every word in particular for you have Tongue enough sometimes let us see now if it can wag c. Now Reader this is one way by which they deceived the simple and thereby Quakerism had its progress Gen. Hist 112. The Form of the Quakers Confession before the House of Commons was I believe with my Heart and confess with my Mouth the Sacred Scriptures to be Divine left us by Men Inspired by God as an exact rule of our Faith and Behaviour and I profess to believe in one only God who is the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son very God and very Man and in the Holy Spirit one and the same God with the Father and Son blessed for evermore c. I must confess this Confession if sincere is somewhat to the purpose but if sincere then there is a vast Change in their Minds both from their frequent disputations as well as their printed Books and because we cannot well try them by the first therefore we will examine their Sincerity by the latter and if their Books teach the contrary then until they first condemn those Books we have no ground to believe them sincere in what they say to serve a turn I will at this time quote only two of them viz. The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your carnal Christ is utterly denyed and testifyed against by the Light and whereas you the Priest say that Christ is God and Man in one Person it is a lye c. Now if they believe as they write how can they be sincere in what they say as above for contraries cannot be the same white is not black neither is black white Men never gathered Grapes of Thorns nor Figs of Thistles ye shall know them i. e. Deceivers said Christ by their Fruit this is an infallible rule Again News coming up out of the North c. p. 14. Your original is carnal Hebrew Greek and Latin and your Word is carnal the Letter and the Light is carnal the Letter their original is but Dust which is but the Letter which is Death and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is but the Letter c. So then if the Scriptures be Dust Carnal and Serpents-Meat how are they Divine nay how were they given forth by Divine Inspiration What did George Fox mean Divine Dust Divine Food for Serpents a Divine Carnal Letter No sure Then doubtless these expressions were cast upon the Scriptures by way of contempt against such as professed them to be given by Divine Inspiration and that they were in earnest the rule of our Faith and Behaviour against which the Quakers have both Preached and Disputed this 40 years as I can make appear by 40 of their Books now by me One more I shall quote to strengthen what I say Howthen can they be sincere in this their Confession How can they at one and the same time believe the Scriptures are Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Food and also that they are Divine and left us by Men Inspired of God for the rule of our Faith and Practice I say how can these contraries be reconciled nay it 's impossible If they shall say in answer to what I now affirm that their Minds are really changed and better informed I could be heartily glad of it but then let us have a sign of it and some ground to believe them viz. Let them condemn these Books that Teach contrary to their Confession for whil'st then I boldly aver to those who know them and their Doctrine and their Books which they prefer above the Scriptures they cannot they are not to be believ'd The Book I mention to cite is this A brief discovery of a three fold Estate of Antichrist c. p. 7. 8 9. The Priests of the World are 1st Conjurers raising dead Doctrines dead Reasons dead Uses dead Motives dead Tryals out of the Letter which is death raising Death out of Death notable Conjurers 2. Thieves and Robbers 3. Antichrists the Priests of Baal cannot shew any Scripture example for their Heathenish ways and Beastial Worships 4. Witches 5. Devils the Serpent is Head in them 6. Lyers the Commission and call of Baal Priests come from Oxford and Cambridge even the Sir Simons of our days run to Oxford and Cambridge 7. A viperous and serpentive Generation 8. Blasphemers living in the Kingdom and Government of the Prince of the Air yea of the Devils fearful Blasphemers 9. Scarlet colour'd Beasts a well favour'd Harlot having a golden Cup in her Hand full of abomination and filthiness of her Fornication 10. Babylons Merchants selling Beastly ware for a large price the Letter which is Dust and Death for filthy lucre sake 11. Whited Walls painted Sepulchers professing something possessing nothing but poysoned stuff 12. Ravening Wolves 13. Greedy Dogs really they are Blood-hounds 14. Eminent and Ambitious Pharisees living in the same Antichristian steps that the Pharisees did that Christ cryed out against Wo wo wo was their portion then and wo wo wo is their portion now and wo and misery is the portion of the upholders whether King or Parliament of that Treacherous Crew and Deceitful Generation wherefore come from among the Babylonish Merchants c. Oh horrible and unheard of and in this Book there are the Names of George Fox Thomas Lawson Thomas Aldham Benjamen Nicolson John Harrwood five of their primitive Teachers and notable Doctors Behold the way manner and method of the growth and progress of Quakerism what shall this be encourag'd shall this be establish'd in a Christian Nation God forbid Here is contempt cast upon the Scripture upon the Ministry upon the Magistracy and People no matter for their confession whil'st these Books stand uncondemned they keep these Books in their Families read them and recommend them as elsewhere I have observed Even as Arias kept his opinion to himself and yet deceitfully signed as fair a confession to