the Spirit Danson The Spirit is antecedent in respect of the revelation but subsequent the Letter in respect of assistance which he gives to obedience Fisher If there was a rule before the Scripture then that is not a rule but there was therefore Danson It was the same matter since the Gospel preached to Adam no increase of truths quoad essentiam sed tantum quoad explicationem the manner of conveyance different but the matter of Doctrine conveyed still the same Fisher Rom. 10.8 The word is mighty even in thy heart but yours is without Danson It is in thy mouth too For you read not all Fisher This is meant of the light in every mans conscience it is a word which every man hath heard Vers 18. But I say have they not heard Yes verily their sound went into all the world Danson Then the light within is the spirit you pleaded for to be the rule in opposition to Scripture N. B. But vers 18. speaks of the Gospel relating to the Preacher v. 14 15. And though the words are taken out of Psalm 19. yet they intend not that naturall knowledge of God which David speaks of but the Apostle intimates the knowledge of Christ by the Gospel should be of as large extent in the publication as the knowledge of God by the hearers ministry And the word said to be in the heart is meant of the matters conteined in the Scripture that is the word of faith which we preach Fisher Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwel in you richly yours is without Danson It was without as it was the Letter of the Scripture and his exhortation was to get acquaintance therewith and he prescribes means in teaching one another singing of Psalmes which were part of the words of Christ as the matter and author Fisher It is a fond custome to make the people sing Davids conditions who have not his spirit Danson Your objection holds as strongly against the use of them in the times of the Old Testament and yet then they were part of publique Temple-worship nor is it more a lye to sing then read them By this Dispute you have a further discovery of their false Doctrines and that in matters of great concernment how 1. They labour to make the Scriptures imperfect 2. Themselves perfect 3. And the naturall light in man sufficient to salvation 4. How while they would set up Christ in word they would set up a righteousness of their owne to Justification In a word how in many things they plead the Popish cause while they cry down the Ministers of Christ You may also see their weakness and wickednesse in wresting of Scripture how that strength of argument will not satisfie and secure their obstinacy in darknesse under a pretence of light within them God heal them of their blindesse and obstinacy or stop up their way that they may not seduce Soules to destruction and guide them that feare his name in wayes of Truth and holinesse through the Lord our Righteousness Amen CHAP. X. Shewing 1. Quakers instrumental to the introducing of Popery 2. In some of their Tenents dangerous to States The first may appear both by Principles and Practices 1. In their Tenents 1. THat the Ministers of the Reformed Churches are no true Ministers 2. That a man is justified by the merit of his good workes 3. That the Scriptures should not he read by ignorant and unlearned 4. That a man may perfectly keep the Law 5. Denying the imputed righteousness of Christ for justification 6. That Scripture is not the supream rule 7. Pretending to revelations and miracles 8 That H. D. doth not know whether Purgatory be revealed in Scripture or not 9. The infallibility of their Ministry 2. Their practice 1. GEorge Cowlishaw Pryn. The Quakers deny the thing The innocent delivered out of the snare p. 40. and the cry of blood p. 8â— on this reason to affirme no such persons spake among them and they know the names of such as have not railed Ironmonger of Bristol affirms on oath January 22. 1654. that in September before he had some discourse there with one Coppinger an Irish man who told him that he had lived in Rome and Italty 8. or 9. years and had taken the order of a Franciscan and that he had been at London lately for some moneths and whilst there had been at all the Churches and meetings publique and private that he could hear of a How diligent and that none came so neer him as the Quarkers b To their praise And being at a meeting of the Quakers he there met with c A design two of his acquaintance at Rome of the same Franciscan order that were now becom chief d A fair door opened speakers among the Quakers and that he himself had spoken among the Quakers in London about thirty times and was well approved of among them e Marke Coppinger asked him if there had been no Quakers at Bristoll he answered no. He replyed that if he would give him 5 pound he would make it five hundred if some did not come within a moneth and about 18. dayes after there came two probably his two Franciscan Fryars which did much hurt and gained many Disciples As also by what follows c. 11. c. 4. Since which they have there taken root and spread of which you have a full discovery in the story of James Naylor before spoken of who in his answer to Baxter p. 15. takes notice of this story and thus replyes If reason may judge most likely came over to second your envy against us why did you not keep him Seeing the Law required it then might it have been proved if he had been a Speaker amongst us And in the margin read the judgements of God begun on him who took that oath and take warning Answ 1. to the 1. It will not easily be credited unlesse by themselves their tenents and practices have rendred them so bad we need not be put to such unworthy shifts 2. Are all Lawes executed we should then be in a far better condition and they in a worse yea Naylor himselfe through connivance fared better then the Sentence did allow 3. How blind is that in the Margin the thing he hints is so remarkable and making to his purpose that hee should have told what or where 2. Samuel Fisher 1. Quakers folly p. 56. denyed not that he had been at Rome but that he received a pension from the Pope he utterly denyed which is probably as true for it is had from very good hands that in his late travell to Constantinople and thence to Rome he had as good bills of Exchange as most Gentlemen that travell and yet it is well known that he hath no visible estate and the Quakers that came to the dispute did report that he did bear his witness against the Pope and Cardinals at Rome and yet they suffered him not to be medled
