that they own and thereupon do Charge them to deny CHRIST who was crucified dead and buried but is risen and in the same Body ascended and in the same Body sits at the right Hand of GOD never more to die but ever liveth it make intercession for us THE Quakers FIFTH ERROUR Saul's Errand to Damascus c. p. 14. Christ is the Substance of all Figures and his Flesh is a Figure G. F. REMARK Reader pray observe First they distinguish between Christ and the Garment he wore meaning his Body which suffered on the Cross which bodily Garment they cannot call Christ. 2. They teach that the Names Jesus and Christ do not so properly belong to HIM that was born of the Virgin suffered c. as to something in the Body the Light c. which they say is in themselves 3. And that the Light in them is the same Christ which suffered at Jerusalem 4. That the Body of Christ is like ours of AN EARTHLY PERISHING NATURE 5. That nothing which was Mortal was called Christ and consequently not HE that was born of the Virgin Mary who suffered on the Cross as an acceptable Sacrifice 6. That Christ hath no other Body but His Church since his Ascension proved out of their own Books which they say are given forth by the Eternal Spirit So that the Light in the Quakers is all the Christ they own and they being in their own esteem Believers and consequently the Church Christ hath no other Body so the Quakers are all and all 7. That the Flesh of Christ is but a Figure Thus have they what in them lye overturned the Fundamentals of Christianity for Christ was so far from being a Figure that all Figures and Types ended in Him and HE the Substance of them all as I shall shew by the Prophesies of the Holy Prophets in two Columns And whereas G. W. in his A Just Enquiry c. p. 2 3. by his cunning Glosses not only vindicates some notorious Errours but also excuses the Consequences of them as not being of a dangerous tendency and therefore rather than to trace him in his crooked Path I shall choose to make it appear that the Fruits Effects and Consequences of these and the like Errours are very dangerous in hopes that as it will tend to strengthen my Charge of their not owning CHRIST c. if any thing be still wanting to prove it so will it be a means to strengthen and confirm others in the Principles of the Christian Faith against the Prevalency of such Seducers as G. W. c. are as by their Fruits do now appear DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ERROURS 1. Saul's Errand c. p. 8. He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ is equal with GOD. P. 7. And if Christ be in you must he not say I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE The Letter of the Scripture is Carnal and the Letter is Death and killeth All that do study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the mouth of the LORD 2. Several Petitions answered c. p. 30. But if ever you own the Prophets Christ and his Apostles ye will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Power and Spirit 3. Truths Defence c. p. 101. The Letter which killeth is dangerous and the Ministers of the Letter are the Ministers of Death to you it is dangerous to read or speak of it 4. The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. Your imagined GOD beyond the Stars and your Carnal Christ to say GOD and Man in one Person is a Lie 5. David's Enemies Discovered c. p. 7. And these i. e. Quakers do not call the Letter the Rule and the four Books Matthew Mark Luke and John the New Testament and Gospel as thou and thy Generation do For Paul said he was a Minister of the Gospel and of the New Testament and not of the Letter which thou calls the Gospel and New Testament thy Ministry is in the Letter which killeth c. by G. Whitehead and Chr. Atkinson 6. A Brief Discovery c. p. 7 8 9 10. The Priests of the World are Thieves Robbers Conjurers Antichrists Witches Devils Liers a Viperous and Serpentine Generation Blasphemers scarlet coloured Beasts Babylon's Merchants selling beastly Ware for a large price the Letter which is dust and death whited Walls greedy Doggs really they are Blood-hounds still hunting and gasping after their Prey like the mouth of Hell barking and raging like Sodomites G. F. and others 7. Truths Defence c. O thou filthy Beast thy beastly Worship no Prayers can we send to thee but for thy destruction thou Man of Sin and Enemy of thou Hypocrite O thou impudent and brazen fac'd thou art in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft and in the Adultery O thou slanderous Beast O thou natural brute Beast O generation of Vipers And here thou Serpent thou art damned openly And here I charge thee to be a Witch and to bewitch the People a Reprobate hated of GOD a Child of the Devil an Enemy of Righteousness the Son of Perdition O thou false-hearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of GOD are due to thee and that is thy portion thou child of the Devil thou blind Sot thy Torment is begun and so fare thee well But thou art a Conjurer and livest in Conjuration thou Enemy of GOD and Man of Sin for destruction thou art ordained to go therein thy fear of it doth begin and the
the whole World Thus have you made the Apostles false Witnesses who have charged the Jews with slaying the Lord of Life and Glory As to the Sufferings of Christ the Question still remains unanswered I know you now see cause to say his Sufferings were grievous Sufferings sweating drops of Blood yea great Sufferings Thus far G. W. is got but George you know there is degrees of Greatness there is magnus major maximus great greater and greatest of all Now the great Query is Whether was the Sufferings of Christ or the Sufferings of the Quakers greatest Ed. Burroughs says the Sufferings of the Quakers was greatest And G. W. hath not yet said the Sufferings of Christ was greatest no other word will do I still pursue the Terms of my Query and wait to have it answered but I find G. W. pinched and in a great strait and knows not which way to wind him Condemn Ed. Burroughs's Expression as a Lye that he cannot do for a World for he was by G. W. counted a Prophet a Son of Thunder