please the Emperor Constantine which is as followeth See Hist Socrates cap. 38. Viz. I believe in one God the Father Almighty and in Jesus Christ his Son who was made by him before all Ages God the Word by whom all things in Heaven and Earth were made who came down and was incarnate who suffered and rose again and ascended and shall come to judge the quick and the dead and in the Holy Ghost the Resurrection of the Flesh and the Life to come in one Catholick Church of God from one end of the World to another this we believe as God shall judge us now and in the World to come Constantine the Emperor was a good Man and thought him sincere and accepted of it but the cheat lay here which afterwards was found out he wrote a Paper of what he really believed and said he believed as he had written and the Quakers have wrot Books that for any to say that Christ is God and Man in one Person is
born of the Flesh is Flesh and that is against the Spirit and can neither edifie nor comfort though good Words and Scripture sentences may be spoken for it is not speaking the Words of others that doth make a true Prayer but in receiving a measure of the same Spirit of Prayer which is not in thy Common Prayer Book to be found therefore it is made of none effect because thy bowels bring it forth and the Pope gives Life and Breath unto it and from his Loyns it draws its Strength and not from the power of God Tradition what can I say to be received for truth my Ceremonies c. are denyed but there can be nothing said against my Bishops and Ministers the Scriptures speak so plainly of them c. Truth now Tradition harken what Truth saith and give thine Answer to what is demanded of thee Who made thy Archbishops and Lord Bishops and who gave them these Names And who first divided unto them their several Diocesses and appointed them to Rule within their own Diocess And who first made Deans and Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates and who gave them their Names And who first set up certain Places for Schools And who gave them the Names of Universities And how came they to be call'd Christ's Colledge and Emanuel's Colledge John's Colledge and Jesus's Colledge And who set up Commencements and Degrees that a Man must be made Batchelor of Art and Master of Art before he can be approv'd to be made a Minister in thy Order And who first made that Law which forces and compels the payment of the Tenth part of things encreased to such a Ministry and whether are such the Ministers of Christ who make use of that Law to force their maintenance Are these thy Bishops and Ministers which thou say'st there can be nothing said against them Open thine Eye and behold them for they are Monsters which from thy adulterous Conception are brought forth and they are stamped with thy Image and all thy abominations are denyed and testified against this is a Charge against thee Tradition this thing which make such discoveries of my Practices and with such boldness reproves me for them it is of God for it is not in fear of me nor my power which now is Strong and of great Authority Truth that which doth discover thee and thy deceitful Practices is the Truth i. e. Quakers of God which was before thou had'st a Name and will be when thy Name is lost and it doth boldly reprove thee and is without any fear of thee or thy power and hath opened thee and ript up thy Bowels and discovered thy adulterous Womb and all the false Conceptions that hath been conceived their and now behold ye Archbishops Lord Bishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates and all Prelaticals here is the Womb of your Conception opened and that made manifest from which you draw your breath and prolong the length of your days with all your Service and Worship which you so much esteem and promote Therefore hear and consider ye Bishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates with all Prelaticals you must come to the Bar and if you will but soberly peruse this Catechism or Dialogue you may know and learn that which all your Universities could never give you the knowledge off nor all your Learning and Wisdom could never teach you so escape for your Lives that the stroak may not fall upon you Truth Reader marvel not too much at the Impudence of this Man for it is the Heart of Quakerism He was a right Quaker and no Mungril and Eminent Teacher and a ready Sail. You see he feared not the Bishops nor their Power he had no respect to the Law which Establish'd the Book of Common Prayer nay should the Question be put to Geo. Whitehead whether he would under his Hand condemn this Antichristian piece to be burnt on Tower-hill he would say no not for a World it is the Marrow of his Religion I could give Instances of the like nature out of 100 of their Books but for brevities sake and that I may not stay my Reader too long from something new I shall only recite 2 or 3 Books more that so the Author of the Gen. History may hear his Text fully proved viz. that the Quakers enveigh against the Liturgy and that bitterly too together with the Ministry of the Church of England A Touchstone or perfect Tryal of all Priests Bishops and Ministers This Book contains more than 100 Pages in Quarto printed 1667. by Margaret Fell whom George Fox afterwards Married the purport of which is to shew them all the Clergy are false Prophets Deceivers c. which being but a Woman tho' a very proud imperious Dame I pass her by The Innocency and Consciousness of the Quakers c. p. 7. As for the purity of the Church of England it 's out of our sight we can see a great deal of impurity in it and as much the Members of it confess themselves indeed they confess