THE FANATICK HISTORY OR An Exact RELATION and ACCOUNT OF The Old ANABAPTISTS AND New QVAKERS Being the summe of all that hath been yet discovered about their most Blasphemous Opinions Dangerous Pactises and Malitious Endevours to subvert all Civil Government both in Church and State Together with their Mad Mimick Pranks and their ridiculous actions and gestures enough to amaze any sober Christian Which may prove the Death Burial OF The Fanatick Doctrine Published with the approbation of divers Orthodox Divines Beloved beleive not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 London Printed for J. Sims at the Cross Keyes in St. Paul's Church-yard 1660. Charles t e second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France Ireland Defender of the Faith To the Majesty of the most high and Mighty Prince Charles the II. King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. ROYAL SIR THe Author of this book if living doth as yet conceal his name but however the work doth speak his worth it now happily came into my hands and if your title and office did not warrant me I had not presumed to make your Majesty the Patron to so small a book although of great consequence But as you are the Defender of the Faith you have some obligation upon you to patronise it For when had the Faith of Christ more need of Defence then now and when was it more assaulted and adulterated by Blasphemous tenets and Heretie opinions especially by Anabaptists and Quakers then now which none but a regal authority can stifle They are grown so exceeding high and daring that if your Majesty put not out your royal hand of power suddenly to restrain them they are so numerous and so seducing that they will in a little time diffuse their poyson over the better part of your Kingdom I beseech your grace to pardon the presumption of Your most Loyal and obedient Subject Richard Blome The PREFACE to the READER REader thou hast here an exact account and History of the Opinions Blasphemies and practises of the Old Anabaptists in Germany which so much infested those States and the New Quakers in England which have of late so much molested us I have taken the pains of the Collection that we being fore-warned of them may be fore-armed against them to avoid the like danger they are a generation most pestiferous in their Doctrine and dangerous in their Seduction and so ought of all men to be avoided There are many of late and some of noble rank and quality that are sensible of their erronious ways and are reduced from them it is hoped in a little time many more will be so wise to do the like which may prove the Death and Burial of their fanatick doctrine I have made a faithful Collection both out of their own books and out of Authors of known reputation and that I may the better cleer my integrity therein I have all the way along noted the Book and the Page where every particular is mentioned In short let me admonish thee to observe these rules 1. That thou take no offence at Religion or Religious Men For there is pure Religion and undefiled and Religious ones whose hearts are upright whose wayes are holy and ends sincere if thou shouldst be so taken in the Devils snare though thou beest not fallen into Anabaptism or Quakerisme yet thou art by them to love Religion and Religions ones the better but never the worse for this 2. Do justice Set the Saddle on the right horse do not nick-name any thing thou dislikâ—st with the brand of Anabaptist or Quaker thereby thou maist shew thy dislike but not thy charity remember the command Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour the commonnesse of thâ— thing makes me caution thee rather it is tedious to instance iâ— many one for all Phanatique is extended beyond intention now it is come abroad and in vulgar months every prophane person readily brands his neighbour with it that will not ruâ— readily with him into the same excesse of riot 3. Be Zealous But 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to knowledge do not speak evil of the things thou dost not understand the things may well deserve blame but thou art to be blamed that letst thy tongue run before thy wit 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and secundum regulam according to Gods rule let not thy fire become wildefire do no wrong violence to any bring not a railing accusation but wisely consider thy place and power the Quakers have too just occasion of complaint against many this I humbly advise and for shewing thy zeal it will be sufficient in thy place and according to thy power that God hath intrusted thee withall to keep thy self and others from their tenets wayes companyes and persons too many run into the Mouth of them but keep thy ground where God hath set thee and make use of the hands God hath given thee 4. Stand and wonder 1. At the corruption and deceitfulnesse of mans heart 2. the subtilty of Satan 3. and the severe judgement of a righteous God they are tremenda astonishing things See you not how the Devil can change his shape alter his tone make use of Scripture reveal sin presse duty ravish the affections come as Christ and the spirit of God and all this but to deceive and destroy and violently force the mortification of the body that that way may be the destruction of the Soul who knows his methods his depths he was a Serpent before a Lyon and a Serpent still to deceive that he may be a Lyon to tear Again what is man well educated rightly principaled far restrained yea making a great shew of godlinesse got almost in the eye of the world to the door of Heaven yet when Offence is taken Pride nourished a Lust satisfied a way fallen into affections tickled a party confederate whether may not this man fall into a Lust against light sin against relations Heresies against the foundations Blasphemie against God and setting up of himself equal to the Almighty Lastly all this of God as a righteous avenger of all unrighteousnesse who when he sees what men do not behold and findes an opportunity most subservient to his glory le ts man lust to fall into the hands of his own heart into the power of his worst adversary and then what a piece of provocation instrument of mischief and mirror of wonder doth he become 5. Rise up and blesse God If not fallen from the truth if not decayed in thy spiritual life if still attending on God in the use of his means for further communion quickning and growth who hath made thee differ how comes this to passe but by grace that when others are fallen thou shouldst stand when others are gone off thou shouldst go on others waxing worse and worse thou shouldst
in interpretation to set them above them as he that loves any thing equal to God loves it indeed more then God the setting up of any writings in equipage with Gods is a debasing of his word Again some of them assert that they have as full b There fulnesse is of the evil one p. 3. Q. 10. at the end of a Gagg a measure of the Spirit as the penners of the Scriptures had * Truths Defence p. 43. the fulnesse of the Spirit is well known by the emptinesse of their fruits had they said that they have as full measure of the evil spirit as Marcian primogenitus diaboli the first born of the Divel as Polycarpe calls him they had come neer the Truth This corner-stone being laid by these Master-builders of Sathans Babel they go on to deny 1. The personal body of Christ George Fox being asked whether Christ have a body in heaven and be a particular man or person Truths defence p. 78. 