one in whom was the Almighty Power of God Can such a man lye Can he err No they cannot give Evidence against themselves so not fit to be of a Jury not fit for any place of Trust in Government not fit to have yea and nay pass for an Oath If so then if the Jury be most Quakers they 'l never give it against themselves they are not impartial they cannot be impartial they are the greatest respecters of Persons this day on Earth E. B. has said The Sufferings of the Quakers is greater than the Sufferings of Christ and his Apostles which is horrid blasphemous yea they thereby undervalue the Sufferings of the Lord of Glory and exalt their own as greater Sufferings This they cannot deny nor this they cannot condemn see the Fruit of Infallibility having once spoken whether true or false a Lye or a true Story both must be infallible they cannot retract they cannot confess their Sins to God how then should they retract and acknowledge their Errors No not for a World then down goes Infallibility the principal Studd of their new kind of Popery The Perfect Quaker in favour of their own Books An Epistle from their Yearly Meeting 1675. It is our Sence Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and the Authority of his Power and Spirit that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as that faithful Friend's Papers which we testifie have been given out by the Power and Spirit of God are Mens Edicts or Canons with such scornful Sayings be permitted Subscribed by W. Penn G. Whitehead and others Several Petitions answer'd c. p. 30. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power Truths Defence c. p. 2 104. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire as our Papers and Queries for our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the Immediate and Eternal Spirit of God Several Papers given out for the spreading of Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Friends to you all this is the Word of the Lord this is the Word of God G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Renewed Advice to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings c. Anno 1693. Dear Friends it 's advised that you be careful in spreading all such Books writ in defence and for the Service of Truth Record this Epistle in your Quarterly Book and sometimes read it for remembrance and notice B. B. The Perfect Quaker's Perfect Contempt of Scripture Saul's Errand c. p. 7. The Letter of the Scripture is carnal and the Letter is Death and killeth and all that do study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the Mouth of the Lord. A brief Discovery c. p. 7. The Priests of the World are Conjurers raising dead Doctrines dead Reasons dead Uses dead Motives out of the Letter which is Death raising Death out of Death Notable Conjurers P. 8. The Commission of Baal's Priests came from Oxford and Cambridge the same poisonous Fountain is filthy the Streams are no better Simon Magus would have purchased the Holy Ghost with Money even the Sir Simons of our Age run to Oxford and Cambridge Babylon's Merchants selling beastly Wares the Letter which is Dust and Death really they are Bloodhounds still hunting and gaping after their Prey like the Mouth of Hell Ja. Naylor's Answ to the Jews p. 4 22 25. It 's Blasphemy for any to say the Letter is the Word of God it is the Devil which contends for the Letter to be the Word of God The Quaker's Refuge fixed c. p. 17. Whether the first Penman of the Scripture was Moses or Hermes or whether both these two or not one or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether some words were not spoken by the Grand Impostor some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill applied some by Good Men ill expressed some by False Prophets and yet true some by True Prophets and yet false c. News coming up c. p. 14. Their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter The Counterfeit Quaker facing round about Quaker's Vindication p. 4. We confess that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are of Divine Authority as being given by Divine Inspiration of God c. Count. Conv. c. p. 26. That we prefer the Holy Scriptures before all the Books extant in the World A treble Observation upon a triple Quaker Courteous Readers whether Christians or Jews what think you Is the Counterfeit Quaker sincere Do you believe that he means what he says namely that the Scripturesare of Divine Authority and that he prefers them before all the Books extant in the World If so you may believe Transubstantiation Can you think I say that he believes the Scripture is of Divine Authority when he tells you that Matthew Mark Luke and John is Dust and Serpents-mear and that the Scripture is Beastly Ware that 't is Conjuration to preach out of them that 't is questionable whether Moses or Hermes was the first Pen-man of Sacred Writ or whether either or neither and that what was spoke by good and wise Men was ill applied and ill expressed and what the true Prophets spake was false and what the false Prophets spake was true c Answer me for my part I cannot G. W. tells me I was but a kind of a Quaker and I think 't is the truest word in his Book I think I was not above a third part of
