the Reader to all bookish men that have read the Histories of those years wherein these things are said to fall out and they will tell us that these things are asserted by so many credible Authors at that time living agreeing in the same as takes away all doubt of forgery and slander Or the Reader may find them in Bullinger adv Anabaptist Sleiden hist Heresbachius hist Anabaptistica Lambertus Hortensius of the same Spanhem Diatr hist de Anabap. Joannis Clopenburgius gangrena Anabaptist And also Mr. Robert Baily Mr. Rutterfords Survey And a Peece lately transsated by a Minister of New-England and published by Mr. Hook of the Savoy entituled Johannis Becoldus Redivivus will further satisfie the Reader Anno 1528. Ludovicus Helster Joannis Trajer Seekler and other Enthusiasts were in the matter of Oaths Magistracy c. confuted by Hollerus and Kolvius at Bern and driven to say The Spirit taught them otherwise then the letter of the Scripture spake Rutterfords Surv. p 7. David George born in Delph austere as any Capuchin Frier that did often fast three dayes together by trade a Painter in 1540. did vend these Heresies among others That he was the Son of God the true and spiritual David born of the Spirit whereas Jesus Christ was born of the flesh That the Doctrine of Moses the Prophets Christ and the Apostles was imperfect carnal litteral That his Ministry was the time of perfection when all Ordinances shall be useles That it was the sin against the Holy Ghost to refuse the Spirit in David George his Ministry and to go back to the Prophets and Apostles These seeds he sowed in Germany and Transilvania Rutterfords Survey Gasper Swenck field in Luthers time a great opposer of the Reformation taught That the Doctrine contained in the Scripture is not properly the Word of God but improperly by a Metonimy where the sign is put for the thing signified That Faith and Conversion come not immediately by the Word preached but immediately from heaven by inspiration That the preachers of his time Luther Bucer Calvin Peter Martyr Beza Musculus Grynaeus Tossanus Melancthon c. were not sent of God and that no man was converted or the better for their preaching That no Doctrine in the Scripture CONDUCETH TO SALVATION That God is to be sought in his naked Majesty in dreams inspirations and revelations of the Spirit That our Righteousness and Justification is not in the imputed obedience and righteousness of Christ but in a conformity with Christ in glory by the in-dwelling Spirit of Christ Rutterfords Survey out of the Germne Authors CHAP. V. Of the Quakers of England since the Reformation HEnry Nicholls the head of the Sect called the Family of Love here in England wrote an Epistle to two Daughters of the Earl of Warwick in King Edward the sixth's dayes disswading them from Regeneration by the Word of God read or preached he denied Christ to be God This Epistle was answered by Henry Ainsworth he ascribed his blasphemies and heresies to the holy God as the Author of them saying of himself That he was annointed with the holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Jesus Christ Goded with God in the Spirit of his love illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of perfect being That Christ was not God nor man but the state of perfection in believers or annointing or Sabbath or the holy disposition or Godliness That all Ordinances Hearing Preaching Scripture Scripture-learning Baptisme the Lords Supper all confession of Christ before men all externals in Religion are things of no worth indifferent free trivial laid on us by no Law of God That our second Birth is our Saviour Christ. Rutterford That he could no more erre in what he said then could the Prophets of God or Apostles of Christ His Prophet of the Spirit Cl 13. See 8. quoted by Rutterfords Surv. p. 169. Of this Tribe were Hacket Coppinger and Arthington and that great number called Grundletenians from a Village in York-shire where they met in Queen Elizabeths and King James his dayes concerning whom Mr. Richard Baxter affirms in his Treatise of the sin against the holy Ghost p. 149. I had an old godly Friend that lived near them and went once among them and they breathed on him as to give him the holy Ghost and his Family for three dayes after perceived him as a man of another spirit as half in an extasie but coming to himself he came near them no more The hanging of Hacket in Cheapside 1591. who died blaspheming did much marre their matters and Arthingtons Recantation in a Book called His seduction did stay many CHAP. VI. Of the Quakers of New-England BEcause some Enthusiastis agreeing in many heretical and blasphemous Opinions with the Quakers did sail to New-England in the Reign of King Charles among those godly Ministers and people that went thither to free themselves from Prelatical Monarchy let 's follow them and take a view of them Mrs. Hutcheson and her Disciples taught That Love in the Saints is the very holy Ghost As Christ was God manifested in the flesh so is he incarnate and made flesh in every Saint The new creature or new man love or the Armour of God Eph. 6. is not meant of grace but of Christ himself The Faith that justifieth hath not any actual being out of Christ it is Christ believing in us The search and knowledge of the Scriptures is not a safe way of searching and finding Christ A Christian is not bound to the Law as a rule of his Christian walking In the Saints there is no inherent grace but Christ is all Frequency and length of holy duties argues the Party to be under a Covenant of works All Doctrines Revelations and Spirits must be tryed by Christ rather then by the Word The soul need not go out to Christ for fresh supply but is acted by the inhabiting Spirit In the Saints Christ loves prayes believes praises formally in them and they are wholly Christed and Godded A Christian is not bound to pray nor to any spiritual acts but when the Spirit exciteth and moveth him thereunto He that hath the Seal of the Spirit can infallibly judge of another whether he be elected or not No Minister can convey to another more then he hath experience of in his own soul The Law is no rule of life to a Christian Mrs. Hutcheson said Her own Revelations about future events are as infallible as Scripture the holy Ghost is Author of both That she is obliged with certainty of Faith to believe the one as well as the other Rutterfords Surv. out of Welds Narrative Almost every one of these Errors and Blasphemies are the same for Substance with what the present Quakers hold as may be seen by comparing The Errors and Blasphemies of the Gortinians from Sam. Gorten banished out of New-England about the year 1646. That the Ministers and Churches of New-England that are not