79. incompassed with a body to live for ever yea or no affirms That Christ hath but one body and that is the Church That 1 Christs mystical body corpus mysticum is the Church and that 2 This is but one is according to truth answerable to that we beleive Sanctam Catholicam Ecclesiam the Holy Catholick Church but 3 That Christ hath but one body is contradictory to the whole History of the four Evangelists which so often speakes of that body which he took of the Virgin Mary of whom Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the flesh came as Paul phrases it and how he ascended and shall come again Luke acquaints us Acts 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9 10 11. Shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him goe into heaven But this is not the first time that this Heresie hath been broached nor confuted many a hundred yeers ago were these things upon the stage of the World dic mihi aliquid novi aut tace trouble us not with old rotten stinking errours Secondly In their book called The persecution of the Quakers First the corporeal Body of Christ And secondly his coming in the Clouds to to judgment are denyed 1 pag. 8. Priest Herrick did affirm before the Magistrate and many others that the body of Christ is not spiritual and when he was by William Adamson challenged for his blasphemy he said he would prove it by Scripture and produced those words Christ said I am not a spirit and then he was by him charged with a lie for there was no such words in that Scripture 2. p. 9. Let their own words try them who look for a Christ yet to come as some of them said what will yee Quakers do who saith Christ is within you when Christ comes in the clouds here now all people do but honestly examine and see whether these spirits confess Christ who looks for him yet to come and whether you dare believe the Apostle every spirit who doth not confess Christ Jesus come in the flesh is not of God or these deceivers who look for him yet to come these things are so palpably gross and weak yea even irrational that their needs no words to the misproving of them 2. The Visible Church Whereas a Book entituled fiery darts saith R.B.Q. 20. p. 26. that since the Apostles dayes there hath been a great Apostacie and that a true Church of Christ could not be found are you of the same mind Answ yea Herein agreeing with those formerly called Seekers 1. That there was and is a great Apostacie as the Scripture foretold so experience hath evidenced and that Apostacie in all ages more or less hath been witnessed against V. Catalogum testiū veritatis but 2. such an Apostacie as hath wholy destroyed the Church and laid it so under ground as that it cannot be found what is this c. what is this but to make much of Scripture at present of no use which directs Sts. concerning Church Communion among others Heb. 13.17 obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. To invalidate those promises of Christ Matth. 16.18 Vpon this rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdome of heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Matth. 28.20 Loe I am with you already to the end of the World 3. To give you this whole World visibly into the hands of the Prince of the World as if Christ had not overcome but being overcome by Sathan 3. Thirdly against the Scriptures 1. That it is dangerous for the ignorant and unlearned to read the Scriptures Truths defence pag. 101. 1. How far is this from the assertion of the Papists 2. How doth it justifie them in their prohibiting of Lay-men to read the word 3. and makes fair way to usher in Imagines laicorum libros Images as Lay-mens Books Secondly If any raises from the Scriptures points trials motives uses he adds to the Scriptures and to him are added the curses and plagues In eodem loco Rev. 22.18 Whether this but 1. to destroy all preaching 2. to condemn their own selves 3. to discover their ignorance between the explaining of Truth and coyning of falsehoods to passe as new truths their additions are corruptives the Ministers for illustration information incitation to edification 4. to condemn Christ and his Apostles which applied and urged in many places of the Scriptures out of the old Testament cited 3. Fiery darts p. 19. 30. 32. Quakers folly p. 25. 2. Ed. That the Scripture is not the word of God nor a standing rule In this way are grosely ignorant or wilfully malicious or both they will acknowledge no word of God but Christ as if no difference between verbum internum externum an inward and outward word verbum oris Scriptum the word spoken and written the thoughts of my mind are soliloquia a talking with my self what I speak is the word of my mouth and what I write is my word under my hand Christ is the eternal internal word of God the Wisdome of the father the Scriptures much of it was spoken by God by the mouth of his holy Prophets and all written as holy men of God were inspired by the Holy Ghost they would seem to exalt Christ it is to debase the Scriptures and deifie the light within them but if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets which testified of Christ neither would they Christ the word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1. 1. God who in sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets was not that then the word of God the prophets spake 2. And why not a standing rule The papists indeed say it is a nose of wax a leaden rule that the Pope may stand
Perfection Naylor against Ives p. 13. Farnworth against Hagger p. 7. That those that have received Christ and God are come to perfection that all such as are in Christ are without sin Alas poor men their perfection is verbal their imperfection real they are perfect Talkers very imperfect Walkers he that is not blind may see your nakednesse that they impudently boast of they are far from only they glory in their shame and count their unrighteousness for righteousnesse if to be proud railing cursing and blaspheming z Phil. 3.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seducing of Souls be to be perfect then are they such far better men have been far more humble not that I have already attained saith Paul In many things we offend all a Jam. 1.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naylors Answer to Pendarres p. 7. and he that saith he hath no sin is a Lyar and the truth is not in him 2. Of Discerning That the Saints by the Spirit that is in them can judge of mens hearts and that such judging is Christs judging of men and that Christ shall judge no where else but in the Saints Miserable men that know not themselves nor their own hearts and yet pretend to the knowledge of others contrary to that who knows the things of a man but the spirit of a man that is in him And it were a happinesse to them if they should not all b 2 Cor. 5.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hel broke loose p. 37 appear before the jugement seat of Christ to render an account of the things they have done in the flesh for God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world by the man Jesus of which he hath given witnesse in raising him from the dead as Peter hath it Other strange Doctrines have been broached by some of them Nicholas Kate of Harwel in Barks 1. That Marriage was made by man e In doctrine false in practice possibly true 2. That Christians were worse then Beasts 3. That any woman was as free to him as his wife 4. That his wife was no wife of his she was a Limbe of the Divel f Holy St. Nicholas 5. That he was holy and all things that he touched were holy 6. That when the fulnesse of time was come he should work miracles g In good time One of Bristol being at Marleborough in the County of Wilts affirmed 1. He knew no such thing as the Resurrection of the body h 1 Cor 15. Act. 1.11 2. That the body of Christ was not in heaven neither should he come thence with a body 3. He defended those that went naked They have need of a covering his to short This is but one part of his perfection h but none beside himself confident 4. That he went to bed with a woman not his Wife without sin k 5. That he was confident of his perfect holinesse One would wonder that a very natural conscience and those things should stand together but being delivered up to strong delusions they beleive a lie and by a new light from Hell even extinguish the very light of nature till God in Hell shall raise it up again that a conceit of perfect holynesse could be embraced with confidence by such an unclean person If the Reader will trouble himself with more he may read these following Tolderryes foot out of the snare 1. That Edens garden is the World the trees all living beings that Paradice is in man that men fell by harkening to the wicked which was the fle hly mind and that not the woman properly but the silliest and weakest part was the woman that tempted him that Adam was the earthly nature in man and indeed there are extreams to which they are delivered up viz. To take some Scriptures in the strictnesse of the Letter against all sense reason and other Texts 2. To Allegorize and make a mystical meaning the main and only sense of words that are hystorical and literal m est modus in rebus Act. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. That the Redeemer of man is not that person the Son of God that dyed at Hierusalem but the light which is in every particular man by which he is given to see sin Kate could not or would not when he went to another womans bed and enabled by it if obedient to be redeemed from sin What is this o Pelagianisme Popery worse then both But 1. to evacuate the whole mystery of redemption 2. setting up a righteousnesse of works 3. yea making corrupt conscience in fallen man a Saviour 4. and fallen man sufficient to save himself 3. That searching the Scriptures is not the way to find out the Knowledge of Christ but the turning the mind within Contrary to that of Christ search the Scriptures for they testifie of mee p Jo. 5.39 Q. Fol. 2. v. in fine Questions proposed to and answered By Joseph Frice Quaker Quest WHether the Scriptures be the rule of trying and judging all matters of Faith and obedience to God Answ I prove not Joh. 5.22 The father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son a A worthy proof if a man could see where the strength lay Quest Whether the light within be sufficient to guide to Salvation if you never had heard of the Bible Answ If I had never seen nor heard of the Bible yet beleiving the witnesse which God hath given which is Christ the light hope and glory in us I should have attained to the Knowledge of God b Obscure or false Quest Whether the teachings or writings of any of your way be infallible or of equal authority with the Scriptures Answ I say we do not erre in speaking of writing the Truth and that of God in all consciences shall one day witnesse this to be true and infallible and the Scriptures and our writings hath and will most certainly come to passe Quest Whether the Father the Word and the Spirit be three distinct persons in the self same Godhead Answ Three distinct persons I deny it is like the Bishops in Rome may own thee in them for that is some of their unfruitful works of darknesse Quest Whether Christ hath a divine and humane nature in one person Answ Thy words Humane nature I return them with those words three persons into the pit of confusion from whence they came Quest Whether Christ remains for ever a distinct person from all the Saints Answ but as for being a distinct person from all the Saints he is not Quest Whether the true Church hath failed upon earth since the death of the Apostles until now If not in what age or ages or among what people hath it continued Answ He can send all both great and small rich and poor bond and free to receive a mark in their foreheads or in their right hand Rev. 13. thus the true Church ceased since the death of the
cause but do the work which God had given them to do The Senate to prevent a sedition appointed the Evangelicks and the Anabaptists to meet in a publick Conference and there Rotman betrayed the good cause and disputed contrary to his preaching condemning the baptism of children as impious and execrable But he was so well opposed by a worthy Divine Hermannus Basilius that the Senate was satisfied and concluded for the Truth and the Teachers Anabaptists were sentenced to be banished Who when they alleadged that they could not sâ—fely travel through the Bishops dominions the Senate obtained a safe conduct for them gâ—ve them mony for their journey But they being resolved before not to go away lay lurking among their Sectaries which increased so fast the mean people of the Town being seduced every day and strangers flocking to the Town continually in great troops that the Magistrates fearing lest the Anabaptists should drive the Evangelicks out of their Churches kept all the Churches shut up but one In this distressed case of their Church and State the Lantgrave of Hesse sent them at the request of the Senate two Divines Theodoricus Fabritius and Johannes Melsingerus But the last seeing the deplorable face of businesses in that place and fearing his own danger returned home Fabritius remained and among so much contradiction discharged the part of a worthy champion of Jesus Christ till the Anabaptists having got the upper hand thrust him and all the Evangelicks out of the City And to set a bound to the unlimited extravagancie of the Anabaptistical spirit he composed a book of Common-prayers with the Form of administring the Sacraments and performing other Ecclesiastical duties and it was published by the authority of the Senate There was also another worthy Divine Peter Wirtem who having been silenced by the Anabaptists was now by the Senate and people allowed to preach again But he was no Preacher for the new brethren they turned him out of office presently at the instigation of Rotman who soon after provoked Fabritius and his colleagues to dispute Fabritius accepted the challenge and the Senate appointed a Conference naming some learned and good men to be the Umpires But Rotman and his brethren fearing the Touch began to find exceptions and devise shifts to avoid the dispute whereby they lost much credit among the people To wipe off that stain they took a more compendious course One of them faining himself seized with a Prophetical spirit ran through the (e) No new thing City crying Repent and be baptized again else the wrath of God will fall upon you This stirred the people and many ran also with him crying the sâ—me words Many of the simpler sort were rebâ—ptized for fear of the wrath of God and many more for fear of the wrath of men (f) Interest their God For this crying and running through the streets ended in ransâ—cking the best houses and laying violent hands on the owners Then many that lay hid before came forth and rushed into the Market place crying out that all that were not rebaptized must be killed presently as Ungodly and Heathen And seizing upon the Town-House and the weapons therein they began to domineer as in a conquered place The Evangeliques on the other side gathered themselves in a place called Overwater and took many of their enemies and both the sides were fortifying the places where they stood Three dâ—ys they stood thus without doing any great harm one to the other till giving hostages on both sides they fell to a composition That every one should enjoy the freedom of his Religion and all should go home and live in peâ—ce This tumult was towards the end of Decemb. 1533. Anno 1534. But this composition gave but time to the Anabaptists to strengthen their party for Rotman and Bernard Knipperdoling the most stirring of that faction sent letters to the Towns of Osnburg Wesel Corsweld and Warendorp of which the tenour was that God had sent an holy Prophet (g) They that have least oft pretend most to Munster who spake wonders and shewed the right way to Salvation That if they would leave their houses and come to Munster in all haste they should get ten times more then they left at home and with the spiritual wealth get all worldly riches (h) If sinners intice consent you not Prov. 1.10 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These fair promises drew all the scum of the neighbouring Towns to Munster the poorest and idlest sort liking that Religion well that maketh all men alike and all goods common and puts down those Laws and Magistrates that refrained their licentiousness In a short time the City was full of strangers and vagrants thâ—t looked upon the City as a Land of Promise where they must take a new plantation and expulse the Canaanites At their comming the richest of the Town being frighted thought it their safest course fairly and quietly to give them place and without noise withdrew themselves out of the City The Anabaptists seeing themselves strong ran to Saint Maurice Church and burnt it with all the houses about it pillaged all the Churches defaced the Cathedral depopulated the Convents and Colledges and burnt a fair great Library belonging to the Fryers And for the final exploit drove all the Evangeliques out of the City but some few whom they mistook for Anabaptists crying Get hence all ye wicked else you shall all be slain And with such a violence they put them out that some women great with child miscarried in the tumult In this banishment the grieved Citizens suffered double persecution for being turned out bare by the Anabaptists they were taken by the Bishop (i) In extremis nulla salus who the day before had encamped before the City and by him used as enemies some were in danger to have lost their heads as the worthy Divine Peter Wirtem who was saved by the mediation of the Lantgrave of Hessen This forced the rest of the Evangelicks to stay in the City though there was little choice between staying in the frying-pan or leaping into the fire And now the Anabaptists being Masters of the City began to order their new State for though they were enemies to all Superiority and Order yet necessity and Nature it self forced them to elect some Superiours of their own They made two Consuls Knipperdolling and Kippenbrok and twenty two Senators or Aldermen that had the Civil power The Prophets were to rule matters of Religion under which name they governed Church and Common-wealth (k) In ordine ad spiritualia Bell. for all civil matters were brought within the compass of Religion and Conscience and whatsoever a Prophet said to be revealed unto him past for Law The most famous of these Prophets was John Matthias a Baker of Harlem who was in effect a perpetual Dictator in Munster that made Laws and changed them after his pleasure By him was the foresaid Order made His chief
and there prophesied that he should die and rise again and that then the eys of the blind should be open But the King comming shewed him that the spirits of the Prophets must be subject unto the Prophets for he pulled him down and committed him to the Jail for three days This jolly Taylor having thus stitched up a kingdom in haste turned his serious care to go thorow stitch with it For that there was need of supply to to remove the Bishop that hindered his work And because all should be done in a Prophetical way Tuiscocurer his chief agent came to him as it seems by his appointment one day as he was sitting in his Throne with more than ordinary Majesty and told him King John the Gospel must be renewed by thee Thus saith the Lord God Go and say to the King of Sion that he prepare my holy Supper in the Church-yard of the great Church and that he chuse Teachers of my word to send into the four Cuarters of the World to teach all men the ways of righteousness and bring them by the spirit of their mouth into my Sheepfold so a publick Communion was celebrated but they made it a full meal A great feast r it was both for the persons and the meat for they were above four thousand men and had three courses But between these courses there was a soul entercourse for the King accused a man of Treason and cut off his head with his own hand and returned merry to supper Then with his bloody hand he took upon him to administer the body and blood of Christ Å¿ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assisted with the Queen sometime John Matthias his wife who then did the office of the Minister or Deacon and administred the Communion t Quis talia fando temperet a lachrymis the like did the principal officers of the State saying Take this and announce the Lords death After supper the King asked the whole Congregation whether they were all heartily disposed to do Gods Will and to suffer and die for the faith to which the people answered with one voice that they were all in that mind then Tuiscocurer arose and said Thus saith the Lord chuse men among my people to send into the 4 quarters of the world u Where will they stop to do great wonders among the nations publish my wonderous things among the strange people then he read a note of the names of those whom God had chosen for that legation w Our Quakers have men every where of whom himself was one they were 26. Sleydan saith two more 7 were sent to Osnburge 6 to Cecsweld 5 to Warendorp 8 to Suzat To them the King gave certain pieces of Gold with this inscription on the one side Vnless one be born by water and by the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven On the other side The Word was made flesh one God one Faith one Baptism They were to present that coin to every Town where their doctrine was not received and leave x The Apostles dust more dreadful then their 〈◊〉 it there for a Testimony against them These new Apostles went into the Cities where they were sent crying in the streets that the people should repent and join with them else they should shortly perish With that noise having raised a tumult they were apprehended brought to the Magistrates before whom they spread a cloak upon the ground and threw their coin upon it saying that they were sent by the Father to offer them peace which if they refused they would leave that coin amongst them as a pledge of Gods wrath against their ungratefulness and hardness of heart That the time was come foretold by the prophets that the whole world should follow righteousness which God would work by their King and when he had made righteousness to raign over all the world that then he should give up the Kingdom unto his Father Being questioned by the Magistrates first with fair words and after by tortures about their faith their conversation and the state of the City of Munster they answered that none in the world but they y The trick of all Seducâ—rs had the true Doctrine which they were ready to seal with their blood z Causa non poena facit Martyrem that since the Apostles time the word of God had not been purely preached and no justice was in the earth That there was four great Prophets two good David of Delft and John of Leyden and two bad the Pope and Luther but Luther the worst of the two a True Religion more hated then fals by Seducers Being asked by what Scripture they could justifie their unjust dispossessing of so many good men from their houses and goods and making bold with their wives They answered that the time was come foretold by Christ that the meek b Meek with a witness shall inherit in the earth That in the same manner God had given the goods of the Egyptians to the Israelites and among the goods c Mad men reckon madly they reckoned the wives That they might lawfully take many wives upon condition they should lye with them all till they were with childe and when one was with child they might take a new one in her stead That they held women at 12 yearr of age to be fit for husbands That they put away barren women or past child-bearing and committed them to curators as being good for nothing d Poor encouragement for women â—o follow their precious ways As for the provision of the Town they said that S. James Church was all full of Malt. That they had barly for two years and many thousand quarters of meal and great store of Bacon A false relation for soon after they fell to eating of dogâ— and leather in Munster They constantly affirmed that their King expected a great army out of Holland and Frize which as soon as it was come he would begin his expedition to subdue the world and kill all Kings for their perverse administration of justice and that they knew by revelation that their King of Sion would shortly be King of the whole earth They persisted in denying all Magistrates but their own King e They can down with their own for which they were put to death as enemies of all laws and order and brands of sedition and there was an end of that Apostleship that should have preached a Gospel of rebellion over all the world This legation was in October 1534. at which time Munster began to be short of victuals this occasioned a plot of some of the Town to take the King and send him bound to the Bishop The plot was discovered to the King who thought it not safe to make the Authors known only he committed the Town and himself to twelve trusty Captains to whom he divided a government in the air of several Provinces sparing no Prince but the
to stir till the power moved him lying thus a while the power began to move one of his legs and then the other after that his hands and then his head at last his whole body causing him to sit on his bed telling him thus should his body be quickned and raised at last day then the power told him that he must put off his shirt and cap and napkin about his neck saying that whatever was about him was polluted and that he hated the garments spotted with the flesh whereupon he pulled them off and threw them on the ground saying p. 13. that he hated the garments spotted with the flesh the power also told him that all his bonds were broken and his cords loosned and that Christ had set him free Whereupon calling for a clean shirt and other linnen he rose concluding himself in a good condition but being up finding himself no better his body rather weakned he began to see he had been deluded whereupon he was struck with fear and walking into the Garden he thought one while the Divell would pull him into the Earth another while into the Air so that he was afraid to continue abroad and came into the house and suspected every thing he heard to be the Divel waiting to fetch him away In this perplexity he began to consider how he had offended in rejecting reading hearing prayer and therefore it was just with God to leave him to delusions k This the fruit of hearkning to a voice within This Relation is not testified only under his own hand but by severall of known fidelity living in and neer Kendall p. 14. p. 15. Christopher Atkinson of Kendall in a Pamphlet wherein he pretends to answer Gilpin denies not the matter of fact but charges him with drunkenness and returning to his former filthinesse which is a notorious falshood 't is true there was information given in against him for drunkenness by a Quaker to a Justice one of their own Faction who sent his warrant for him but Gilpin ignorant of it was absent being called to serve in the Garrison of Carlisle but did not flie as that Pamphlet reports Some of his friends examined the matter further and told his accusers it was a forgery to which some of them answered it was not for he was drunk with l Bare proofs sin and this was all that any of his Adversaries would undertake to justifie To clear Gilpin there were two testimonies signed by men of unquestioned integrity acquainted with him p. 16 17. 1. Whereas severall Quakers have aspersed John Gilpin as guilty of drunkenness and other licentious practises These are to certifie that we have taken speciall notice of his Conversation during the time of his abode with us and have found it to be not only Civill but sutable to the Gospell 2. Whereas John Gilpin is traduced to be scandalous and tainted with drunkenness and other lusts These are to certifie the contrary and that he is to our knowledge one that walks soberly humbly piously and without reproofe not in the least guilty of those wickednesses charged on him nor did we ever hear otherwise by him but that he was vertuously inclined and of a very tender Conscience CHAP. III. Of John Tolderry He hearing at a private house two Quakers Foot out of snare p. 3. and observing their discourse tending to the destruction of a In words sin was somewhat affected with them and was perswaded to make further enquiry after the Sect whereupon after some observation he concluded b Upon poor grounds these people were of God sent forth as witnesses from him against all others but in regard of much strangenesse in their way and bold confidencâ— they had in judging he was not satisfied to comply with them A short time following p. 4. being at a private meeting there came in a stranger who with an exceeding bold courage cried aloud Praises praises be to the Lord for ever who hath hid things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes and beginning at Genesis he passed through the whole Scriptures and turned all things into Allegories and so declaring what meant by the first second Adam by the Fall Redemption c. expressing with confidence that searching of the Scripture was not the way to find out the knowledge of a John 5.39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 10.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ but the turning the mind to WITHIN So after about an hours discourse with confidence mighty powerfully declared with all seriousness imaginable he departed Tolderry with others being strongly affected whereupon he was acted zealously b to follow them but he remained a time before he complyed or made himself known to any of them In the mean while meeting with one of them that gave him to understand that they were sent by Christ to preach the Gospell by the same Christ the Apostles were p. 8. and that the person the Son of God which died at Jerusalem was not the Redeemer c Iohn 8.54 but the redeemer was in every particular man that light by which he was given to see sin and enabled by it if obeyed to be redeemed from sin and declaring of them much to admiration he gave him notice the next day of their meeting and the place with earnest invitation When he came home he went to prayers being mightily carried forth in that duty very often before the times of their meeting he looked on it as a sign d It is no sufficient sâ—gâ— neither our prayers nor Gods providence further then grounded on the word of Gods pleasure he should close with them so at the meeting three of the chiefest were Speakers whose matter and manner was more taking to him then the former but especially the powerful oâ—eration of the e The heart may be much affected when littlâ— beâ—tered nay not at all prayer wherupon he was moved to make a confession of himself with the owning of them in the presence of all the people upon which he became subject to the teachings of a spirit f Evill enough in himself the which being believed g But on what grounds to be the Redeemer he was fully perswaded that denying any thing in the least it required he should not be redeemed h A dreadfull bondage Hereupon he became subject to divers ceremonies as not to Master any p. 15. nor to put off the Hat to any i Ignorance the mother of such conscience not to speak the word you but thou not to use any Greetings that bowing to a man was worshipping of him k Very true but is there no worship but divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 N. B. not to drink to any to pull off his Points at knees Bandstrings Hatband unnecessary Buttons some of which he brake to pieces and threw away burned divers Divinity books judgeing they were the teachings of the Devil Gen. 23.7 some
and so for the upholding of your unscriptural revelations the Scripture must not stand but when we shall all stand before the judgement Seat of Christ we shall be judged according to this rule and thereby stand or fall 4. That it is not a perfect rule of faith and Conversation to walk by 1. Though the Scripture say it is able to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. Naylor 5. Answer to Jews p. 22. 2. The papists and they concur again the papists to establish papae decretalia the Popes decrees the Quaker to make way for the reception of the light within them be it the Prince of darknesse and that his delusive revelations may be swallowed and followed 5. That it is the Divel in man that contends for the Scriptures to be the word of God Here is Equivocation Ignorance Blasphemy either one or all for if he takes the word of God for Christ none ever affirmed it if for that God spake by the mouth or pen of his Servants Naylors Answer to Baxter p. 48. then it is a grosse calumniating of the holy Spirit 7. That the light wich is in all the Indians Americans and other Pagans on earth is sufficient without Scripture 1. It is much that Scripture should not and yet natural light is 2. That the light which is so week and dimne should be so strong and cleer 3. That what discovers nothing of Christ should enough to heaven 4. Against Ordinances Even all at once strikes Gotherson in his Alarum pag. 2. and elsewhere The man Christ Jesus the great Prophet declared in general terms what should be in latter times leaving it to every Son and Daughter to declare their particular experiences when the Spirit doth rise up in them and manifest himselfe unto them for they that believe saith he out of their Bellies shall flow Rivers or plentifull discoveries of the Water of Life therefore is Moses gave way to Christ for when Christ appeared in the flesh Moses administration began to be silent and drew back and see Jesus Christ in the Chair to be the great Prophet that should be the teacher in Types after him and the ministration of those discoveries were to reign in the world their appointed times even so the Lambe Christ Jesus or that single body gives way to the holy Ghost or spreading spirit John 16.7.17.21 If I go not away the comforter cannot come Here is much of truth but mis-timed and abused to the destruction of all Christs visible Kingdome it is true 1. God sent Christ the great Prophet that to him 2. Moses gave way 3. that the present administration will cease 4. but not till he hath delivered up the Kingdome to his Father Ephes 4.13.5 that the sending of the Comforter did but further the Apostles to plant Christs visible Kingdome and now as a sanctifying and comforting spirit is conveyed by Ordinances and makes them profitable Quakers folly p. 57. 2 Ed. Suitable to this tenet is that Speech of Mr. Fisher in conference with Mr. Thomas Foxton Jurate of Sandwich and Thomas Barber Cooper of Dunkirke May 12. That he himselfe was above Ordinances Truths defence p. 98. James Parnel and Naylors answer to Ives p. 14. 29. G. Whiteheads Cains Generation p. 11. Matth. 1.28.19 Acts 2.8.36.10.47 and that there is no more use of them in this life to many persons then there is of a Candle light when the Sun shines and he gave instance in the uselesnesse of Baptisme and the Lords Supper 1. Water-Baptisme denyed to be an Ordinance of Christ 1. It is their way to set up appointments of their owne and throw down Christs they must be heard but Christ not obeyed 2. When and where was Water-baptisme abolished first the institution and secondly practice is full ard cleer 3. But it must be Water-baptisme with them not to shew the Element but your contempt of the Ordinance * Non distinguunt sed nomen contemnunt Richard Hubberthorns Truths defence p. â—9 103. and alwaies they that esteem too high of their own things think too low of Christs 2. Concerning the Lords Supper Mr. Kellet in in Lancashire quaeries Whether did not Christ institute his last Supper with Bread and Wine Rich. Hubberthorn answers That Christ spake not of Bread and Wine but the Bread which Christ calleth his body is to be understood of his Church but the Cup which thou drinkest we deny for thy Cup is the Cup of Devils and thy Table is the Table of Devils which is an Idol and imitation and thy Sacrifice is to Devils and not to God And is this from the Spirit of the Lord Oh! the patience of the Lord to endure such breath of Blasphemy this is so contrary to Faith and Charity that it shall not need more words then the Angels disputing with the Devil the Lord rebuke thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hel broke loose pag. 27 Against all our worship Naylor against Baxter p. 25. 32 33. against our singing Davids Pâ—alms p. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ to Edward Brocks letter p. 9. 3. Preaching the Word Praying Singing are no appointments of Christ but inventions of Men They do well to strike at all nothing of God that is in the Word of God are not all these things there required who so ignorant as need to be instructed where but it seems they are such builders as would not leave a stone upon a stone 4. Against Sabbaths No Sabbath to be kept and indeed they that deny the ordinances of the day no wonder if the day And in this their practice is suitable to their doctrine even in contempt of Gods day and Magistrate daring to open Shops and exposing wares to sale taking no notice of the morality of the fourth Commandement nor the Churches practice in the Apostles dayes it is in vain to note the universal custome of the Churches of Christ ever since but they think to carry the day the better if they can bear down the day of the Lord but oh that they would remember his burning wrath breaking out against Sabbath-breakers in our Land and dayes if they will not let others read Birds Theater Burtons Tragedy and the sad state of the land since the book of Sports Richard Farneworths answer to the Westmerland Ministers Petition p. 5. Goliah p. 7. Truths defence p. 96. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. Against Ordination The Ministers of God never were sent forth from God by a mediate sending but were immediately sent The tendency of this is first to destroy the Ministry since the Apostles and secondly to make way for the reception of themselves as Prophets and Apostles they exclude us that they may raign but what then becomes 1. of Timothy 2. of those Elders ordained in every City 3. of those directions given to Titus and Timothy but it seems their design is to down with all and by bringing in New-light to extinguish
was sent to Bury Prison some 16. miles from the said Bury to wit to Edmunds Bury in Suffolke and the next morning a Warrant came from Justice Walgrave to send Whitehead to the said Prison which was done accordingly 6. At Evesham in Worcestershire AT the general Sessions held for that place many of the Quakers were fined and 11. imprisoned The Mayor Edward Young upon the 14. of October committed 2. Quakers to prison and at night divers of them meeting in the street the Mayor came with Officers and put many of them into prison and into the stocks and three of them into the dungeon commanding the rest on pain of imprisonment to depart 7. At Northampton A. D. 1655. July 21. the Gaoler called Will. Dewsbury Joseph Stow Henry Williamson John Whitehead Marmaduke Stow Tho Cocket and Francis Ellington and set them them at the Bar before the Court and they all were covered till the Judge commanded the Gaolers man to pull off their hats Judge Atkins asked Will. Deusbery his name he answered unknown to the world but that the world knows is William Deusbery Atkins what Countryman A. of Canaan My natural birth was in Yorkeshire 9 miles from Yorke toward Hull Atkins why did you not stay there A. So I did till called to go where led by the Spirit The Clerke of the Peace told the Judge there was an Information given in on oath by Mr. Robert Burton that Will. Deusbery 29. of December 1654. did go into Wellingborough Church and by gesture and words made disturbance among the people J. Atkins I shall take course that those which have disturbed the Ministers before I go forth of the Town be indicted and told Deusbery that he broke the Law in that he was found wandring in the Country for there is an ancient Law that if any did go from their dwellings to travell in the Countrey without a Certificate from a Justice they were to be taken as Wanderers and common same is a good accuser though not a good tryer And I am satisfied from what I have heard to continue you in prison unlesse you will put in bond to be of good behaviour and appear at the next Assizes for you are by common same accused to be a dangerous people and breakers of the publique peace The Court rising the Gaolers took them away to prison again till the next Assize 8. Lancaster From thence a Petition to the Council of State of severall Gentlemen Justices of Peace Ministers and People Sheweth THat George Fox and James Naylor are persons disaffected to Religion and the wholsome Laws of this Nation And that since their coming into this Country have broached opinions tending to the destruction of the relations of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands children to their Parents servants to their Masters congregations to their Ministers and of a people to their God And have drawn much people after them many whereof men women and little children at their meetings are strangely wrought upon in their bodies and brought to fall foam at mouth roar and swell in their bodies and that some of them affirmed themselves to be equall with God as hath been attested at a late Quarter-Session at Lancaster in October since that time acknowledged before many Witnesses besides many dangerous opinions and damnable heresies as appears by a Schedule annexed with the names of the Witnesses subscribed May it therefore please your Honours upon consideration of the premises to provide that some speedy course may be taken for the suppressing those evils c. The Schedule 1. George professed and avowed that he was equall with God 2. To be the Eternal Judge of the world 3. He was the Judge of the world 4. The Christ the way the truth and the life 5. Whosoever took a place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it was a Conjurer and his preaching conjuration 6. That the Scripture was carnall James Milner professes himself to be God and Christ and gives out prophecies 1. That the day of judgement shall be the 15. of Novemb. 2. Never Judge sit at Lancaster again 3. That he must ere long shake the foundations of the great Synagogue meaning the Parl. Leonard Fell professeth that Christ had never any body but his Church Richard Hubberth That Christs coming in the flesh was but a figure Sauls Errand p. 3. Geo. Fox saith these matters are falsely charged upon him but whosoever reads his answers may easily see how he prevaricates To give you a tast 1. Answering that have broached opinions p. 4. Opinions we deny they taking themselves in all to be infallibly guided by the Spirit and saith but little more in a few canting termes to that grand Objection of teaching such Doctrines as break relations 2. To that of saying he was equall with God this jejune equivocating answer It was not so spoken as George Fox was equall to God but the father and the son is one c. 3. To that he is the eternall Judge of the world answers p. 6. He that was a Minister of God said that the Saints shall judge the world What means this daubing this palliating Come to an humble Saint that knows himselfe and abhors his own vileness and from him you shall have far other answers So that indeed his whole answer will be found rather a confirmation of the charge then a cleering of him so that the more he stirs the worse he stincks It is in vain and but expence of time to make more words about it he that will may read the book Of James Milner Page 9. Though his mind did run out from his condition and from minding that light of God which is in him yet there is a pure seed in him hoc concesso two pillars of theirs are overturned that they are guided away in their teachings by an infallible spirit infallibly and perfect Of Leonard Tells That Christ had no body but his Church Ans There is one body Christ is the head of his body the Church goes to make it good and in justifying another condemns himself 9. In Devonshire MIles Halhead a Nâ—t Hâ—â—lhâ—ad and Tho. Salthouse b But not well seasoned being pressed in spirit c But by whom the Qâ—eâ—tion to visit the seed of God in captivity d Aâ—l as they conceive in Plymouth left their beings and relations in the North e Quâ— warranto passed thitherward as far as Hunniton neer Exeter f A long journy on a sleeveles erraÌ„d where a guard being placed for apprehending of such persons as were suspected to have a hand in an Insurrection broke out a little before by them they were taken up and brought before Colonel Coppleston high Sheriff of the County Having examined them he caused them to be kept close prisoners at Exeter for about 14 dayes and then sent them from Officer to Officer towards their homes g â—or cleeâ—ly they were out of the way