enough of themselves to cause all wholsome sound understanding People to shun them and their Church and Worship as Men shun a contagious Disease or Infection I think this is so bold as well as base that it need no comment But if they look into the Cage I presume they 'll find little cause to boast especially if I give them the right Key to open it and that amongst their Teachers and Writers but if I should make a Cage for their Hearers ir would be much enlarged every way Truth exalted in a Short but sure Testimony c. by W. Penn p. 9. Come Church of England whence came your Forms of Prayer and Church Government from the Scriptures or the Mass-Book and Popish Canons and what President do you find for Litanies Responces Singing Organs Altars Bowings c. with much more such like dirty Trash and soul Superstition Stand up and answer me you Members of the Church of England But are they not the Off-spring of the Popish Generation God is now breathing forth in Vengeance to Thunder down and Consume all your fair Buildings and pleasant Pictures of Babilonish Inventions But alas poor Souls are you not at have mercy upon us miserable sinners there is no health in us from seven to seventy c. The Guide mistaken by W. Penn p. 18. And whil'st the idle gormondizing Priests of England run away with above 1500000 l. a Year under pretence of being God's Ministers and that no sort of People have been so universally thorow Ages the very bane of Soul and Body to the universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of God's most Dreadful Vengeance wait to act their Eternal Tragedy upon Burrow's Works p. 244. Oh what cruel Injustice and Tyranny in Civil Government Oh what abominable Superstition and Idolatries have been in Church Government It is a vexation to the Spirit of the Lord to consider it and the righteous Soul hath long
a lye and therefore they cannot believe that Christ is very God and very Man but believe as they have written They also have written that the Scriptures are Death Dust Serpents-meat Carnal and Beastly Ware and though they have made a confession that the Scriptures are Divine and left by Men Inspired of God and that they are a rule of Faith and Behaviour yet they believe also that Geo. Fox was divinely Inspired and wrote from the Spirit of God so they believe as they have written If any think I wrong them let their Books be laid before them which I have cited and let them be asked Come which do you abide by which do contain your Faith and Belief Do you believe as you have confessed if you do at the same time condemn your other Books which teach the contrary if you say no our Books are writ from the Eternal Spirit of God we cannot condemn them then condemn your confession for we will not have you halt between two opinions if God be God serve him if Baal serve him This will be the Test which were it put to them you would soon see them to be Quakers still and not Christians yet And so I proceed to the next Head SECTION VIII Their horrid Blasphemies their pretence to Miracles their agreement with Simon Magus their great Grandfather who was admired adored and worshiped as well as George Fox GEN. Hist p. 27. Fox taught that the sick were cured unclean Spirits cast out his Followers who were as Rattles and Cimbals to blaze about his Fame disguis'd the matter thus that the Woman was possessed with a Devil who had troubled her for the space of 32 years that being brought to him after some hidious shrieks and out-crys like the bellowing of a Cow and a most noisome stink breathed from her Mouth she was freed of that malignant Spirit And to confirm the Quakers pretend to Miracles see Fox's Journal p. 370. where one of them by himself is left upon Record as also many more but this I will recite viz. There was one John Jay being to try a Horse got upon his back and the Horse fell a running and cast him down upon his Head and break his neck as the people said They that were near him took him up dead and carried him a good way and laid him on a Tree I got to him as soon as I could and feeling on him concluded he was dead and as I stood by him pitying him and his Family I took hold of his Hair and his Head turned any way his Head was so limber whereupon throwing away my Stick and my Gloves I took his Head in both my Hands and setting my knees against the Tree I raised his Head and perceiving there was nothing out or broken that way then I put one Hand under his Chin and my other behind his Head and raising his Head two or three times with all my Strength and brought it in I soon perceived his Neck began to grow stiff again and then he began to rattle in the Throat and quickly after to breath the People were amazed but I bid them have a good Heart and be of good Faith and carry him into the House they did so and set him by the Fire but I bid them get him some warm thing to drink and put him to Bed After he had been in the House a while he began to speak but did not know where he had been the next day We passed away and he with us about 16 Miles to a Meeting c. Now this is one of the Miracles directed too in the third Table or Index under the Letter M thus Miracles wrought by the Power of God And amongst the rest this being the chief and to me seem most remarkable I have set it down at large and whereby it may appear 1. That it was wrought in his own Name I I I did so and so and not as the Apostles did In the name of Jesus of Nazareth arise no no Geo. Fox like Simon Magus wrought counterfeit Miracles in his own Name only 2. This is said to be done in 1672. and brought to light but in 1694 which is 22 years after it was said to be done and there let me compare him to Simon Magus and see how far they run parallel read Acts 8. 