trespass against us No nor yet after that manner for though you must needs know that you are Sinners as well as others and have transgressed the Laws of God in both Tables yet you can neither make Confession of Sin to God nor beg Pardon for Christ's sake which not only shew that you do not Pray after the Manner but that you do not pray in the Name of Christ to God the Father as the Mediator and Intercessor between GOD and Man which is an infallible Proof that as you therein differ from the Faith and Practice of the Primitive Saints and Martyrs yea all Protestant Churches to this day so you do not believe the Doctrine and Precepts of the Bible to be blessed and holy which teach Men so to do which is one Reason Secondly In that you warn charge and command your Disciples to read and cause to be read in your Meetings not only in England but beyond Sea your own Papers Epistles and Books whilst you not only lay aside the Scripture as useless but declare to all the World they are Death Dust and Serpents-meat Beastly Ware and that such as preach out of it are Conjurers Notable Conjurers Thirdly Because you say it's Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and yet allow your own Books that Title giving forth That what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater questioning whether Moses be the first Pen-man thereof Fourthly A fourth Reason is because you deny the Ordinances of Jesus Christ as Baptism and the Lord's Supper which the Scriptures teach saying Go teach all Nations baptising c. this do in remembrance of me c. Which the Apostles Primitive Christians and Martyrs practised who had the Spirit as much as you and witnessed Christ's second Coming as much as you Fifthly Your laying aside the use of the Lord's Prayer both in Manner and Form as aforesaid Sixthly Your laying aside the use of the Ten Commandments Seventhly And the Apostle's Creed Eighthly If you question whether Moses was the first Pen-man of Sacred Writ and what the Prophets spake true or false you I say cannot believe what you question Ninthly You teach that such as preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above are false Ministers but the Scripture tells you That Christ is risen and sits in Glory at the Right Hand of God in Heaven above And Tenthly Because you rob Christ of his Divine Attributes and put them upon your glorified George Fox calling him the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness c. See your Epistle This is only to go amongst Friends largely recited in this Introduction p. 5 6. which notwithstanding G. W's Denial is plainly proved to mean G. Fox yet to strengthen the said Proof see J. Whitehead's small Treat p. 4 5. After these things in the year 1648. God who had compassion on his People did cause a Branch to spring forth of the Root of David which was filled with Virtue for the Covenant of Life and Peace was with him and he spread and shot forth many Branches which did partake of the fatness of the Root and the weary came to rest under his Branches In him also was the word of Reconciliation which turned the Hearts of the Children and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just And in the year 1655. I being a Branch of this Tree meaning G. Fox the life of its Root caused me to blossom and bring forth Fruit for the Spirit of the Lord came upon me c. I say G. F's saying that he rise out of the North was prophesied of c. and the recited Epistle saying O thou North of England who art reckoned barren c. and J. Whitehead setting the date of the rising of this Branch and Star 1648. and that in 1655. he also becoming a Branch of this Tree 't is manifest that what I said in New Rome unm c. p 79 to 87. was not without warrantable ground as by the coherence of their Doctrine doth manifestly appear And since your Books thus interfere let us prove whether they be sincere or which shall we take to be their Judgment in good earnest Answ That they are not sincere I have already given ten Reasons but that I may renew your memory I will add one more viz. In all their Meetings for Worship of GOD they never read one Chapter of the Bible nor one of the Epistles of the Apostles for this thirty years but 't is frequent with them to read their own Epistles as herein I shall further shew only one instance for the present I may recite to confirm you in the truth of their practice and by which you may measure great part of their pretences viz. Several Papers given forth for the spreading the Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Friends to you all this is the Word of the LORD take heed of judging one another To you all this is the Word of the LORD to spread over all I charge you in the presence of the LORD GOD to send this Epistle amongst ALL FRIENDS AND BRETHREN EVERY WHERE to be read IN ALL MEETINGS This is THE WORD OF GOD. G. Fox 1. Pray observe first the design of sending their Books up and down it is TO SPREAD TRUTH and this might be done as well by recommending the reading of the Scriptures or some Portion thereof if indeed they do believe the Doctrine and Precepts contained therein be holy and blessed unless they will say their Books have a greater measure of holiness then the Scriptures which in the best sence they must believe unless they cheat the World most abominably to send them that which they know to be worse or least for their profiting Secondly You may observe what a Charge is given viz. I charge you in the PRESENCE of the LORD GOD to send this Epistle amongst all Friends what to do namely for a Publick Liturgy or Form of Divine Service viz. To be read in ALL MEETINGS Well what Authority had G. F. to impose this upon the poor People namely This is THE WORD OF GOD. Now if they do believe the Doctrine and Precepts contained in the Bible to be holy and blessed why do they not charge their People to read some part of the Scriptures for their Instruction but alas they have disputed against the Scripture being the Word of GOD but now you see they stile their own Nonsence to be THE WORD OF GOD and charge their poor ignorant People as such to receive it and as such to read it and as such to send it up and down into all the Countries and all Places and who dare gainsay the mighty Power of G. Fox Who as Ios Coal says hath his habitation in the power of the Highest who rules and governs in righteousness and his Kingdom is established in peace and the increase thereof is