upon the Husk c. p. 11. See way to the Kingdome p. 8. See perfect Pharisee p. 17 18. 22. That the Scriptures are not the Saints Rule of knowing God and living unto him but that which was before the Scriptures were written This is also your own concerning which anon more at large Atkinson ubisupra p. 1. Parnell p. 11. 23. That there is no need of outward teachings by reading or hearing of the Scriptures opened and applyed See perfect Pharisee p. 20. 24. That no mens interpretations of the Scripture or Arguments from them are to be received except those that give them are infallible See Quakers Cat. published by Mr Baxter where the Quaerists require Infallibility in a Minister And perfect Pharisee p 23. This is generally their strain We renounce and deny all your meanings interpretations arguments calling them adding to the Scriptures And concerning it we must have a brush or two with you anon 25. That the light in them is the Gospell and the more sure word of Prophecy so sure that some of them say That it is a like for to take a sentence out of their Letters and Preach from it as to take a sentence out of Pauls Epistles Discovery of mysticall Antichrist displaying Christs Banners p. 15 and 33. 26. That there is no call to the Ministry but an immediate Call which is generally proclaimed by them See perfect Pharisee p. 29. J. Parnell p. 16. 27. There is no Baptisme of Christ but with the holy Ghost and fire And no Supper of the Lord but in the spirituall part for as for the visible part The Bread which the world breakes is carnall and naturall See perfect Pharisee p. 28. and J. Parnell p 12 13. 28. That singing Davids Psalmes in English Meeter is to sing the Ballads of Hopkins and Sternhold King James his Fidlers And to sing them is to turn the Scriptures into lies and blasphemies One of them in a Letter here at Reading Henry Clarke in his description of the Prophets p. 9. 29. That God made not man to be Lord over Man but over Creatures and therefore amongst them there are no Superiours after the flesh But are there any Superiours over them then that are not among them see in the next Article J. Parnell p. 22 23. 30. That Christ comes to fulfill and end all outward Lawes and Government of man Ja. Parnell p. 18 19. The righteous are from under the outward Law for they are a Law to themselves Especially if Magistrates be wicked that is not of them the Author quoted in the Margin denies them utterly 31. Ja. Parnell p. 37. That there is no Sabbath now but an everlasting Sabbath and that our Sabbath is but a shadow of which they have the substance and that the first day in the week is no Sabbath 32. That we may not pray before and after Sermons or at set times daies and houres because these things were in the Generation which were enemies to Christ Quaeries sent to the Congregation at Stopport printed in a Book of Mr Eaton 33. That the Ratters themselves had a pure convincement which did convince them And what their convincements were most men know To wit that there is no Heaven Hell Resurrection Judgment to come that there is no sin but what a Man thinks to be so that all that they did was done by the Eternity in them c. Geo. Fox and J. Nailor in a book called A word from the Lord p. 13. 34. That that word 1 John 1.8 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves was spoken by the carnall man Fr. Gawler See Antichrist in man by Mr Miller of Cardiff p. 7. Idem ibid. 35. That if a man hath sin in him he hath none of Christ 36. They will not acknowledge that Christ ascended with his body into Heaven Idem ibid. Since my Catalogue of the Errors and Blasphemies of the Quakers was Printed off I thought good to make this Addition following Of the Trinity WE deny the term of three distinct Persons which you call God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith the Library keeper of Cambridg p. 2. Printed 1659. Of the Authority of the speeches and writings of the Quakers Quest Do you esteem of your speakings to be of as great Authothority as any Chapters in the Bible Answ That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater as Christs words were of greater Authority when he spake then the Pharisees reading the Letter This was Writ and Published by Geo. Whitchead and Geo. Fox the younger in their Truth defended against Mr. Tho. Smith of Cambridge 1659. And themselves say it was written from the Spirit of Truth in Geo. Whitehead and Geo. Fox the younger see the Title Page of Truth defending the Quakers and p. 7. here it is plainly though most grosly and blasphemously affirmed that the Quakers speakings are of greater Authority than the Scriptures Of the Morall Law or Ten Commandements No Rule to the Christians life Whitehead and Geo. Fox against Mr. Smith p. 18. In which Book also these Doctrines are owned That Christs coming in the flesh was but a Figure p. 20. That it s no sin to mend an old Doublet on the Communion Table on the Lords Day in Sermon time though forbidden by the Parrishioners p. 20 21. Of Justification Good works are the meritorious cause of our Justification Fisher the Quaker in the Dispute with Mr. Tho. Danson at Sandwitch Printed 1659. These following Stories I had from my very good Friend Mr. W. Allen of London who will if occasion be satisfie any concerning the truth of them By which as well as by some of the former may be seen that the Devill doth extraordinarily act in and by many of the Quakers A Maid in London being met by a Quaker who addressed himselfe to her with suits of Love was perswaded to drink with him The Quaker took something out of a Paper and put into the drink and in discourse told her she should come after him and that he need not come after her The Maid after this found pressing inclinations within her selfe to go to the Quakers Meeting and was brought into strange Raptures and found her mind exceedingly turned against the Bible And some Christian Friends of hers having observed her to have been under sore distempers as well of body as mind for a certaintime at last kept a day of fasting and Prayer for her having her then in their company though not without much relactancy on her part Whilst they were thus seeking God for her she found her selfe greatly tormented and her body sweld so much that they were fain to unloose her Cloathes to give her ease But before they had finished that daies work she found her selfe delivered and since acknowledged to me the great mercy of God to her in recovering her