9 10. There was a certain Man called Simon which before time in the same City used Sorcery and bewitched the People of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying this Man is the great Power of God c. This account the Holy Apostle gives on him next let us hear what Justin Martin said of this Simon viz. Many adored him as the supreme God they gave heed to him they believed and obeyed what he Taught they placed their hopes and confidence in him c. See Pools Synopsis of the Criticks p. 14. 62. Erasmus in his paraphrase on that place saith viz. A Man there was among the Samaritans called Simon a Deceiver of the People and a Practicer of Delusions who before Philip came there practiced in that City Magick-Art and by his counterfeit Miracles had made the Samaritans fond of him who by means of such falshood and deceit vaunted himself before the simple and plain People boasting that himself was an excellent Prophet unto whom the Samaritans from the highest to the lowest gave good heed But nothing had he done in the name of Jesus And therefore they as a People astonished at such monsterous sights said this Fellow is God's own right hand who is called Mighty Many a day had he been with them and long had he made them with his Sorcery to dote upon him and therefore when he had oncegotten himself a name with them of great estimation many believed all he Taught From whence we may observe by way of parallel 1. That this Simon the Sorcerer was a great while and many days with the Samaritans so was George Fox with the Quakers 2. Simon Magus wrought counterfeit Miracles in his own Name only and never in the Name of Jesus so did George Fox and thereby like Simon got himself a great Name of estimation amongst the Quakers 3. That the Samaritans adored Simon Magus and call'd him the power of God so did the Quakers whil'st living witness Josiah Coal's Letter and others in the first part recited and now dead they have printed him to be the power of God saying Miracles wrought by the power of God Third Table under the Letter M and for more of this Nature see his Journal p. 167 170 103 28 29 258 370. Where he would make us believe he was an Angel that he saw the Heaven opened that he was seen at the Judgment Day that he cured the Sick restored the Lame and wrought many other Miracles which will complete the parallel But this story of John Jay is surely as idle and unworthy of being esteemed
I deny and this Light to whom they say all Judgment is committed and which they have in them must be Judge of all controversies and consequently their President which deserves the casting Voice No marvel then that the Quakers are not concern'd to vindicate our Bible against the contempt cast upon it by the Papists as saith the same Josiah Coal ibid. p. 104. I find the rest of his Book i. e. A. S. the Roman Catholick consists of divers Arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers whose cause I am not engag'd in therefore it doth not concern me to Answer his Charges against them c. No what neither Sectaries their Bibles nor Ministers Surely tho' he thought himself not engag'd to vindicate the Sectaries nor their Ministers yet if as they pretend to the Parliament they do believe the Scriptures to be Divine and left us by Men Divinely Inspired and that they are a rule of Faith and Behaviour they ought to have vindicated the Bible at least Well but some may say what did this A. S. the Papists call the Bible that they the Quakers think themselves thus unconcern'd to vindicate I Answer 't is his 14th Chapter and which the same Josiah Coal hath printed as an Abettor and Co-workers with him in p. 113. to 116 of his Works The contempt the Papists cast on the Bible and which the Quakers are not at all concern'd to vindicate is viz. Protestant Sectarian Ministers and Preachers who stand in a Pulpit or Tub with such a brazen Fac'd Book as is their unjust corrupt and perverse Bible in their hand c. Oh the deceit of this People What do they pretend to own the Bible only for their own ends to obtain their Liberty and when the Papists vilifie and contemn it and call it a brazen Fac'd Book a corrupt and perverse Book and they not concern'd hereat Well I do still hope that some will be concern'd to vindicate the Holy Bible from the contempt of the Papists calling it a brazen Fac'd Book perverse Book and from the contempt of the Quakers who call it Death Dust Beastly ware Carnal Serpents-meat c. 2. That the Quakers at their Synods make Catalogues of Sufferers for their Religion and what they Suffer and by whom c. I have spoken to this Head largely in the 4th Chapter of the first Part and therein shewed how they boast of their Sufferings how they Augment and make them more than they are yea put them in their Monuments Sufferers 20 l. when they are so far from that that they have gotten 10 l. clear into pocket as in the case of Samuel Cater I have made it appear likewise as my Author says Gen. Hist p. 137. that they amplify their Sufferings viz. A scratch a pinch or a blue spot for a grievous Torment and bloody Wound which may be well observed in most of the Monuments which these Men have left of their Sufferings c. 3. That the Quakers inspect their Books to be printed after approved by their Censors c. From whence let it be noted that if their Books be thus inspected and approved by their approved Censors then are the whole answerable for the Errors contained in those Books and for all the horrible Blasphemies in them But their case is still worse for suppose any one or more of them be moved as he pretends to write a Message Warning or