Observation So then I read out of G. Fox his Book what followeth the Astonishing Confutation abovesaid News coming up out of the North c. p. 14. So Dust is the Serpents meat their Original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death their Church is Dust and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter S. Cater I deny that we call the Scriptures Dust or Serpents-meat F. B. But S. Cater wilt thou deny it if you see it in one of your Friends Books S. Cater Yea wherever I see it I will deny it F. B. Richard Tilson go and fetch my Box which he did I read it as in the recited Charge and Sam. Cater took the Book and read it S. Cater Thou saidst we call'd the Scriptures Dust and Death but there is not the word Scripture in the whole Passage F. B. People I appeal to you whether Matthew Mark Luke and John be not Scripture With that perceiving S. Cater's Evasion the People gave a great shout and said Yes Yes S. Cater Matthew Muck F. B. Hold Sam. what Matthew muck what Muck is that what shall we have a new Gospel John Cade a Norwich Preacher said Friends take notice that as the Bible grows old it will moulder and crumble away and become Dust F. B. People observe They would not have you think that new Bibles are Dust but when they grow old they moulder away c. and therefore my Advice to you is to get new Bibles W. Read Francis we deny thy words we have given it in to the King and Parliament that we believe the Scriptures was given forth by Divine Inspiration and they have accepted of it F. Bugg The more shame for you to be so deceitful to give in a Testimony so contrary to your Belief For if so why do you not Retract and Condemn your Books which are as opposite to what you now say as Light is to Darkness And some few Passages more we had But if they believe as they write that the Gospel Matthew Mark Luke and John be Dust I wonder with what face they could appear before the Parliament until they had first retracted and by some publick Act have condemned their Books which throw such Contempt upon the Holy Scripture For a further proof of this Charge see the sixteen Instances Object But possibly some may object and say It 's true you have more then sufficiently proved your first Charge and in the proof thereof there is enough said of their speaking contemptuously of the Holy Scriptures by calling them Dust Death Serpents-meat Carnal Letter killing Letter Dangerous to read c. yea and their contemptuous Speeches of the Sacraments Church Ministery c. yet the second Branch of your second Charge seems unproved where you bring it as an Argument against them of their not owning the Scriptures and that they over-value their own Writings Now if you have any thing material to offer pray do Answ I am very willing as I always was to leave things as clear as I can and place my Argument upon Matter of Fact out of their own printed Books And having already signified that ERROURS and CONSEQUENCES are out of their Books and their rejecting the Scriptures and reading the Scriptures in their Religious Meetings if I may so call them being a Consequent of the second Errour I shall so call them viz. both the Titles of their Epistles and the Conclusion enough to signalize their way and manner and THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF THE Quakers ERROURS First THIS IS ONLY TO GO AMONGST FRIENDS c. Directed To the Camp of the Lord in England meaning the Quakers Subscribed Edw. Burrough and Fra. Howgill Second To the Flock of Christ every where to be read in their Assemblies by G. Fox Printed for Ben. Clark 1681. Third To the Children of Light c. Directed thus I desire this Epistle may be read in the fear of the Lord in your several Meetings By William Penn. Fourth A Salutation of Love from the Spirit of Life unto all Friends of Truth c. Let this be read amongst Friends who are Exiled or sentenced for Exilement when they are met together in the fear of the Lord. Josiah Coale Printed 1665. Fifth An Epistle to Friends in Holland Let this be sent amongst the Friends in Holland Jos Coal Printed 1667. Sixth To the Flock of GOD gathered out of the World in the Province of Mariland Let the Copies of this Epistle be sent amongst Friends every where in the Province of Mariland to be read amongst them in all their Assemblies in the fear of the Lord. Jos Coal Seventh Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth c. I charge you in the presence of the Lord God to send this amongst all Friends and Brethren EVERY WHERE to be read in all Meetings To you all this is THE WORD OF GOD G. Fox REMARK Thus Reader I have given a few Instances of their way and manner of sending their Epistles to be read in their Meetings both in England Holland and Mariland and were it needful I could give you a hundred more which shews that they give their own Writings the preferrence as well as that they lay aside the use of the Scriptures in their Meetings and no marvel if the Scriptures be Death Dust Carnal Serpents meat and if it be Conjuration to preach out of them and if the Ministers of the Scriptures be Ministers of Death and if it be dangerous to read them as were they as by the Quakers esteemed Dust Death Serpents-meat it were surely dangerous to read them for who would feed upon Dust and Death and Serpents-meat this could no way nourish nor strengthen but corrupt poison and putrifie the Minds of such as are most exercised in reading them and that so it is in their Judgment For if it were wholesome to read them and that they believed them to be given forth by Divine Inspiration as they to the Parliament have pretended to serve a Turn why do they not read the Scriptures or sometimes a Chapter or sometimes one of the Apostles Epistles in their Meetings as that they do not nor never did nay I challenge all the Quakers in England whether ever their Ministers recommended so much as one Chapter to be read in any of their Meetings for Worship these forty years much less charged them in the presence of the LORD GOD to read such a Chapter or such an Epistle as wrote either by the Prophets or Apostles And if they cannot let it be a Sign for ever that they deny the Scriptures first by contempt thrown on them and next by their practice of laying them aside and reading their own Epistles and let it rest upon Record as a witness against their deep Hypocrisies and let it be a Testimony against the false Pretences and Perjury of the twelve false Witnesses Nay and not only in their own Meetings but let me give you one