Christian Friends WHen I lately heard a good Christian of your Nation say That the sad disagreement among you had not proceeded at least in his observation unto any actual Separation of the members from the respective setled Congregations unto which they belonged nor from communicating together in the Ordinances of Christ it much rejoyced my heart because we of England do know by wofull experience That Separation from a true Reformed or Reforming Church is the VAN of such a company of Abominations as have allowed Blasphemies for their RERE as may be seen in this short History which I have published partly for your sakes that so you may see what poisonous weeds they are with which the Garden of the Church in England is overrun by its lying common without an hedge to the apparent danger of Religion and may be provoked both to pity and pray for us and to look to your own Church by striving every one of you in your places to strengthen and tie fast the bond of heart-unity among your selves in reference both to affection and practice The Reverence I owe unto so eminent a part of the Spouse of my Saviour as the Church of Scotland is forbids me to multiply words I heartily beg of all her members that they will faithfully indeavour to purge out any old leaven that may at any time be found among them but abhor Schism and Separation That Jesus Christ would preserve and sanctifie the Church of Scotland more and more and purge the Church of England from her drosse is the hearty prayer of A poor member of Christs Catholick Church Tho. Vnderhill AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER IN collecting the Opinions of our Quakers though I much affected to transcribe their own words which I have done for the most part yet sometimes though seldom I have contracted where I found my Authors prolix yet without wronging them in the least For it was the Spirit of those people and the Substance of their writings and not only the letter as they phrase it concerning the Scriptures which I sought after which course James Nailer himself saith he took in his Answer to Moor pag. 34. Where they in stead of Scripture say the letter I render it Scripture because thereby they mean the Scripture as themselves acknowledge Farnworth against Hagger pag. 20 26. Burroughs against Firmin pag. 8. as every Reader may discern by the matter treated on And that every of the meanest Readers may the better understand their meaning I know very well that there are many things in the Catalogues that will astonish thee but I do freely and sincerely affirm that I have not knowingly wronged them in the least and do ingage my self to make good every thing I charge them with to any sober and peaceable person that shall require so much of me I do expect many thundering Accusations and Comminations from the Quakers but would not have either them or thee to expect that I shall take any publick notice thereof for these two Reasons 1. Because they do disclaim both Scripture and Argumentation as Judge to try any things in debate between them and their Adversaries their own fancy and will which they miscall the infallible Spirit of God shall determine all and so it 's a vain thing to strive to convince them of any thing contrary thereunto 2. Because when they do pretend to Answer they do so equivocate and prevaricate that such Answers are little better than their more plainer ones to wit Thou liest even just as one answered Bellarmine with a word I could in my collections have been much more large but supposing here is more than enough I forbear with a promise of more if it be thought needfull and what is done find acceptance Tho. Underhill An History of the Quakers CHAP. I. Of the Name Quaker And the Substance of their Opinions ALthough they agree with the great Opposites to verity in many great points as with Simon Magus Menander Saturnius Basilides Carpocrates the Nicolaitans Arrians and Mehomitans of old and with the Papists Socinians and Enthusiastical Anabaptists of Germany of late as may evidently be seen in the comparing of their Opinions yet with us they are not commonly called by the name of any of those with whom they do so agree but have their denomination from their sits of the Quaking of their bodies when they are either really or pretendedly acted by another Spirit than their own And though now adayes it 's rarely seen that they Quake yet it 's well known to thousands that the quakings and bodily tremblings of single persons and the greatest part of their Assemblies was very ordinary And no doubt but in those strange fits they are sometimes passive when acted by Spirits as was Gilpin of Kendall See his own Relation And sometimes active as when they do it of their own accord Sutable to this is the Story that I had from one that I am sure tells the truth That coming once into a great Assembly of them at Glasiers-Hall London their then meeting place he found some trembling others howling others crying out and violently moving their bodies just like mad folkes who were to his appearance forceably held by the more sober just as mad folkes are and all this for many minutes together the like carriage he affirms he had thought had been no where on this side Hell But when he dealt with their Speaker endeavouring to prove him a Seducer they were so vexed that they left their Bedlam carriage and like the pictures of the Witches in the Fortune-Book fell upon him with dreadfull denunciations and impudent censures untill he charged them with hypocrisie and voluntariness and called upon them to howl again and to let him alone with that Fellow their Speaker and then they did fall to their howling again but not so loud as to hinder the debate which he had with him And for the chief Opinions of the Quakers That our Ministers are not of God Nor the Scripture his Word That they are not our Rule That the Gospel-Ordinances cease That themselves are immediately taught and are infallible Denying the Trinity Christs Humanity Merit and Ascension Of only such as these I shall treat in this ensuing History CHAP. II. Of their Antiquity FOr the Antiquity of the Quakers take the very words of Mr Henry Stubbs of Christ Church in Oxon in his Rebuke to Mr Richard Baxter p. 36. As to the Generality of their Opinions and Deportment I DO AVOW it out of as sure and good Records as any can be produced that they can plead more for themselves from the first two hundred seventy years then Mr Baxter for the present Orthodox Religion laid down in the Saints Everlasting Rest or the Confession OF THE ASSEMBLY I fully agree with this Learned man that they are very Ancient but yet I do not agree with him in one point of Circumstance and in another of Substance as to the Subject of the Quakers As to the