Exhortation to a Nation People or Society as the Word of the Lord God their frequent pretence This Book is first sent up to London for inspection and approbation to one of these Meetings or Synods where their Light is President and made infallible Judge having all Judgment committed to it in Heaven and in Earth this Synod thus Assembled shall afterwards vary the Title and change the Matter to make it harmonize with their design and when this Writer Dyes and leaves 20 or 30 Books thus approved and thus sent abroad the surviving Synod shall take these Books and again alter them put in and take out a second time what they please then re-print them again And what is become of their Infallibility now They had their President at their first inspection what could he not then see and discern clearly but that here must be a new inspection was not their President their Light the same For either the Quakers write as they are moved by the Eternal Spirit of God or they do not if they do then they are equal with the Apostles Writings and then the Judgment denounced Rev. 22. 18 19. If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto them the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book c. This reward they must expect Again if they do not then are they most horrible Deluders and great Deceivers when they write thus this is the word of the Lord God to you the Inhabitants of Bristol or the like and they believe it not they do not believe the Author to be so moved and commissioned and forasmuch as they served the Works of Edward Burrow W. Smith George Fox Is Pennington so viz. altered added and diminished to my certain knowledge I do thereupon affirm that they are not the Works of Fox Burrow Pennington and Smith but the Quakers in general and they are answerable for their Errors notwithstanding each title assert the same Thus hath Quakerism been carried on thus hath it grown and taken its progress by Cheats Frauds and Hypocrisies 4. About their Womens Meetings and their manner and way of their Female Government Having by my Book de Christiana Libertate c. not only treated at large on this head but also been instrumental thereby in giving that Image a deadly blow insomuch as that in some part of the County of Suffolk as well as in divers other Counties in England there is not a distinct Womans Meeting to be seen nor heard of But yet since 't is mentioned in the Gen. Hist p. 50. They have likewise Meetings like those we call Classes and Provincial and National Synods or Councils These Conventions are celebrated oftner or seldomer as the number of their Churches is but so as to allot each Sex Men and Women their distinct and particular Meetings c. I say since the Relation of their Womens Meetings are here brought to light which many think are so dead and dying as that it 's hard to find one in many places and that by way of commendation as I take it I shall therefore briefly touch upon the principal Heads and Orders both of its novel rise and arbitrary Government and chiefly for this reason because in all the Orders there is not so much as one Scripture proof mentioned to confirm and to
strengthen the same even like William Smith's Primmer and Catechism which contain more than a 100 pages yet in all the Treatise there is not one verse of Scripture quoted nor that I remember one exhortation to read the Scriptures in their Family and in his Works in Folio do I find very few Scripures quoted if any and them that are quoted much perverted and abused but to the matter Of Womens Meetings see an abstract of a Letter from G. F. who was the first mover and setter of them up viz. Dear Friends To whom is my Love It would be well and be of service to have a Womans Meeting that you may assist and inform the Men of necessities in what you cannot do your selves and so it would do well for the Women to have a distinct Meeting by themselves once a Month in the County Town meeting together about the Tenth hour of the day and keep a little Stock amongst themselves George Fox This Letter was wrot about 1670. pursuant to his motion for the Establishment of a Womans distinct Meetings but yet in many places they came on slowly and they made but small progress in this Administration of their Female Church Government for it met very early with opposition from amongst themselves and especially when the observation of it came to be imposed as a thing necessary which many looked upon a thing indifferent and therefore the Anniversary Synod confirmed it in all Points by one of their Acts Anno 1675. A Copy thereof followeth viz. London th 3d. Month 1675. To all Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and elsewhere c. touching Womens Meetings It is our Judgment and Testimony in the word of God's Wisdom that the Rise and Practice setting up and establishing Mens and Womens distinct Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the duty of all Friends and Brethren in all places to be diligent therein and to encourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Counties encourage their faithful Women in the settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth i.e. Quakerism shall either directly or indirectly discountenance or weaken the Hands of either Men or Women in the Work and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but reject it resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division We cannot but look upon them not in the unity of the Church of Christ and order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the power of God and in that work for him his Truth and People and not be swayed or hindered by them or their opsitions Signed by