c. And the Power of God thundered amongst them and they did flye like Chaff before it At last they asked me whether I was sanctified I answered Yes for I was in the Paradise of God c. Thus did he magnifie himself Equal with or Above Christ who said to the Thief on the Cross This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23. 43. Shall signifies the future tense but I am is in the present tense Oh horrible surely when the Jews come to see the Quakers Golden Calf viz. G. F's Journal they will not know if they give equal Credit to that with St. Luke's History who is the Messiah G. Fox or Jesus of Nazareth the Turkish Alcoran being not more blasphemous The Perfect Quaker The Counterfeit Quaker News coming up out of the North Title Page c. Written from the Mouth of the Lord from one who is naked and stands naked before the Lord clothed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World Risen up out of the North which was prophesied of but now it is fulfilled c. Several Petitions answered c. p. 60. My Name is covered from the World and the World knows not me nor my Name G. Fox The Harmony c. p. 111. For Moses truly said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things John 1. 10. He i. e. Christ was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not c. OBSERVATION Thus Reader did G. Fox vye with Christ and Edw. Burroughes and Fr. Howgill two of his Prophets ecchoed back saying in their Epistle entituled This is only to go amongst Friends p. 19. viz. Thou O North of England who art counted as desolate and barren and reckoned the least of the Nations yet out of thee did the Branch i. e. G. Fox spring and the Star arise out of thee did Kings Priests and Prophets come forth which uttered their Voices as Thunder and laid their Swords on the Necks of their Enemies P. 7. Spare none neither Ox nor Ass neither Old nor Young kill cut off destroy bath your Swords in the Blood of Amalek and all the Egyptians and Philistines and all the Uncircumcised and hew Agag to pieces break the Rocks cut down the Cedars and strong Oaks make the Devils subject cast out the unclean Spirits raise the Dead shut up in Prison bring out of Prison cast in your Nets launch into the Deeps divide the Fish gather the Good into Vessels cast the Bad away bind the Tares in Bundles cast them into the Fire P. 19. The planting of the Lord you are and his own purchased Possession he hath separated you from the Womb and hath called you out of Kindreds and ye are the Royal Seed of the Offspring of the Lord Almighty and all Nations shall call you blessed our Enemies are whole Nations that will not come under our Law stand upon your Feet and appear in your Terror as an Army with Banners and let the Nations know your Power and the Stroke of your Hand cut down on your right Hand and slay on the left and let not your Eye pity nor your Hand spare but wound the Lofty and tread under Foot the Honourable of the Earth and give unto the Great Whore double and give her no Rest day nor night but as she hath done so do unto her and give her double into her Bosom as she hath loved Blood so give her Blood to drink and dash her Children against the Stones and let none of the Heathen Nations nor their gods escape out of your Hands your Captains are mighty Men and your Leaders are skilled to handle the Sword and make War in Righteousness against the Beast and the false Prophets and cursed be every one that riseth not up to the help of the Lord against the Mighty the Beast is mighty and the false Prophet is great and they keep the Nations under their Power but Oh thou Beast and thou false Prophet you shall be tormented together thou Beast upon whom the False Prophet sits whom thou upholdest by thy Law and defendest by thy unrighteous power thy Power is limited and it shall be taken from thee and thou shalt be overcome and the Lamb shall get the Victory and into the Pit and Lake of Fire shall you be turned to have your resting place and thou False Prophet which have deceived the Nations thy Judgment is past upon thy Head already and the Decree of our God is sealed against thee thy Smoak shall ascend for ever and ever and of thy Sin there is no Remission over you we shall for ever rejoice and sing and over your God and your King the Dragon that old Serpent cursed be he and his Memorial for ever Reader pray dwell here a little and consider first what George Fox says of himself under the Perfect Quaker and how amply this Epistle which was to go only amongst themselves confirmed what he said and compared the North of England to the Town of Bethlehem and G. Fox to the Branch the Star the Son of Righteousness and what Miracles and Prophecies and Curses this Epistle is filled with which bears the figure of your private Sermons by which they scared and frighted me and many more from the Publick And now they have obtained their End and made Rents and Division in Church and State in Towns and Families now they begin to threaten all that oppose them as if none must write but themselves but their Horns are short they can only hiss grin and bark Canes timidi vehementer latrant The Perfect Quaker Jesus of Nazareth The Watch c. p. 37. But to the end of all Disputes and Arguments I am come for before they was I am said Jam. Parnel John 8. 5 8. Verily verily before Abraham was I am OBSERVATION Reader this most horrid Blasphemy need no Remark 't is so obvious 'T is like G. Fox's Saying That he was before Languages or Confusions were Yet Whitehead pretends he has not plain Proof he still calls for Proof though confuted from plain Matter of Fact I know not his Fellow for Confidence but I proceed The Perfect Quaker A Question to Professors c. p. 33. Now the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the Garment which he wore between him that came and the Body in which he came there was plainly he and the Body in which he came there was the outward Uessel and the Inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the Bodily Garment Christ but that which appeared and dwelt in the Body P. 20. To whom do the Names and Titles of Jesus and Christ chiefly and in the first place belong Do they belong to the Body which was took by him or to him who took the Body P. 27. Is not the Substance the Light the