Circumstance of time he fetches their Original but from the year two hundred and seventy but I find them above two hundred years sooner even in St. Paul's time as may be seen in my next Chapter This Difference is not very great But for the other point That the Quakers can plead more for themselves from the first two hundred seventy years then Mr. Baxter for the present Orthodox Religion laid down in the Saints Rest or the Confession of the Assembly I do heartily profess I differ from him as much in my opinion as he doth that loves to speak truth from him that will say otherwise for advantage and as a Protestant different from a Papist And in this Difference I have all Learned Protestants of my side the Papists and Quakers I think are for him CHAP. III. The Quakers chief Predecessors in the several Ages of the World since Christ AS to the main design of the Spirit of Hereticks viz. The disgracing and opposing of Christ and his Gospel both the Scripture Ministry and Ordinances The Quakers are the chiefest Instruments upon the earth as will appear by their Opinions and Practices And these were the chief of their Predecessors in the several Ages of the World since Christ was upon the earth 1. The false Apostles that did so oppose the true ones and teach Justification by the workes of the Law that they occasioned Saint Paul to write the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians against them and charge them with setting up a new Gospel which infection proceeded so far that those who before would have plucked out their eyes for him did now take him for their enemy 2. Simon Magus a Leader of a deluded Society and an opposer of the Apostles and the Gospel of Christ pretended himself to be God and Christ that seemed to die at Jerusalem denied that Christ was really come or did suffer also the Resurrection of he body and brought in the promiscuous use of Women Jacks Chron. 186. 3. Menander his Disciple And 4. Saturnius his Disciple who said that Marriage and Generation were of Satan many of whose followers would not eat of my living sensitive creature 5. Basilides taught that it was not Jesus but Simon of Cyrene in his shape that was crucified And that saving Faith did not terminate in him that was crucified but in Jesus that came in the shape of a man and was thought to have been crucified 6. Carpocrates and the Nicolaitans some of them made themselves to be equal with Christ and some the same with him they used multitudes of amazing words Inchantments and were familiar with Devils The Cerinthians Cordonites Ebionites Valentinians and Marcionites who had all the general name of Gnosticks from their own proud pretences of the Knowledge of such mysteries as the Catholick Church was ignorant of but were called by the names of their respective succeeding Leaders because every one added to or altered somewhat from the Doctrine of the former yet holding the same in the main These were as Irenaeus shews Lib. 1. cap. 30. all the Disciples of Simon Magus the Witch and continued the substance of his Doctrine with some additions though some of them would not own his name All the fore going were against the Christian Doctrine Ministery and Ordinences The Arrians who denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and that he was the only begotten Sin of God Coequall and Coeternall with the Father and the holy Spirit and consequently his Merit and Satisfaction and Justification by the imputation thereof and his Ministers The Katharoi who affirmed that they being justified were perfect and free of all sin as the glorified in Heaven Anno 1118. Adamites devised a Church to be as a hot house to keep them from cold The Service time they were all naked men and women the Virgins preached unto the rest their Church they called Paradise and themselves Adam and Eve Epiphan haeres 52. Priscilianus a Gnostick said the Soul was of one Substance with God mans actions were governed by the Stars condemned the eating of flesh parted married Couples ascribed Creation of the flesh to wicked Angels Aug. lib. de Haeres Pelagius a Monk of Bangor he held that man without the grace of God was able to fullfill all the commands of God that the Just have no sin in this life that Children have no original sin Aug. de Haeres See Baxters sin against the Holy Ghost All these Hereticks with their Heresies and Blasphemies were in the Church many hundred years ago and condemned by Councils and Fathers and many of them witnessed against from Heaven by dreadfull judgements For the truth of my Collections I appeal to all that have read the ancient Histories of the Church which are of as clear evidence as the Chronicles that give us the Names and Reigns of William the Conquerour Henry the Eight and Queen Mary So that it is not lawfull for any man to say these Stories are lies untill after diligent search he find them to be so or untill upon his enquiry of honest learned men they say so which will never be Mahomet growing famous for Wealth and Magick by the advice of Sergius a Monk called himself the great Prophet of God denied the Sufficiency Perfection and Authority of the holy Scriptures but stole abundance of the words names and things therein contained to make up his Speeches and his Alchoran also the Trinity He held Community of Women was an Enthusiast pretending to Revelations and Infallibility CHAP. IV. Of the Quakers of Germany in Luther and Calvins time that opposed Christ at his then coming to reforme the Church COme we now to the Quakers of Germany though not so called These were some of the principal of them Nicholas Stork Tho. Muntcer Dr. Belthazer Hubmore Melchior Rink John Hut Jo. Deuter Lodovick Hetzer Phifer John Becold Rotman Harman Staxrede Henry Rolles Knipperdoling Cipperbroke Creching John Mathews David George Conradus Jo. Trajer Seekler David George Gasper Swenckfield Baxters Sin against the Holy Ghost When Satan perceived that he could no longer keep up the Tyranny and Errors undisturbed but that Christ would send out such a light as should disgrace and dispell his darkness he renewed his old attempts again and setteth upon Christ in his own Kingdome and falls upon the Reformation in its own quarters to disgrace it by the diversity of evil Doctrines and practices of those who pretended to be Reformers They began in a seeming simplicity of harmlesness as if the Reformers had not reformed enough but they must carry on the work where we left it and cast out children from the Church as we cast out Superstition and Errors But when the spirit within them had once vent and field-room for agitation it soon discovered it self to be of the great Deceiver as will abundantly appear by the ensuing Epitomy of the Stories of some of them Muntzer and his company at Mulhuze chose a new Senate of their Party to seize upon the
of their way are Antichrists Idolizers false Teachers Vngodly c. That the rising of their Sect is the Messenger of the Covenant Christ coming to his Temple That whatever it is the Saints utter in point of Religion must be the voice of the Son of God That Christs death and suffering is nothing else but the dying and suffering of the Saints He denied there being three Persons in one God That Christ was a single man true man and died for us The Resurrection And affirmed That Christ reveals his will by no voice but the voice of the Spirit in the Saints That swearing at all though before a Judge is unlawfull That those that study for their Sermons are Idol Shepheards of Rome Simplicityes defence against seven headed policy quoted by Rutterfords Surv. I my self did hear this Gorten affirm about the year 1647. in a Sermon in Coleman-street that whatever shall have an end was a carnal Ordinance and from the Devil for he made them convertible terms and instanced in Baptisme Lords Chaplains Ruling Elders c. The Reader may see what plain Quakerisme these things are by comparing them with the following Catalogue PART II. THus having brought the Reader down to these times wherein we live I shall now shew 1. How the Quakers of these dayes came so suddenly to multiply 2. What their Opinions and Practices are And 3. What the design of Satan is in stirring up such kinde of people And so conclude with a Prayer to God to reduce them and in the mean time to preserve me and all others from their infection and rage CHAP. I. Of the Quakers of these dayes Shewing how they came so quickly to encrease as they have done And the Diversity of them 1. THe old Church-Government being quite taken away and no new one set up in its stead all Laws that enjoyned people to heat Gods Word repealed and the wayes of proceeding against Hereticks dying with the Government factions and animosities breaking out into an unhappy War in which the reins of men being more loose and Souldiers having both provocations to stir up their pride passion and dissent from their enemies to the heigth and also opportunity to vent their opinions and to propagate them with less contradiction as being removed further from the inspection of able Ministers A few Anabaptists Antinomians Familists that were the spawn of the forementioned Family of Love Henry Nicholls and the Grundletonians but shrouding themselves at first under the name of Independents and Seperatists upon pretence only of some corruptions in the Church did grow in two or three years time to a multitude spreading themselves and their conceits through the several Cities and Countries and Armies untill at last through the just hand of God their combining for Tolleration the great industry of disguised Jesuits and their many flagitious abominable practices they arrived to that height and * The number of Quakers of all sorts that deny Christ his Scripture Ministry and Ordinances is no doubt 150000. in England number and to those advantages for the propagation of their wayes which our eyes have seen and the faithfull do lament Oh what a great lump hath a little Leaven leavened And for brevity sake take the words of a great observer of the times A man would scarce have believed that saw the first spring of Seperation and Anabaptistry among us that it would have produced those fearfull effects which we have since beheld The Devil hath now got such an * Ths was written five years ago How greatly are they encreased since then Army of Hereticks to spit their venome daily in the face of Christ that we may hear daily from their voices whether Satan be for Christ or against him From Separation and Anabaptisme and Antinomianisme they are proceeded to such madness and abominable conceits and to so great variety of them as I scarce read of in any time of the Church except in the dayes of the Simonions Nicolaitans and the rest of the Gnosticks in and near the dayes of the Apostles and in the time of David George and some others at the Reformation When many both Rulers and People desired endeavoured and expected such a Reformation as to have seen a plenty of faithfull Teachers and Discipline faithfully exercised and God purely and seriously worshipped we could not foresee What grievous Wolves should enter not sparing the flock and that of our own selves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Acts 20.29 30. So that I think we may almost compare with the first Hereticks for vileness and variety Some we have that turn Socinians some turn Libertines and some Familists some Seekers and some down-right Infidels Besides these we have had and yet have a horrible Sect of men called Ranters who make it their very Religion to swear out the most foul-mouthed Oaths by multitudes and openly blaspheme the God of Heaven and so meet and dance and roar together and commit whoredoms and filthiness without shame so that they seem to match the Simonians and Nicolaitans They fall into frensies and there lie with their bodies swelled strangely acted and then fall into their raptures and blasphemings Act of O. C. against Blaspheming which proves the truth of these things When the Law began to restrain these for their wicked practices the same deceivng Spirit raiseth up another Sect in their stead called Quakers who hold many of their Doctrines and take their course in many other respects Only instead of ranting open wickedness they pretend to as great mortification of the flesh as the ancient Eremites and more They fall into trances swell quake and tremble and yell and roar and after the fit is over fall a threatning Judgements sometimes against common sinnes but the life and venome of all their speeches and endeavours is against the Ministry Baxters sin against the Holy Ghost p. 151. to make them odious in the eyes of the people The said Author goes on and names a more soberer sort possest with the fancies of Jacob Bemon the German paracelsian Prophet and the Rosiecrusians that set themselves mainly to a mortification of bodily desires and delights and advancing the intellective part above the sensitive which is well but the Doctrine of Christ crucified and Justification by him is little minded by them They do as the Quakers maintain the Popish Doctrine of Perfection That they can live without sin or that some of them can They aspire after visible Communion with Angels and many of them pretend to have attained it and frequently to see them The rest have that immediate intuition of verities by the Spirit within them or by revelation that it is above meer rational apprehension and therefore they will not dispute nor be moved by any Arguments or Scriptures that you bring affirming that Rationation cannot prevail against their intuition The summe of their Doctrines is That we must be perfect And for subjecting the
flesh to the intellect we must live in contemplation lay by all Offices in the Commonwealth and own no fleshly Relations as they call them not the Relation of Brother or Sister not the Relation of a Magistrate or of a Master not the Relation of a Father or Mother Son or Daughter nor love any because of such a Relation but only as Justice binds us to requital for what they have done for us That none should own the Relation of Husband or Wife nor love each other as so related That we should endeavour to be perfect and therefore to forbear all carnall acts of Generation as being of sin and of the Devil and therefore Husband and Wife should part asunder or abstain That all things should be common and none should own propriety with abundance more which are Jounded on certain vain unproved fancies of Behmens That God at first created man a spiritual body in one sex only that containing both sexes vertually having an Angelical power of spiritual Generation and that this gross corporeity and diversity of Sex Marriage and Generation are all the fruits of sin and Satan with abundance more such audacious vanities not worth the reciting Now I shall come more closely to treat of the people among us that are commonly called Quakers The chief Ringleaders are named in the Quotations following CHAP. II. Containing some of the Blasphemies and Errors of the Quakers which they have Published in their Printed Books which I have not taken upon trust but have seen them every one and reduced them to the following Heads Of the Authority of their Words and Writings 1. THat what Christ the Prophets and Apostles spoke and what is spoken or written by the Quakers are all given forth by one Spirit according to measure and that a man may as well slight the one as the other Mr. Camelford Minister of Stasly Chappel in Lancheshire having told Tho. Atkinson in answer to his Queries that his Queries were condemned to the fire to be burned Geo. Fox replies You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the fire Truths defence against resined subtilties By Geo Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 2. and justified by James Nailor in his Answer to Jer. Ives p. 15. 2. That they have as full a measure of the Spirit as the Penners of the Scriptures had Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn Truths defence p. 43. 3. That the same gift that worketh miracles is among them as was among the Apostles Geo. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn Truths desence p. 44. Of Antichrist 4. That that denying of Christ to be come in the flesh which is the mark or Character of Antichrist or the Man of sin is the denying of Christ to be come in the flesh of his Saints Masons Answer to Johnson Of Atonement 5. That there is that in the spirituall Man which being turned into and followed can redeem and make Atonement and that in him the Attonement is made IN Answer to Higgenson p. 3. 6. That the light which is in every man sheweth the true Atonement and no other thing can shew it to every particular Person ibid. p. 38. Of civill Titles and Gestures of respect unto Men. 7. That bowing the body and putting off the Hat unto one another is an Heathenish Custome and Idolatry James Parnell's Goliahs head cut off p. 39 40. 8. Mr. Raynor of Lincoln is called Babilonian for directing his Epistle to the Right Worshipfull the Major of Lincoln Masons Answer to Raynor p. 4. Of Christ 9. George Fox being asked whether Christ have a body in Heaven and be a particular man or person incompassed with a body to live for ever ye or no Affirms that Christ hath but one Body and that is the Church Truths defence against refined subtilty by Geo. Fox and Hubberthorn p. 78 79. Edw. Burrough's Answer to Bunion p. 28. 10. Christ hath but one body and that is his Church James Nailor against Ives p. 23. Edw. Burroughs against Bunion p. 30. The destinction of Christs personall presence in Heaven and spirituall presence in his people is denied James Nailor's second Answer to Tho. Moore p. 13. 11. That the Election Ordination and Adoption so often spoken of in the Scriptures is Christ and the drawing is the Spirit of the Father which is administred in the light which draws to Christ the Election James Nailor against Jo. Beacon p. 40. 12. That Christ was the Gospell which the Apostles Preached Ja. Parnell's Goliahs head cut off p. 17. 13. Christs coming in the flesh gave Adam his created estate and recovery Hubberthorn against Tho. Winterton p. 8. 14. Christs coming in person to Judgement is denied Hubberthorns innocency of the righteous seed p. 7 8. he is no where to be looked for but within Mason against Johnson 15. It is no deceit to own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began Edw. Burroughs against Bunion p. 13. Of the Church 16. Christs Church is in God and God hath not a visible or temporall Church in the world nor is the Order or Rule or Government in the Church visible but spirituall and eternall Farnworth against Hagger p. 17 23. 17. That since the Apostles dayes hath been a great Apostacy and not a true Church of Christ could be found and ever since hath the same Generation as now of false Prophets stood under severall formes and appearances deceiving the Nations but now the pure light of Christ shines c. Answer to Griffith Of Religious Education 18. That for Masters and Mistresses to make their Servants read Scriptures and to bring them to the publique Ordinances argues a persecuting Bonner like spirit and is a seeking to dethrone Christ and is treason against the King of Saints and his tender Lambs Masons Answer to Mr. Rayners Precepts p. 37. Of free will and of the power of nature 19. The light of Christ within or the light that is in every Mans Conscience if walked in and hearkened unto will be strength to lead a Man to life Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 12. many of their assertions concerning the light imply the same thing Of internal light and what it can do 20. That the light which is in every one that comes into the world shews a man sin and evil and the deceipts of his own heart Geo. Fox Exhort to the People in Answer to Westm Ministers Pet. 21. And loving this light it will bring you off all the worlds wayes and worships to worship God ibid. And lead you into the light of life Farnworth against Hagger p. 51. Hubberthorn against Tho. Winterton p. 2. From impurity unto holiness Masons Epistle to his Answer to Mr. Rayners Precepts 22. It is spiritaall 23. And the light of Christ wherewith he enlightens every one that comes into the world 24. It is pure and whosoever beleives and follows it shall not abide in darkness but shall have eternal life and whosoever believes it not is damned James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris
p. 11. 25. By the power of it is the Creature brought into the world James Nailors Answer to Winterton p. 7. 26. It revealeth without the Scripture the lives and actions of Christ and his Apostles and of the Resurrection to judgment Farnworth against Hagger and Pollard p. 55 58. 27. That nothing else can reveale Christ Edw. Burroughs Answer to Bunion p. 18. 28. By this light all the holy men of God were taught that gave forth the Scriptures Edw. Burroughs Truth defended p. 17. What it is 29. Christ is this light Fox his Exhortation in James Nailors Answer to Higgenson p. 5. James Nailors Answer to Pendarvis p. 6. 30. It s the light and Spirit of Christ James Nailors wickedness weighed p. 22. 31. It is the light Spirit and power of God unto salvation which is the Gospel of Christ Farnworth against Hagger p. 57. 32. It is the perfect Law of liberty Ja. Nailors Answer to Higgenson p. 5. 33. The Lord God and the Lamb is the light within men Farnworth against Higgenson p. 54. 34. It is the light of the Covenant of grace James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris p. 15. 35. This light in all men is God and when Paul committed them to God it was to the light within them Farnworth against Hagger p. 48. 36. It s the word of faith which the Apostles Preached Edw. Burroughs against Firmin p. 18. 37. It is reason and understanding that is in every Man Edw. Burroughs against Firmin p. 19. 38. It is a perfect rule in every mans Conscience where man is guided by it ibid. p. 18. 39. That in a man which is just equall and righteous telling him he ought not to do wrong Answer to Berks Letter p. 6. 40. And that reproves him in secret of his secret iniquities Answer to Griffith p. 33. 41. It s the light life and power of God the just and living truth from which the Scriptures were spoken forth Answer to Berks Let. p. 7. 42. It s that of God in a mans Conscience Answer to Berk p. 20. Humph. Smith reply to Edm. Skip p. 17. 43. It is the light of Israel Hubherthorns Answer to T. Winterton p. 3. 44. This light with which Christ enlightneth every one that comes into the world is the same thing with the life and light of Adam in Paradice but when he went into the selfish knowledg he became brutish and this a witness against him Hubberthorn against Tho. Winterton p. 8. 45. This light is the grace of God that teacheth to deny all ungodliness c. and this grace is Christ himself Masons Answer to Rayners Precepts p. 20. 46. This light in every mans Conscience is the right heir give him the kingdome of your hearts this is the Son of God in whom he is well pleased Mason against Rayners Precepts p. 49. 47. It is no other thing than the light of the Gospel Edw. Burroughs Answer to Bunnion p. 18. 48. It is the same light with the annointing both in believers and unbelievers Truths defence against refined subtilty by Geo. Fox and R. Hubberthorn p. 67. Of judgeing and discerning mens hearts and persons 49. That the Saints by the Spirit that is in them can judg of mens hearts not by outward appearance and that such judging is Christs judging of men And that Christ shall judg no where else but in his Saints James Nailors Answer to Jo. Pendarvis p. 7. Of Justification 50. That that is a blind Doctrine which Preaches that righteousness which justifieth is not in them James Nailor against Higgenson p. 6. Burroughs against Firmin p. 21. 51. He that hath a covering for his sins no nearer then above the Stars will one day be found naked James Nailors Answer to Higgenson p. 8. 52. The obedience of Christ and of the Creatures is not two obediences but one James Nailors Answer to Higgenson p. 22. 53. Christ Jesus made manifest and revealed in us is our righteousness for justification Ed. Burroughs Truth defended p. 12. 54. The faith of God justifieth alone without imputation thy imputation to thy dead works without thee we do deny Truths defence against refined subtilty p. 93. 55. That Christ bought us not with the price of his blood that was shed upon the Cross at Jerusalem 56. That the blood of Christ is but one as ever 't was by which we are redeemed from our vain conversation That this blood is our witness and seal by which we are redeemed but not at Jerusalem only but made manifest in us Truths defence against refined subtilty p. 95. Of faith and its Object 57. God hath given his Son who is not only that light which inlightneth every one that comes into the world but to all that believe therein and follow it he leads them out of darkness thereby and gives them the light of life James Nailors Answer to Higgenson p. 17. 58. Without faith in the light of Christ within a man a man cannot know the things of God nor have his duties accepted James Nailors Answer to Beacon p. 9. 59. He that believes in the light and follows Christ who is the light shall have the light of life Hubberthorns Answer to Winterton p. 2. The light within also is asserted to be the Object of Faith By James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris p. 26. id against Jo. Beacon p. 39. id Answer to Tho. Winterton p. 7. Mason against Jhonson p. 3. We must believe in the light James Nailors Answer to Harris p. 26. Of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament 60. Mr. Breck of New-England asks How came you to know there was ever such a man in the world as Jesus Christ They answer not by the Prophets nor by the witnesse of his holy Apostles and Evangelists left in their holy Record of the New Testament but by the eternall infallible Spirit Answer to Edw. Breck p. 16. l. 34. compared with his Letter prefixed p. 9. Quest 2. 61. That it is dangerous for the ignorant and unlearned to read the Scripture 1. Because they are made use of against the Saints 2. The Ministers of it are the Ministers of death 3. They make a trade with it yet the holy Brethren may read them Truths defence against refined subtilty By Hubberthorn p. 101. 62. But if any raise from the Scripture points tryals motives uses he adds to the Scripture and to him are added the curses and plagues Rev. 22.18 Truths defence against refined subtilty p. 101. Whithead against Clapham p. 11. 63. That the Scriptures are for the perfecting the Man of God and not for the instruction of others for that is for destruction 64. It is the man of sin that talks and prates of the Scriptures who is exalted above all that is called God in thee Truths defence against refined subtilty By Hubberthorn p. 102. 65. That the Scripture is not the Word of God nor a standing Rule James Nailors Answer to Baxters Q. Cat. p. 26. 66. It is not a perfect
God were sent Prophets and Apostles Answer to Brecks Letter p. 4 5. Of the Tryall of Spirits and Doctrines 101. That the infallible Spirit in the Saints is the sole tryer of all spirits and Doctrines and they are not to be tryed by the Scriptures James Nailors Answer to Fr. Harris p. 9. Geo. Whithead against Clapham p. 13. 102. That the Spirits are to be tryed whether they be of God or be the Spirit of errour delusion and darkness not by the Scriptures but by truth which is eternall and infallable by the same eternall infallable Spirit as spoke forth the Scriptures and was before Scripture was written and this Spirit gives judgment upon thee Edw. Breck and knows thee and tryes thee and thy light which is the Scripture and judgeth thy Spirit to be a fallible lying Spirit And this Spirit and judgment do we Q witness and this shall be Answered by that of God in all Consciences Answer to Mr. Edw. Breck of New-england his Letter p. 8. 103. That a mans being charged with lyes errour falshood by the Quakers is an infallable proof of his guilt Answer to Mr. Breck p. 16. Farnworths Answer to Hagger and Pollard p. 14. 104. Thou saith Edw. Burroughs indeavourest to prove thy accusation by vain consequences and false conclusions but our assertion is proved by the Spirit of God or the light that every one is inlightned with Burroughs against Firmin p. 14. which Spirit or light is to be exalted above all things as the searcher and tryer of all things and Spirits and is not to be judged or tryed by the Scriptures Burroughs against Firmin p. 15 16. Of the Popery of the Quakers By this we may clearly see that they are in many of their opinions very Popish agreeing with the Papists in all these things 1. That the Ministers of the Reformed Churches are not true Ministers 2. Nor the Ordinances Administred by them the Ordinances of Christ 3. That a man is justified by the merit of good works by inherent righteousness 4. That the Scriptures should not be read by the ignorant and unlearned 5. That the Church hath an infallable unerring Spirit to try and judg of Scripture it self is to be judged by none whose dictates and determinations are of as great Authority as the Scripture 6. And as the Papists by their Doctrine of the Reall Corporeall presence of Christ in many thousand places at once overthrow as much as in them lyeth the Articles of Christs Humanity viz. of his being a reall Man of his suffering death rising ascending and sitting at the right hand of God So the Quakers destroy the Humanity of Christ by denying his being corporcally in Heaven and affirming that he hath but one Body which is his Church and that God manifest in flesh is to be understood in the Saints Also their opinion That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion unless to pull down the Reformed Religion is a plain Point of Popery And for the truth of these I appeale to all men in the world that know what Popery is and they are many Millons that shall also read the Opinions of the Quakers in this Catalogue CHAP. III. Of the Actions and Manners of the Quakers THey will not put off their Hatts nor bow their bodies to the greatest Persons The Parliament 1659 appointed a Committee of purpose to hear their Complaints before which the Quakers stood covered and thou'd and thee'd the Chair-men and Members thereof to the greatest dishonour of the Authority of England as ever was admitted They will not petition to men no not the highest Powers but Councel and Command Witness all their Addresses to the Protectors and Parliaments in Print many of them to be seen They will not take an Oath before a Magistrate or otherwise saying it is unlawfull And yet this Summer 1659. to revenge themselves of some Countrey men about Sawbridgworth in Hartfordshire for affronting them they could freely swear against them in order to the binding them over to the Sessions and rail against St. T. H. a Justice of the Peace accusing him in Print for not taking the Parliaments new Engagement They say the Magistrate hath nothing to do to meddle in matters concerning Religion and yet do continually importune him to pull down Religion as is well known to all the late Authorityes and thousands more by Edward Burrow's Letters to the Protectors and other Papers Printed They cry up Liberty of Conscience but are not willing to give it to others How many thousand times have some Ministers or other in all parts of the Laud been most impudently disturbed by them in their publike religious exercises is so well known that none but John Impudence will deny it They are notorious Lyars for all their Blasphemies and Errors are so many lyes Not because I say they are lyes that 's their common disproof but because they are contrary to the Law and the Testimony the Scriptures as all do know and can witness that have savingly learned those Statutes and so are taught of God If St. Paul himself had told the Bereans that for Masters and Mistresses to make their Servants read the Scripture is Treason against the King of Saints and his tender Lambs as Mason against Mr. Rayner doth See Catal. Educa would not they who tryed his Doctrine by the Scriptures and therefore are called noble Acts 17.11 have told him he lyed 2. Every one of the Quakers saith he is taught and guided by an infallible Spirit and is without sin And that they are all so and that 's a lye with a latchet as I 'le prove presently by another way then by comparing what they say with the Scripture though that 's the best way even by their notorious contradicting one another Many instances might be given I 'le only name one or two Hubberthorn in his Truths defence against Refined Subtilties p. 101. doth affirm That the wicked are not to read the Scriptures but the godly and gives his wise Reasons for it But Burroughs against Firmin p. 16. allows only the wicked and ungodly Such as the Scribes and Pharisees were to search and read the Scriptures and not the godly Here 's a plain opposition and contradiction from which I infer that both of them did not write truth they were not both guided and directed by an unerring infallible Spirit and consequently that to say all the Quakers have the guidance of such a Spirit ey and that in all their speeches and writings as they say they have is such a lye as I called it And there is that in all men that will not offer violence to their Reasons that will witness to the truth hereof Take but one more instance James Natlor in his Answer to Francis Harris useth the name SCRIPTURE and the WORDOF THE LORD indifferently as convertible termes as being fullfilled by mens coming from far and sitting down in the Kingdome c. thereby contradicting his well known elsewhere