William Penn Stephen Crispe John Burnyet George Whitehead Thomas Salthouse Alex. Parker c. This new order of George Fox's for Womens distinct Meetings being ratify'd and in all Points confirm'd and special orders from above given for the strict observation of them There was then but few that in plain words did care to oppose them notwitstanding their was not a word of Scripture neither by Fox nor their yearly Meeting offer'd to prove their proceedings Apostolical nor to warrant their Precept nor to shew a President since the days of Christ or before that Women should hold a Court or Synod distinct by themselves have a Clark a Book a Purse and the management of Church Government once a Month to meet in the County Town about the tenth hour c. according to the Order and Institution of George Fox And notwithstanding there was no Scripture President nor Divine Authority to confirm this Order of George Fox Yet you see by this Anniversary Synod it was ordained enacted and decreed by and with the Assent of the Delegates and Representatives that whoever discountenanced them directly or indirectly was ipso facto to be declared excommunicate out of the unity of their Church I might enlarge and shew the Decree which went forth from their Anniversary Synod 1677. Signed with 66 Names of the Foxonian Quakers condemning John Story and John Wilkinson and their Party for refusing subjection to the Decree above mentioned as likewise another Letter from the Storian Quakers out of the North signed by 67 Quakers disdaining and utterly condemning the Foxonian Quakers and their Pride and Arrogancy who look upon them not only to make Laws unscriptural but when done to condemn such as did not obey them and over whom they had no power but I rather refer to a Book stiled a Testimony against the 66 Judges c. and W. Rogers stiled The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. and my Book aforecited where both the said Letters are at large and the controversy thereabouts more largely handled I shall only add a Prophesy delivered in the Name of the Lord in a Letter to John Story one of the opposers of the Womens Meetings before several Witnesses the first of the first Month 1677. viz. Oh John Story what hast thou done against the Lord and thy own Soul Thou hast divided the Heritage of the Lord and the good Ordinances which Christ Jesus hath set up in his Church hast thou contemned especially Womens Preaching and Womens Meetings therefore the Lord will throw contempt upon thee and if thou dost not repent speedily miserable will be thy end Oh how hast thou lost thy Place and Dignity which thou had'st among the Saints in Light and now to be numbered amongst the Rebellious If ever thou findest Mercy with the Lord go home to the North with speed and break up the divided Meetings which thou and John Wilkinson has been Instrumental to divide from the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ The Anger of the Lord is chiefly against thee and thou art bound with two bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven and this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these bonds till thou art reconciled to the Brethren i. e. submit to G. F. c. Oh hast to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to George Fox who is God's Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ hast away into the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy brother if possible you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least their blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going for this is the word of the Lord to thee viz. That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God Solomon Eccles. I have recited the more of this Letter of Solomon Eccles for
by any legal constitution a body Politick therefore they should not meddle in State Affairs viz. to condemn Acts of Parliaments as Antichristian and Oppressive to the Subject and thereby absolve their Disciples from their obedience to their Lawful Magistrates whom they ought to obey as the higher Powers set over them by God entrusted with the supreme Authority and their part is to yield a dutiful subjection and faithful obedience as whereunto they stand oblig'd by the commands of Christ and his Apostles and the practice of God's faithful Saints and Servants holy Apostles and Martyrs in all Ages by their Birth as natural born Subjects of these Realms by the dictates of their Consciences and the many Favours they daily receive in being defended and protected in their Liberty and Property and by all kinds of consideration both general and particular c. 4. That they print no Books but what are licens'd by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty for that purpose under pain of forfeiting the whole impression this would be a great means to restore England to its Pristine Glory which once it had when it was famous for extirpating Heresie whereas of latter years 't is reported by the Historian of the Quakers History to be a Nurse for Heresie c. 5. That they do not arrogate to themselves the power of excommunicating such as dissent from them and conform themselves to the Establish'd Religion nor treat them Reproachfully but that they study to be quiet and mind their own business 6. That they be not permitted in their Books and Sermons to call legal Punishments Persecution calling the Magistrates Persecutors thereby rendering them odious to the common People 7. That they be not permitted in these Synods to approve of such Books nor to teach such Doctrine as call the national Ministry Witches Devils Antichrists nor the Parliaments Judges Justices and other Magistrates the Beasts that carry the Whore Persecutors of the Saints nor to impeach their judicial Proceedings 8. That they be not permitted to Summons Try Judge Arraign Condemn and Dyalogue the national Ministry Magistracy and People and thereby lift up and extol themselves as the only Catholick Universal Church of the First-born which cannot err and Curse Damn and Reprobate all other Christians This has been their frequent practice and a main Pillar of their Heresie for when they gain upon the common People that the Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ is re-establish'd only amongst them and that all other Societies are Apostates Antichrists Heathens and Infidels they then have gained the point and will soon claim the Chair and reach at the Scepter 9. That they be forbidden to make Collections and Tax the People and lay by Funds as their manner is for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so may it be call'd the Nerve of Heresie but let each Society of Quakers maintain their own Teacher and not have a common Bank at London and Feoffees entrusted therewith to give 8 10 or 20 l. at a time to their Travelling Teachers who range all the World over bantering all other Ministers who have a settled maintenance and are far less chargeable to their Hearers than are the Quakers Teachers who come uncall'd for like Flies and Mice eat up the provision of others as saith the Historian 10. That they be not permitted to call the Scriptures of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles by those contemptible Names of Death Dust Beastly-Ware Serpents-Food and the like 11. But that they be compell'd to condemn those Books of theirs which so teach for thus do they bring the Christian Religion into contempt in order to raise Quakerism as the most excellent of all Religions 12. Let them not be permitted to call the Church of England an Adulterated Harlot nor to charge her with Witchcraft and Sorceries to be an Adulterous Womb which brings forth monsterous Births neither let them be permitted to call the Book of Common Prayer which is grounded on the Holy Scriptures composed and professed by our Martyred Ancestors and confirmed by Authority of King and Parliament a branch which proceeded from the Pope and from his Loyns say they it draws its Strength Neither let them be permitted to print and publish to the Nations that they have ript up the Bowels of the Church of England and discovered her Adulterous Womb and all the false Conceptions conceived by her and that without any fear of her or her power 13. Neither let them be permitted to teach Schools for there they read W. Smith's Primmer and Geo. Fox's Primmer and a certain portion every day of Geo. Fox's Journal all which enveigh bitterly against the Church of England and all instituted Religion which tends to instil corrupt Principles whil'st the Bible and other good Books are laid aside These things ought to be noted and for the Generation of years sake to be guarded against 14. Upon the whole matter these sayings contained in the 12 particulars being great contempt upon the Magistracy and Ministry upon the King and his People and upon the whole Nation Yet thus do their Books Teach thus do they print and publish even in so many words if they deny it I am ready to prove it And notwithstanding this and much more that might be said of the same nature yet they are so high and rampant that when I printed my Book New Rome Arraign'd c. and laid open some of these Errors they indicted me and prosecuted me at Law to my great cost and damage seized my Books and prosecuted me with all the aggravations imaginable And that it may yet further appear how tender they are of their own Church their own Ministers their own Writings and Epistles I shall recite one of their Anniversary Injunctions viz. From our Yearly Meeting in London 27 of 3d Month 1675. To all our Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England c. Concerning Mens and Womens Meetings it is our Judgment and Testimony in the Word of God's Wisdom that the rise and practice setting up and establishing of Mens and Womens Meetings in the Churches of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit And it is our Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the fear of God and in the Authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings that no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as calling Mens and Womens Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burdensome that faithful Friends Papers which we Testify have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Mens Edicts or Cannons Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with such scornful sayings be permitted among them c. Behold what Names and Expressions are contained in the recited 12 particulars given by themselves to the Scripture Bishops and Clergy Ministry and People