of G. Fox his Epistles sent to the Publick Churches to be read and received as a New Liturgy only they rejected it and kept to the Bible It is thus Intituled TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MEET IN STEEPLE-HOUSES IN ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE Page 2. So all you that have the Letter in England and calls a Steeple-House a Church and do not Worship God in Spirit therefore to you all this is sent a Message from the Lord Jesus Christ in England and elsewhere into all the Steeple-houses or elsewhere to be read And God is the same he is a Spirit and his Spirit is drawing from all Steeple-houses now where it is ruling And they the Clergy tell People of a mediate Call so they are in their Witchcraft and Whoredom Christ is not in the Letter nor the Life is not in the Letter This mediate staff hath raigned long in the Cage of unclean Birds Now in this our Age we Quakers who have the Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures which the Apostles was in and this is to go abroad in all Steeple-houses in the Nation and their High places and through the World that they may come to God from them REMARK Now had the Christian People of England been as tame as the Quakers they had an opportunity put into their hands to have had a new Liturgy a new Religion a new Gospel yea and a new sort of Manisters too such as they are yea all new new Meeting-houses as fine as some Churches For if this Epistle which was sent to be read IN ALL STEEPLE-HOUSES and elsewhere yea TO GO THROUGH THE WORLD had taken place we should have had all things turned upside down A new Christ too and a new Scripture too not one made of Dust Death Serpents-meat but one given forth by infallible G. Fox who as he said himself News coming up out of the North c. p. 1. was Written from the Mouth of the Lord from one who is naked and stands naked before the Lord clothed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which was prophesied of but now it is fulfilled And p. 20. Clap your hands and be glad for the Lord Jehovah will reign and the Government shall be taken from you pretended Rulers Judges and Justices Lawyers and Constables all this Tree must be cut down and Jesus Christ will rule alone I say had this super-excellent Epistle of G. Fox taken place and been read and received and the Letter viz. the Scripture thrown aside we should not only have had a new Religion a new Liturgy a new Scripture and new Ordinances as they call their Womens Meetings but new Rulers or rather no Rulers but the Light in G. Fox no not so much as an outward Judge and outward Justice an outward Lawyer or an outward Constable all things should have been new And why not if G. Fox was such a King as the poor Quakers deemed he was Witness a Letter from Barbadoes to him by one of their ablest Ministers namely Iosiah Coal and which they justified see Judas and the Jews p. 44 45 46. viz. Dear G. Fox who art the Father of many Nations whose Life hath reached through us thy Children even to the Isles afar off to the begetting many again to a lively Hope for which generations to come shall call thee blessed whose being and habitation is in the power of the highest in which thou rulest and governest in righteousness and THY KINGDOM IS ESTABLISHED IN PEACE AND THE INCREASE THEREOF IS WITHOUT END Thus Reader have I answered the Objection and proved my Charge more then sufficiently but in regard they have such false Witnesses at their beck to justifie G. W. and to back his Work with the most notorious Lies that men can be guilty of I am forced to dwell longer upon the proof then otherwise I need to do And now I proceed to the last part of my Charge viz. THE THIRD CHARGE THAT THEIR TEACHERS ARE DECEIVERS OF THE PEOPLE FAVOURERS OF BLASPHEMY EXCUSERS OF IDOLATRY AND OF A DIFFERENT FAITH FROM THE APOSTLES PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS BLESSED MARTYRS AND THAT THEIR DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE TEND TO OVERTHROW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH REMARK Reader Not doubting but that in the proof of the former two Branches of my Charge I have proved this also yet if any thing be wanting possibly before I conclude I may supply the vacancy However remembring that in E. B's Works p. 223. there is a Book intituled A just and lawful Trial of the Teachers and Ministers c. I shall turn the Title of E. B's Book upon the Quakers and say A just and lawful Trial of the Teachers of the World I mean of the Quakers whereby they are examined and out of their own mouth and by their own practice CONDEMNED and being brought to the Bar to use E. B's words of Justice these things are truly charged against them and proved upon them and by the Testimony of the Scriptures they are found guilty c. THE PROLOGUE Having thus inverted the Title of his Book I shall indeavour to prove that first the Quakers to be of the World and secondly their Teachers to be the Ministers the false Teachers who of old were prophesied of who should bring in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them yea deceivers of the People false Apostles and deceitful Workers who by their subtil twisting and twining intermixing gross Errours with some more general Truths transform themselves into the likeness of the Ministers of Christ But as Christ said Ye shall know them by their Fruits and to me they were first discovered by their fruits as by my Book De Chr. Libertate c. and that intituled The painted Harlot stript and whipt c. does appear And secondly by their false Doctrine and pernitious Principles as by my Book New Rome unmasked c. also appears For in my young years I was carried away by their dissimulation and being long trained up and educated in their way and they often as a Decoy exhorted us to obey the Light and Spirit of GOD in our own hearts and to observe the dictates of our Consciences to abstain from evil and pursue what was good and to follow the leadings and guidance of the Light within which was sufficient to lead to Salvation c. And this being a general Truth and a Duty upon all Christians and no less than the Publick Ministry does yea and ought to exhort too But still when all this is done and I am as obedient to the Light as I can yet 't is but my duty I must not as they have taught place Salvation there I say as by the Publick Ministry I am instructed to obey the Dictates of my Conscience to abstain from Evil and follow that which is Good according to the Rule of GODS Word revealed in the Scripture yet as they teach and I believe I ought not to lean upon my own Obedience for Salvation and
CHRIST but A Vail A Garment A Vessel c. How should they say this Creed if they do not believe that he is risen yea and that the SAME JESUS is ascended and now sits at the right hand of GOD in the SAME BODY in which he ascended according to Acts 2. how should they say this Creed if they do not believe the Resurrection of the Body out of the Grave at the day of Judgment How should they say or teach others to say this Creed And therefore I exhort you to read the Scriptures and though your Teachers have told you that F. Bugg is a Beast a Dog a Wolf an Enemy of all Righteousness a Child of the Devil yea a Devil Incarnate c. What then did not the unbelieving Jews call Christ a Devil and have they not called the Publick Ministry yea all without restriction or limitation Thieves Robbers Witches and Devils c. what then never regard that but as I said read the Scriptures and take my advice no farther than the Scripture warrants it and so far my Soul for yours you are safe but if your Teachers have begotten such an ill opinion of me as that you will not take my advice as they have against the Publick Ministry that you will not hear them yet I am perswaded what I have wrote will be of service to your Children yea and your Childrens Children and if so why should I not proceed to discover your Errours that so the blind may not always lead the blind but that you may become wiser than your Teachers and see for your selves I am now speaking to you the hearers among the Quakers who have a zeal I bear you record though not according to knowledge and your Leaders have been instrumentally the cause of your Errours and Blindness O consider of what I say and be considerate and cool I am not angry as ye suppose If I be sharp 't is my zeal for the Truths of the Gospel which your Teachers have defaced And therefore bear with me I pity you I lament for you whether you believe it or not They tell you that none was ever converted to GOD by outward and external hearing though the Scripture says that Faith comes by hearing O consider and peruse what followeth and the Lord give you an understanding heart The Prophesies of the Holy Prophets fulfilled and accomplished in and by our blessed LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ Hear the words of our Saviour Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5. 39. These are the words which I spake unto you whilst I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which was written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning ME. Luke 24. 44. The Scriptures cannot be broken Joh. 10 35. It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass than for one Tittle of the Law to fail till all be fulfilled PROPHESIES FULFILLED Isa 7. 14. THerefore the Lord himself shall give you a Sign behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and they shall call his Name Immanuel Matth. 1. 23. BEhold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son and they shall call his Name Immanuel which being interpreted is GOD with us Isa 8. 14. And he shall be for a Sanctuary but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare c. V. 15. And many among them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and taken Matth. 2. 16. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder Micah 5. 2. But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall come forth unto me THAT is to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been of old from everlasing Matth. 2. 16. And thou Bethlehem in the Land of Judah art not the least among the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel Psalm 2. 2. The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against his Anointed saying c. Matth. 26. 3. Then assembled together the chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders of the People unto the Palace of the High Priest who was called Caiaphas See also Matth. 27. 1. Jer. 31. 15. Thus saith the LORD a voice was heard in Ramah Lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her Children refused to be comforted for her Children because they were not Matth. 2. 18. In Ramah was there a voice heard Lamentation and weeping and great mourning Rachel weeping for her Children and would not be comforted because they are not Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed HE was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth HE is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so opened HE not his mouth Matth. 26. 63. But Jesus held his peace And the High Priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of GOD. Matth. 27. 14. Jer. 16. 16. Behold I will send for many fishers saith the LORD and they shall fish them c. Matth. 4. 19. And he said unto them follow me and I will make you fishers of Men. Isa 61. 1. The Spirit of the LORD GOD is upon me because the LORD hath anointed ME to preach good Tidings to the Meek he hath sent ME to bind up the broken heart to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound Matth. 11. 5. The blind receive their sight the lame walk the Lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them Isa 53. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the Transgressors and he shall bear the sins of many and make Intercession for the Transgressors Matth. 27. 38. Then were there two Thieves crucified with him one on the right hand and another on the left See also John 19. 18. read also Acts 10. 35. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that GOD hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both LORD and Christ Acts 5. 30 31. The GOD of our Fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree Him hath GOD exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Isa 42. 1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Matth. 12. 18. Behold my Servant whom I