this very Testimony from this Great Prophet of theirs Printed 1659. and Reprinted in 1672. by Whitehead and the Chief Quakers Approbation and at the same time too when the Quakers were seeking Favour was such a piece of Impudence as Arius never had But to proceed to my 4th and last Head proposed viz. Who are in the Quakers Account True and Orthodox Preachers since all that Baptise with Water all that Study the Scriptures and Preach out of them all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above all that take Receive or pay Tyth's are false Ministers Witches Devils c. In a word all not Quakers for so they affirm The Quakers Challenge c. p. â— Come Protestants Presbyterians Independents and Baptists the Quakers deny you all p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they c. And therefore 't is highly necessary to know who they account true Preachers which are these that follow viz. 1. Such as Teach that the Name of Christ belong to every Member of the Body as well as to him that Suffered at Jerusalem that his Body was but a Vail a Garment c. and which they can never call Christ that his Person was no more to his Disciples then another Person but for the sake of the Spirit Frame and Temper that dwelt in him his Disciples loved him that Christ is not God and Man in one Person For Proof hereof see Is Pennington's Question to Professors c. p. 20. to 33. Will Bayly's Works p. 300. 307. The Sword of the Lord Drawn c. p. 5. 2. Such as deny the Blessed Trinity see W. Penn's Sandy Foundation c. p. 15. to 20. and W. Penn's Christian Quaker and his Dev. Testimony p. 98. 3. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are Dust Death Serpents Food that the Sacraments are Dust that Matthew Mark Luke and John are Serpents Meat Dust and Beastly Ware and such as propose it doubtful whether Moses or Hermes was the 1st Pen-man of the Scripture and whether some of it was not spoke by the Grand Imposter some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill Applyed some by Good Men ill Expressed some by False Prophets and yet True some by True Prophets and yet False for Proof see The Quakers Refuge Fixed c. p. 17. News coming out of the North c. p. 14. David's Enemies Discovered c. p. 7. 4. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are not the Word of God and that so to Affirm is Blasphemy See G. Fox's Book Stiled Firebrands c. 2 part p. 159. Printed 1678. and his Great Mist c. p. 240. Printed 1659. 5. Such who Teach that the Quakers Writings are the Word of God given forth by the Eternal Spirit of God that we may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Papers and Queries That if ever we own the Prophets Christ or the Apostles we will own their Books that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater for Proof See Truth 's Defence c. p. 2. 104 107. Fox's his Answer to the Westmorland Petitioners c. p. 3. both Printed 1653. likewise G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. A Brief Discovery c. p. 8. Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 40. 6. Such as Teach that Water Baptism is no Ordinance of God but an Institution of the Whore of Rome And that the Practice of it is Idolatry and that such are bewitched to accept of those two Institutions of Christ Baptisme and the Lord's Supper For Proof News coming up out of the North c. p. 34. 35. A Musick Lecture p. 25. Burrough's Works p. 51. 518. William Smith's Primmer p. 36. 7. Such as Teach that the Quakers Sufferings are greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and all the Marters since That the Sufferings Inflicted upon Christ his Apostles and Martyrs were chiefly done by a Law and in a great part by the due Execution of a Law see Burrough's Works p. 273. Behold Reader not only how they Magnifie their Sufferings the Blasphemy of their Doctors But the horrible Lye far exceeding that of Mahomet's Journey to Heaven as at large in that Learned Treatise Wrote by Dr. Prideaux Arch-deacon of Suffolk Entituled The Nature of an Imposture in the Life of Mahomet c. Printed 1697. Sold by W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet London 8. Such as Teach and leave it upon Record to Posterity that they Suffer 20 l. at a time for Preaching when they not only not suffer a penny but get ten pound clear by the Bargain as in this Book at large shewed in the Instance of that Self magnifying Teacher of theirs Samuel Cater of Little Port in the Isle of Ely See The lamentable Cry of Oppression c. p. 40. to the end Hadenham old Records c. 9. Such as Teach that the very Christ of God is within us his Sufferings within us that his offering himself as a Sacrifice is within us and by the scope of their Ancient Testimony deny him that was nail'd to the Cross Pierced c. to be Christ which their Light never was c. See Burrough's Works c. p. 149. W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 9. and his Catechism p. 57. to 60. 10. Such as Teach that the Quakers have a a Spirit given them beyond all the Fore-fathers and thereby know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a word and that none need to give the Quakers Discerning or Judgment for Christ i. e. their Light doth furnish them at all times and on all occasions see G. Fox's Great Mist. p. 89. Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. 11. Such as Teach and that truly too that the Quakers are raised contrary to all Men yea ever since Noah's Flood and that they have given their Power only to God and that they cannot seek that 's a grand Lie the Parliament can bear me witness to outward Authority But stand Witness against Parliaments that 's true Judges Justices and to such Laws Customs Courts c. they cannot yield Obedidience that the Quakers Kingdom is from above and that they reject the Beasts Authority i. e. the Parliament and the Dragons Power And that the Quakers are gather'd up into the Life which the Holy Men of God lived in That they i. e. Quakers are fallen from the World and it's Ways and Nature That even the Father oh dreadful Blasphemy bears Witness of them and therefore their Witness is true Alluding as in many other Cases to Equalize themselves to Christ John 5. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me and I know the witness which he witnesseth of me is true that Teach saying What have you the publick Ministry lost the Lord to be your Strength that you must flee for Help to Men Must they make Laws to Establish