have chosen my Beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall shew Judgment to the Gentiles See also Matth. 3. 17. Isa 62. 11. Behold the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the World say ye to the Daughter of Sion behold thy Salvation cometh behold his reward is with him and his Work before him Matth. 21. 5. Tell ye the Daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an Ass and a Colt the Foal of an Ass Psal 118. The Stone which the Builders refused is become the Head of the Corner This is the LORD 's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes See also Isa 28. 16. Matth. 21. 42. Jesus said unto them did ye never read in the Scriptures The Stone which the Builders rejected the same is become the Head of the Corner This is the LORD 's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes Psal 110. 1. The LORD said unto my LORD sit thou at my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Matth. 22. 44. The LORD said unto my LORD sit thou on my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool See Acts the second at large Psal 41. 9. Yea mine own familiar Friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me Matth. 26. 23. And he answered and said he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me Zech. 13. 7. Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the Man that is my Fellow saith the LORD of Hosts smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered c. Matth. 26. 31. Then said Jesus unto them all ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep of the Flock shall be scattered abroad Isa 40. 3. The voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness prepare ye the way of the LORD make strait in the Desert a high-way for our GOD. Matth. 3. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah saying The voice of one crying in the Wilderness prepare ye the way of the LORD make his pathes strait Isa 50. 6. I gave my back to the Smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Matth. 26. 67. Then did they spit in HIS face and buffeted HIM and others smote HIM with the palms of their hands Isai 53. 4. Surely he hath born our grief and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem HIM smitten of GOD and afflicted Matth. 8. 17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet saying HIMSELF took our Infirmities and bare our sicknesses Isa 35. 5 6. Then shall the lame Man leap as an Hart and the Tongue of the Dumb sing for in the Wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the Desert Matth. 11. 5. The blind received their sight and the lame walk the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them See Matth. 15. 30. Psal 22. 18. They part my Garments amongst them and cast lots upon my Vesture Matth. 27. 35. And they crucified him and parted his Garment casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet They parted my Garments among them and upon my Vesture did they cast Lots Psal 22. 8. He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him Matth. 27. 43. HE trusted in GOD let Him deliver Him now if he will have Him for HE said I am the Son of GOD. Psal 78. 2. I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark sayings of old Matth. 13. 35. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet saying I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the World Jer. 7. 11. Is this House which is called by my name become a Den of Robbers in your Eyes c. See Isa 56. 7. Matth. 21. 13. And said unto them It is written My House shall be called the House of Prayer but ye have made it a Den of Thieves Psal 72. 10. The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring Presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer Gifts See also Isa 60. 6. Matth. 2. 11. And when they were come into the House they saw the young Child with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped Him And when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto Him Gold Frankinsence and Myrrhe Dan. 9. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy People and upon thy holy City to finish thy Transgressions and to make an end of sin and to make Reconciliation for Iniquity and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness and to seal up the Vision and Prophesie and to Anoint the most Holy See Isa 40. 10. Luke 24. 27. And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets HE expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself And they said one to another did not our hearts burn within us whilst HE talked with us by the way and whilst HE opened to us the Scriptures Zach. 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly O Daughter of Sion shout O Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy KING cometh unto thee HE is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass John 12. 15. Fear not Daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh sitting upon an Asses Colt Isa 40. 11. HE shall feed His Flock like a Shepherd HE shall gather the Lambs with His Arm and carry them in his Bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young See also Ezech. 34. 23. John 10. 11. I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Isa 9. 7. Of the increase of HIS Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth and for ever the Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this See also Dan. 7. 14. Micah 4. 7. Psal 110. 4. John 12. 34. The People answered Him we have heard out of the Law that Christ abideth for ever And how saist Thou the Son of Man must be lifted up Who is this Son of Man Psal 109. 8. Let his days be few and let another take his Office See Psal 41. 9. Acts 1. 17 18. For he was numbred with us and had obtained part of this Ministry Now this Man purchased a Field with the reward of Iniquity and falling headlong he burst asunder Isa 9. 7. Of the Increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth and