Sectaries and their Bibles and their Ministers whose Cause as aforesaid p. 28. I am not engaged in therefore it does not concern me i. e. J. Coale to answer his Charges against them but shall leave them to answer for themselves c. Thus does the Harmony of the Quakers and Papists agree and for Confirmation read pag. 222 to pag. 248. herein VII About Vnwritten Traditions That the Papists value their Unwritten Tradition above the Scriptures has been sufficiently proved by our English Divines that the Quakers value their own Epistles above the Holy Scriptures is as plainly proved in p. 34 and 142 to 149. And this is the Seventh Point in which the Quakers do not hold a Negative Doctrine to the Romish Church which both the Clergy of England Protestant Dissenters do VIII Touching Idolatry If any doubt whether the Romish Church be guilty of Idolatry let them read Dr. Stillingfleet late Bishop of Worcester his Book Intituled A Discourse concerning the Idolatry of the Church of Rome c. and many other Books wrote by our English Divines and they may meet with Satisfaction And that the Quakers do not hold a Negative Doctrine to the Church of Rome in this Point read p. 42 to p. 48. p. 206 to p. 266. IX Pope of Rome and Pope Fox I have read what the Papists say in defence of their Popes * In the Defence of the Apol. of the Church of England viz. Papa Lux venit in Mundum The Pope is that Light that is come into the World Our Lord God the Pope In the Pope is all manner of Power A Divine Power is in the Pope A certain Divine Power in the Pope beyond the Natural State of Men. Mr. Harding said of the Pope Thou art the chief of Bishops thou art the Heir of the Apostles for Primacy thou art Abel for Government Noah for Patriarchship Abraham for Holy Order Melchisedek for Dignity Aaron for Authority Moses for Judgment Samuel for Power Peter and for thy Anointing Christ c. Now to shew that the Quakers do not hold a Negative Doctrine to the Papists in this Point read p. 42 to p. 48. p. 253 to p. 267. And by way of Corroboration let me add this I am said Fox the Light of the World him by whom the World was made and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World * The Teachers of the World unvailed c. p. 27. See also his Book News coming up out of the North c. p. 15 41. which is very large on this Head X. The Quakers the One Only Church A. S. having said the Roman Church is the One Only Church of Christ Josiah Coale denies it saying The Quakers are the One Only Church of Christ and so do not hold a Negative Doctrine to the Romish Church And this I shall prove by the same number of Instances by which I have shewed that they are One with the Romish Church in the Affirmative And 1. The Whore unvailed c. p. 40. But for all that has been said says J. Coale some may say the Grand Question propounded by A. S. in his second Chapter is not yet answered viz. Which is the True Church I answer says Josiah that is the True Church and no other whose Fruit makes manifest that they are governed by the Invisible Head Christ i. e. their Light within but the People called Quakers are such Therefore the Quakers are the true Church * Pray read p. 266 to p. 284. and by their Fruit you shall know them 2. P. 41. ibid. The People called Quakers continue in the Doctrine of Christ saying Be ye perfect c. And the People called Quakers do Preach the Doctrine of Perfection as Thousands can bear Witness Therefore they are the True Church c. But Reader for the Disproof of what they boastingly say read as in the Margin and see what manner of Perfection they are found in 3. Again p. 43. ibid. * This Josiah Coale was a most Eminent Quaker yet a grand Idolater See p. 261. therefore I put him into the Cage among his Fellows Which being considered it appears that Perfection or Freedom from Sin is attainable in this Life which by the Quakers is Preached Therefore the Quakers are the True Church 4. Again p. 44. ibid. The Ministers of Christ were ordained not of Man nor by Man nor of the Letter but of the Spirit and so are the Ministers of the Quakers Therefore the Quakers are the True Church 5. P. ibid. The true Church in the Primitive Times was taught by the Grace of God that denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts they should live soberly c. And the Quakers being taught by the same Grace do deny Vngodliness †See the Cage of Vnclean Birds p. 249 to 284. for a Proof of what they boast of Therefore the Quakers are the True Church 6. P. 41. ibid. Christ commanded saying Whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto you even so do ye unto them which Command the Quakers observe as Thousands can bear them Witness Therefore they are the True Church For Proof of the contrary see the last Instances of this Preface touching their Breaking and Cheating 7. The Apostate-Incendiary c. p. 3. It was for your sake and the Truth says George Whitehead that I was pressed in Spirit in a Godly Zeal thus to appear against this deceitful Worker i. e. William Mucklow and treacherous Spirit which at length hath shewed it self against the Truth and Church of Christ and Elect People of God called Quakers 8. The Anarchy of the Ranters c. That as the true and pure Principles of the Gospel are Restored by the Quakers Testimony so the Ancient Apostolical Order in the Church of Christ is Re-established amongst them and Settled upon its Right Basis and Foundation * For more of R. Barkley see p. 40. all which shew they do not hold in this a Negative Doctrine to Rome 9. The Quakers Challenge c. p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but They consequently the Quakers are the only True Church for this is the Testimony of one of their deceased Prophets Sol. Eccles That the Quakers are in the Truth and none but they †See pag. 261. where this Bird Sol. Eccles lyes in the Cage for his Idolatry 10. See Burroughs's Works p. 64 318. who writing to the Quakers thus said The Tabernacle of God is with you and his Dwelling-Place amongst you and only amongst you is God known all that ever own God and Salvation shall own us * See pag. 261. where this Burroughs is the second Bird in the Cage for his gross Idolatry Having by this time shewed Ten Instances that the Quakers do not hold a Negative Doctrine to the Romish Church in the most Fundamental Errours in that Church and yet agree with her in as many Instances that she is the Only Church out of which there is no Salvation
read a Page thereof but to tell them all are Lies all is Malice c. and they are bound to believe you * * True for never were a People held more Captive but the Blind lead the Blind according to my Doctrine in these VVords It was for your sakes and the Truth 's that I was pressed in Spirit thus to appear against this deceitful Worker VVilliam Mucklow which hath shewn his Enmity against the Truth and Us the Church of Christ and Elect People of God called Quakers And p. 16. I affirm That the true Church as above described is in the true Faith that is in God And we must believe thus as the true Church believes or else it were but both a Folly and Hypocrisie to profess our selves Members thereof c. The Apost Incendiary c. p. 3 16. So that my tender Lambs you see first That we are the true Church of Christ next That you are to believe as the Church believes and there lyes G. Fox's Journal on the Table which you have in all Quarterly Meetings and ought to have it in all Schools ††They have got it in some Schools already where their Youth read a Portion of it every Day c. yea in private Families for as our Brother Mead hath well express'd himself it is the best Book in the VVorld for our keeping up our Ancient Testimony yea better than the Bible said he And now to conclude this Head look into the Book of Canons * * Look into the Book of Church-Canons made Anno 1675. which lyes before you on the Table and turn to those Church Canons which were made Anno 1675 at a Yearly Meeting or a Convocation where in order to corroborate all that hath been said on this Head it is thus written It is the Sense Advice Admonition and Judgment in the Fear of God and the Authority of his Power and Spirit to Friends and Brethren in their several Meetings That no such slight and contemptible Names and Expressions as calling Men's and Women's Meetings Courts Sessions or Synods that they are Popish Impositions useless and burdensome that Faithful Friend's Papers which We TESTIFIE have been given forth by the Spirit and Power of God are Men's Edicts or Canons or Imbracing them Bowing to Men Elders in the Service of the Church Popes and Bishops with sueh scornful Sayings be permitted among them but let God's Power be set upon the top of that Unsavoury Spirit that uses them Subscribed by us W. Penn Steph. Crisp Tho. Salthouse Jo. Bunyeat G. Whitehead Alex. Parker c. Thirdly and Lastly Let me apply what has been said Friends I am now come to the last thing proposed to speak to on this solemn Occasion and it shall be by way of Use and Application for your Comfort and Consolation and that by way of Inference drawn from the foregoing Two Heads And First Respecting Confession of Sin shewing your Exaltation above the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Primitive Christians Saints and Martyrs and all the Christian Churches to this Day Secondly Respecting the Observation of the Ten Commandments which are not binding to you unless you receive them anew as the Inspired Prophets and Apostles did Edward Burrough's Works p. 47. Quakerism a New Nick-name c. p. 71. Thirdly Respecting the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper And First You being the true Ancient Apostolick Church of Christ and as Quakers elected thereto and that the Quakers are in the Truth and none but they as our Brother Sol. Eccles from the Spirit of Truth hath written See the Quakers Challenge c. p. 3. hath no need to make any Confession of Sin in our Prayers to God as our Practice for near Fifty Years do confirm nay nor all the Apostates that ever went from us nor all the Priests our Adversaries cannot prove from any one of our Books wrote by my self G. Fox Ed. Burrough Fr. Howgill Father Penn Sam. Fisher W. Smith W. Baily Richard Hubberthorn and others of our Friends in the Unity that ever we made Confession of Sins to God and asked Pardon for Christ's sake nor that ever we recommended such a Practice to our Disciples notwithstanding our Books wrote by our Friends above-named contain more than 5555555 Pages in Folio Quarto and Octavo Now Friends VVhat cause have we to Rejoice and to Magnifie our Light within which hath led us to such a State of sinless Perfection And therefore I exhort you to keep up our Ancient Testimony in all its Parts of which this is not the least For let me tell you that Jacob that worthy and godly Patriarch he was so sensible of his sinful Imperfections that when he prayed to God he acknowledged himself unworthy of the least of God's Mercies Gen. 32.10 And Isaiah the Prophet said But we are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and we all do fade as a Leaf and our Iniquities like the Wind have taken us away Isa 64.6 And Jeremiah the Prophet cried under a sense of his Sins We have Transgressed and Rebelled Lam. 3.41 Yea Job that Man of God said I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of Men Job 7.20 Yea David a Man after God's own Heart said For I will declare mine Iniquity I will be sorry for my Sin Have mercy upon me O God according to thy Loving Kindness according unto the Multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions wash me thorowly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin for I acknowledge my Transgressions and my Sin is ever before me against thee thee only have I sinned and done this Evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me c. Psal 38.18 and 51.1,2,3,4,5 Again Solomon said For there is not a just Man upon Earth that doth Good AND SINNETH NOT Eccles 7.20 Prov. 20.9 adding by way of Interrogation Who can say I have made my Heart clean I am pure from my Sin * * Besides the Quakers and the Gnosticks Yea that good Man Nehemiah Fasted Prayed and VVept before the Lord God of Israel saying O Lord God of Heaven the great and terrible God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments * * Not G. Fox's Commandments Let thine Ear now be attentive and thine Eyes open that thou mayest hear the Prayer of thy Servant which I pray before thee now Day and Night for the Children of Israel thy Servants and confess the Sins of the Children of Israel which we have sinned against thee I and my Father's House have sinned Nehem. 1.5,6,11 Yea Daniel that Beloved of the Lord he said And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my Confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the Covenant and Mercy to them
the Superlative degree and will give them further ground to believe that when the Government have leisure to examine them and that they are willing to wait it will let the Quakers see they have nothing to do with Queen Elizabeth's Motto Much suspected by me Nothing proved can be and that they 'll be forc'd to sing another Song and to change their Motto viz. Many things are fairly mov'd And also as fully prov'd by me Fra. Bugg Now follows a short Discourse by way of Dialogue between Jacob the Wet Quaker and a Civilian for diversion-sake after a piece of hard Drudgery viz. Civilian Oh! Friend Jacob how dost thou do Come let us have a Bottle of Red and half an Hours Chat. Quaker With all my Heart pray what 's the News Civ News I know but little I meddle not with State Affairs But to be free with you I was astonisht at your Deportment the other Day at the Commons Lobby towards Fra. Bugg when he gave away his Book to the Members of Parliament and how Imperiously you Menaced him whose grey Hairs might have commanded your better Respect and perhaps may be as good a Man as your self if your Debts were paid bidding him put off his Hat to the Members which with great respect he did and needed not your Doctrine which had been fitter for your self to have observ'd and the morose Clowns your Brethren who neither respect your Superiors nor regard your Betters Besides you cannot but know how many of your Teachers are and have been guilty of gross Immoralities as Gerard Roberts and his Son Thomas together with Newton Gosnell Billing Antrobus Archer Burr Travers Murford Taylor Clark c. besides your Hearers as Bracy Boswell Plumstead Northcott French Stone Firth Olive Goodwin Cadey c. besides what he has put in the Cage of Unclean Birds in his Pilgrim's Progress 2d Edit p. 294. Qua. Hold Friend thee seem'st to be in a Passion thou saw as soon as I perceiv'd how the Members took his Books and the People shew'd their dislike I came away Civ I am not angry but since in your Reply to his Modest Defence c. p. 8. you seem to allow the liberty of Printing why are you so angry with him since you have not power as in Pensilvania where you both Fined Imprisoned and took away the Printer's Tools for so much as Printing an Appeal since he does no more than you practice and seem now to allow Qua. Be not mistaken we are an Innocent People and vindicate Truth and Innocency Civ Again p. 7. ibid. you say You are ready to make it appear that your Books are not Blasphemous Again p. 11. We are ready to undertake the proof of every Doctrine we hold by and from the Scriptures Qua. We are ready and dare undertake it Civ To the first I answer 't is impossible for in his Book to the Parliament he has Reprinted one of your Books in which is horrible Blasphemy writ by G. Whitehead c. to the second I say Fra. Bugg has Challenged your Teachers Fifty times and G. Keith as many yet you are not ready to vindicate either your Doctrine or the Books which contain them and since that Whitehead seldom appear'd at Parliament Qua. I grant that Book has put a sad damp on our Friends but you must know that giving us G. Whitehead's Method in his Truth and Innocency c. viz. of leaving out words and adding words to and transposing words we dare meet them As for instance in the last Recital adding two words Never and Any and putting out Every and it should run thus We are Never ready to undertake the proof of any Doctrine we hold Civ This is brave Work indeed any thing may do at this rate pray what say you to p. 11. ibid. where you grant that were it not for the Act of Toleration your Monthly Quarterly and Yearly Meetings were illegal but yet they relating to Religion are allowed by the Act whilst in another Book where being charged with the Doors of their Meeting being Lock'd Barr'd or bolted A Just Censure c. p. 26. there you say these Meetings are not designed for Worship and 't is plain none besides Religious Meetings are tolerated by the Act what say you to this Qua. I perceive thou dost not know us nor our way which is to carry two Faces under one Religious Hood you must not measure us by our words but by our meaning and that of our own giving too and if thee wilt but be a Friend to us I will give thee as good a Hamper of Wine as ever thee didst tip over Tongue Civ This is all downright Hypocrisie for at this rate no Man can tell either your Faith or Principles And as to your Present I will not accept thereof for a Gift may pervert and my Religion to me is more than all nor am I so mean spirited to betray my Conscience for all the Wine in thy Cellar But Friend there is another thing in which I would be satisfied namely your answering Books wherein you falsifie the Text drop Words split Sentences and marr the Sence of your Opponant's Argument I will give you but one Instance in a Sheet presented to the Parliament by Fra. Bugg with a Scheme of your Yearly Meeting c. Col. 2. Reason 6. In one sort of their Books they pretend to Love Own and Honour the King yea to Pray for all Men for Kings and all that are in Authority but in their contrary sort of Books they tell you That all Kings and Emperors sprung up in the Night since the Days of the Apostles among the Antichrists that they own no King but Jesus nor no Government but the Government of the Lamb that they are Traytors against Christ that desire an Earthly King Do you read say the Quakers that there were any Kings since the Days of the Apostles but among the Apostate Christians That Kings are the Spiritual Egyptians Oh what a Sincerity was once in the Nation What a dirty nasty thing it would have been to have heard talk of a House of Lords among them A Parliament chosen by most Voices are not like to act for God and the good of his People It was thorow Ignorance that the People subjected themselves to Hereditary Government or to the Government standing in a single Person successively and our Nation have been under Bondage on this Account Now all that the Quakers in their Just Censure c. p. 18. recite is as followeth viz. In one sort of our Books we seem to Own Love and Honour the King yea to Pray for all Men for Kings and all that are in Authority but in the other sort of our Books we tell People that Kings and Emperors sprung up in the Night and among Apostate Christians and that we are against the English Government c. Now how short and defective they are herein is obvious by comparing each Qua. Friends Intentions are good they
Spirit of Truth in George Whitehead and George Fox the Younger See Title Page And being questioned by a Minister p. 7. VVhether the Quakers Speaking was of as great Authority as any Chapter in the Bible George Whitehead reply'd saying That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in ANY is of as GREAT AUTHORITY as the Scritures and Chapters are and GREATER So that the plain Consequence of this Doctrine is That the Authority of this little Pamphlet of Whitehead's and Fox's VVriting is of Greater Authority than the Bible and not only that but all their other Pamphlets which they give forth as they pretend from the Spirit of Truth or Light within The said Minister proposed another Question to Whitehead viz. Is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments a Rule to the Christian's Life or is it not p. 18. To this G. Whitehead reply'd saying Thou might as well ask If the Moral Law be a Rule to Christ for the Christian's Life and Rule is Christ meaning their Light within From whence it 's plain that the Ten Commandments are not the Quakers Rule No no not unless they be convinced by their Light within of the Reasonableness of their Obedience as Mr. Penn teaches and Edward Burroughs their great Prophet Quakerism a New Nick-name c. p. 71. Burrough's Works p. 47. And by these and the like Arguments our Teachers brought us off from believing the Scriptures to be the VVord of God And as such to have Authority over us and Binding to us whether convinced or not convinced by these Means they brought us from the Practice of repeating the Lord's Prayer the Ten Commandments and the Apostles Creed in our Families By these cunning Slights they by degrees brought us off the Ordinances of Christ as Baptism and the Lord's Supper asking Forgiveness of Sin and the like Christian Duties in which many of us had been Educated and which the Scriptures command and exhort to And by reason of this and the like Doctrine together with not reading the Holy Scriptures in our Meetings but their Epistles only as in my former Books I have at large shewed we came to forget and not regard nor have Faith in the Crucified Jesus who died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification and that in these Fundamental Points following namely 1. That Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered at Jerusalem was necessary to our Salvation provided we hearkened diligently to our Light within 2. That Justification and Sanctification is by the Blood of Christ outwardly shed 3. That there shall be a Resurrection of the Body that dieth 4. That Christ shall come without us in his Glorified Body to Judge the Quick and the Dead at the last Day even the same Jesus that was Born of the Virgin Died Rose Ascended and now Sits at the Right Hand of God in Heaven making Intercession for us News out of the North p. 14. As also that there was little need of Preaching the Literal Knowledge of Christ's Death Miracles Resurrection and Ascension because they are generally believed by all sorts professing Christianity See Isaac Pennington's Book The Flesh and Blood of Christ c. p. 29. I say by our Teachers thus slighting the Scriptures as Death Dust and Serpents Food of which I have largely treated elsewhere and by their other Doctrine scattered up and down their Books they brought us off from the Belief and Expectation of these Things as George Keith by his Third Narrative has clearly made to appear and as a Pregnant Instance thereof with respect to my self see my First Book I printed De Chris Lib. Part 2. which altho' it treat of the best part of Quakerism and gave a mortal VVound to the Jurisdiction of their Female Government yet it set not forth any one of these four Fundamental Points For as their Hypocrisie in pretending to be plain sincere simple and innocent was a means to attract and draw me after them so the like Hypocrisie in pretending to gather to the Light leave People to their Light as a sufficient Rule Judge and Guide (c) Yet acting quite contrary as anon will appear c. was one Reason why I left them I do not look upon it so eminently my Business to set forth the admirable Advantage and Use of the Lord's Prayer the Ten Commandments the Apostles Creed Baptism and the Lord's Supper no every Bookseller's Shop is furnished with plenty of such Books which are writ by Men of great Learning and Skill which should I write after them it would be next to light a Candle at Noon-day when the Sun shines in its Brightness Tho' if I lived in a Country where such Arguments were not I thank God I could through the Study of the Scriptures and the Knowledge I have of the Doctrinal part of Christianity thereby speak somewhat to the Point and which might be useful too No I take it to be my Business and Office amongst others to unmask and discover the Errors and Pernicious Principles of the Quakers and therefore refer to Bishop Andrews upon the Commandments Bishop Pearson upon the Creed Dr. Cumber upon the Lord's Prayer and indeed what else the Church teach And to make it yet more evident if more can be that the very Design of these Silent Meetings was to bring us off and wean us from the Articles of the Christian Faith and the Principles of the Christian Religion and thereby to mould us and square us as fit Tools for their Turn to supplant and overthrow it And this I know that the more we obeyed the Doctrine of our new Teachers the more we grew dead to all Instituted Religion For as Universities and other Schools of Learning as well amongst the Jews as Christians had a tendency to prepare Men and thro' God's Assisting Grace were a means and a help to such as were to be Consecrated and set apart for the VVork of the Ministry so I do affirm and that from an Experimental Knowledge That these Silent Universities tends only to empty the Mind of all true and solid Notions of the Christian Religion and only to prepare them for the wild Notions of Quakerism which hath such a sandy Foundation that to this Day they have not been able to produce their Articles of that Faith they pretend to but are as Mr. Baxter said Penitential Confession p. 63. i. e. The Quakers are amongst us a disgraced broken Sect c. notwithstanding their pretence to Unity Uniformity and to be of one Mind referring oft to their Beginning when alas some will pay Tythes some not some shut up their Shops on Fast-Days some not some for Thee and Thou still but most of them not but are like other People some wet Quakers some not some for this some for that and some for neither this nor that as in a Hundred Things I could shew But lest any should think me partial in stating the Case and in shewing the Consequences of our Silent Meetings or Schools
Chap. 11.4 See also The Picture of Quakerism drawn to the Life Part 1. Page 60 to 70. Well I say let us hear what the Commands of the Quakers are That whoever amongst them pleads for their Liberty whether to obey or not to obey are Ranters Rebels and what not See his Brief Examination c. Page 11. And this I affirm from the Understanding I have received of God not only that the Enemy is at work to scatter the Minds of Friends by that loose Plea What hast thou to do with me Leave me to my Freedom and to the Grace of God in my self and the like But this Proposition and Expression as now understood and alledged is a Deviation from and a Perversion of the Antient Principle of Truth For this is the plain Consequence of this Plea If any one shall say I see no Evil in paying Tythes to Hireling Priests in that they are not claimed by Divine Right but by the Civil Laws of the Land I see no Evil saith another in marrying by the Priest for he is but a Witness I see no Evil saith a third in declining a Publick Testimony in Suffering-Times for I have Christ 's and Paul 's Example I see no Evil saith a fourth in respecting the Persons of Men for whatever others do I intend a sincere Notice that I take of those I know I see no Evil faith a fifth in keeping my Shop shut upon the World's Holy-Days Fast-Days for I would not willingly give Offence to my Neighbours c. Reader I have been the larger on this Quotation because it may evidently appear beyond all their Glossing that like the Pharisees their Forefathers they make void the Commands of God by exalting their own Traditions above them saying None are any further obliged to obey the Commands of God in the Holy Scripture than they are convinced or perswaded by their Light to obey but their own Commands such as not paying Tythes not marrying with a Priest not putting off the Hat not shutting up their Shop-Windows on Holy-Days and Fast-Days this is highly Criminal to plead their Liberty in these Things is Ranterism and Rebellion To confirm this George Whitehead said in Answer to a Minister's Question i. e. Is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments a Rule to the Christian's Life or is it not Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 18. I answer says G. W. thou might as well ask If the Moral Law be a Rule to Christ For the Christian's Life and Rule is Christ c. meaning the Light within Quest to Professors c. p. 27. And this is much like Is Pennington who said That the Name JESUS and CHRIST belong to every Member as WELL as to the Head and if so Whitehead is in the right on 't they might as well indeed carry the Ten Commandments to Christ as to the Quakers For on their own Hypothesis there is as much Reason for the Quakers Love to be equal with Christ if not above him See p. 10. What is attributed to that Body meaning the Son of Mary we acknowledge and give to that Body in its Place according as the Scripture attributeth it which is THROUHG and BECAUSE of THAT which dwelt and acted IN IT but that which sanctify'd and kept the Body pure (e) Mark kept Christ's Body pure and made all acceptable in him was the Life Holiness and Righteousness of the Spirit and the same THING which kept his Vessel pure it is the same THING that cleanseth us the Value which the Natural Flesh and Blood of Christ had was from THAT in its coming from THAT in its acting in THAT in its suffering thro' THAT p. 33. Now the Scriptures doth expresly distinguish between CHRIST and the GARMENT which he wore between HIM that came and the BODY in which he came between the SUBSTANCE which was VAILED and the VAIL which VAILED it there is plainly HE and the BODY in which HE came there was the OUTWARD VESSEL and the INWARD LIFE This we certainly know and can never call the BODILY GARMENT CHRIST (f) Viz. They can never call the Son of Mary Christ but THAT which appeared and dwelt IN the BODY Now if ye indeed know the CHRIST of God tell us plainly what THAT is which appeared in the Body whether THAT was not the Christ before IT took up the Body after IT took up the Body and for ever I am the larger on this Head to shew first George Whitehead's Pride in saying That the Commandments of God might as well be carried to Christ as the Quakers next that the Christ which the Quakers own only is the Light or Spirit which was in Christ and is in them lastly that they can never call him that was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary Christ but a Vail or Garment an Outward Vessel and the like Compare the last Quotation to G. W.'s Sermon And for more of this Tendency I refer to George Whitehead's Sermon hereafter expressed c. Having by this time shewed That the Quakers have rejected the Government and Guidance of the Light in the Particular to be sufficient but that the Light in the Particular must vail to the Light in the Body or Church I am now come to set forth their Authority for it which was the Sentence and Judgment of their Synod held at London May 1666. The Sentence of their London Synod 1666. Contracted First We having a true discerning of the Working of that Spirit which under a Profession of Truth leads into a Division from or Exaltation above the BODY of Friends who never Revolted from their Principles from the constant Practice of good ancient Friends who are sound in the Faith once delivered to US (h) (h) 'T is well they tacitly confess it is not the Faith once delivered to the Saints We do unanimously declare and testifie That neither that Spirit nor those that are joined to it ought to have any Dominion Office or Rule in the Church of God Secondly We do declare and testifie That the Spirit and those who are joined to it who stand not in Unity with the Ministry and Body of Friends have not any true Spiritual Right nor Gospel Authority to be Judges in the Church and of the Ministry so as to condemn them or their Ministry neither ought their Judgment any more to be regarded by Friends than the Judgment of any other Opposers which are without for of Right the Elders and Members of the Church ought to judge Matters and Things which differ and their Judgment which is given to stand good and valid amongst Friends And we do further declare and testifie That it is abominable Pride which goeth before Destruction which so puffs up the Mind of any PARTICULAR that he will not admit of any Judgment to take place against him FOR HE THAT IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WITNESS OF GOD IN FRIENDS IS CONDEMNED BY IT IN HIMSELF New Rome exactly Thirdly If any Difference arise
in the Church or amongst them that profess to be Members thereof WE do declare and testifie That the Church with the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ HAVE POWER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SUCH WHO DISSENT FROM THEIR DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE TO HEAR AND DETERMINE THE SAME All Property is now lost unless there be Conformity and Submission like the Star-Chamber and High Court of Justice c. And if any pretend to be of us and in Case of Controversie will not admit to be TRIED by the Church i. e. the Body nor SUBMIT to the JUDGMENT given by the Spirit of Truth in the Elders and Members of the same but kick against their Judgment as only the Judgment of Man WE testifie in the Name of the Lord That if any Judgment so given be risen against and denied by the Party condemned then He or She ought to be rejected as having erred from the Truth and persisting therein presumptuously are joined in ONE with Heathens and Infidels George Whitehead Josiah Coale Stephen Crisp John Moone Thomas Loe Thomas Greene John Whitehead Thomas Briggs James Parke Alexander Parker Rich. Farnsworth c. Having by this time shewed First How our Teachers in order to bring us over to them and to decoy us told us the Light within was a sufficient Guide Teacher and Leader even sufficient to lead to Salvation yea above Scriptures above Fathers above Councils and above Churches I have in the last Instance shewed the Fallacy of their so early and smooth Pretences and that from the beginning they have been a false perfidious and treacherous Tribe of Deceivers as ever the World produced Well now they appear plainly to be a Body and I having found who is the Head of this Body namely George Fox it will not be amiss to recite the Quakers Creed and his Commandments which whatever Quaker do not submit to convinced or not convinced of the Reasonableness of their Obedience it 's now plainly seen what will befall them I need not Comment upon the recited Canon Creed Fox's Commandments nor their Zeal to maintain them as their Ancient Principles altho' God's Commandments by Moses the Apostles Creed and all the Scripture the Quakers slight and reject as not to be read in their Meetings not to be taught their Children nay so proud is G. Whitehead that he tells you as above The Jews might as well have carried them to Christ in the Days of his Flesh Viz. the Ten Commandments for him to learn observe and obey them as for the Christians to carry them to the Quakers to learn observe and obey them Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 18. For saith he What is spoken by the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Bible and Chapters are and greater Burroughs Works p. 47. This is the Tenure and Purport of his Doctrine and I do affirm it 's right Quakerism For Edw. Burroughs said That was no Command from God to me what he Commands to another And W. Penn confirms the whole saying No Command in Scriptures is any further obliging upon ANY Man than as he finds a Conviction upon his Conscience otherwise Men should be engaged without if not against Conviction a thing unreasonable in Man c. Quakerism a New Nick-name for old c. p. 71. But for their poor infatuated Disciples to plead whether to conform or not whether to obey or not the Commands of G. Fox i. e. not paying Tythes not to be Married with a Priest not to put off the Hat not to open their Shops on Feasts or Fast-Days I say to plead to be left to their Freedom herein and the Grace of God in their Hearts Oh! no Says W. Penn This is a dangerous Principle this is a pernicious Plea this is perfect Ranterism VVhat to have Liberty whether to obey the Commands of the Body given out by the Head thereof This is wicked indeed as by their Yearly Epistle above-recited is plain However I shall recite both the Quakers Creed and the Commands of G. Fox Viz. 1. The Quakers Creed WE believe that the Light within us is the True and Eternal God which Created all things and that by me the Light all things are upheld and that there is not another besides me that can save and thereupon we believe we are endued with the Almighty Power of God and thereby have wrought Miracles and conclude we are equal to God and that our Speaking is of greater Authority than the Bible VVe believe our Light within is Jesus Christ the Son of God the Man Christ Jesus to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed tho' we cannot believe that this our Light within to whom we direct our Disciples to expect Salvation by was ever crucified by Nailing to a Cross nor that he Died or was Buried nor that he was Buffered Spitted upon Smote with the Palms of the Hands of the Jews for he never was seen with Carnal Eyes nor that he Rose from the Dead the Third Day nor that he Ascended in the Sight of the Galileans into Heaven and there Sit at the Right Hand of God but that all Apostate Christians that so teach are false Ministers nor do we believe that our Light within shall come at the last Day to judge both Quick and Dead For the Light within us is the Judge and the Book is opened within the Sentence of Death and Judgment is pronounced within from the Mouth of our Light within against every idle VVord and all the Deeds of the Body within and Judgment is executed within and the flaming Sword within which proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb i. e. our Light within which will cast thee into Hell within where is weeping and wailing within sealed down under the Wrath of God's Eternal Judgment within We believe the Light within us is the Holy Ghost and that these three are one and not distinguishable and that such as talk of three Persons in the Godhead like Conjurers are to be shut up with their three Persons they dream of which they would divide out of one in perpetual Darkness in the Lake and the Pit That the Scripture which the Apostate Christians build their Faith upon for this their Trinity of Persons in the Godhead is a rotten Foundation yea Dust Death and Serpents Meat and therefore their Ministers that tell their People the Scriptures are the Word of God are Deceivers For the Father Son and Spirit the World and their Teachers call three Persons but they speak they know not what therefore believe them not We believe our selves the only Catholick Church and Elect People of God and that none are in the Truth but we our selves We never did in any of our printed Books or printed Prayers from 1560 to 1690 make any Confession of Sin nor ask Pardon of God for Jesus Christ's sake who was Born of the Virgin and why We testifie that the outward Person that suffered at Jerusalem was
BLOOD OF ANOTHER SAINT his INTENT (s) George Jesuit-like is excellent at directing the Intention WAS as to Papists and you whose Minds are Carnal who oppose the Light within and ALSO SIMPLY as to the ESSENCE of the BLOOD c. See his Book i. e. the Light and Life of Christ within c. Printed 1668. Thus much by way of G. Whitehead's Interpretation of Solomon's Words and Meaning which I take to be a fair Confession of the Charge of Blasphemy exhibited by Mr. Burnet But to confirm the Reader that the Quakers are defective in the Faith of the Christians in general I will shew another Passage of the same Kind thereby shewing the Quakers Harmony about the Body of Christ from another of their eminent Authors viz. So now this Christ was before the World began and was a Seed †i. e. A Principle within before any Name was given to it who in Process of time was Born of a Virgin but none knows him born or ever shall but of a Virgin he that hath Ears let him hear be thou Man but the Virgin the Power of the most High shall overshadow thee and that HOLY THING which shall be Born of Thee shall be called the Son of God and saith Christ a Body hast thou prepared for me mark the Distinction thou me and a Body this me that spake in the Body was the Christ They his Disciples loved his Person for the sake of the Frame and Quality of the Spirit that dwelt in Him or else what was his Person to them more than another Person But for that that dwelt in him they loved him let none mistake I do not slight it nor the Person of any of his Brethren or Children as they are prepared to do the Will of their Father (t) As the Blood of Christ so the Body of Christ hath by their Doctrine no Preference above the Body and Blood of another Saint c. W. Bayly's Works p. 291. And hereupon they do not only deny Christ even the Lord that bought them as in my Book Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving c. I have shewed beyond all their Glossing but also how they thereby take occasion to magnifie THEMSELVES their OWN Blood their OWN Sufferings as I shall yet briefly shew For saith Isaac Pennington The Name Jesus and Christ belong to the whole Body and every Member in the Body as well as to the Head A Question to Professors c. p. 20 27. Again saith Josiah Coale His Edward Burroughs's Blood will be upon you as the Blood of a Thousand Men Jos Coale's Epistle to E. Burroughs's Works c. Again saith Thomas Speed Do not rashly draw your Swords against those harmless ones i. e. Quakers whom your bloody Teachers cloath and represent to you in the ugly Garb of Blasphemers remember that the Son of God who suffered at Jerusalem was not Crucified by the strict Religious as an innocent or just Man but as a Blasphemer be not therefore prevailed with to release Barabbas (v) For the Name Jesus belonged to the Believing Quakers as well as to Christ the Head and so the whole Paralle holds good and give over Jesus to be Crucified to gratifie the Murtherous Appetite either of the Priests or the Multitude considering that tho' you may with Pilate wash your Hands and to those Eyes that are dazled with Fury against innocent Jesus i. e. the Quakers appear clear from his Blood yet before the pure Eyes of the Lord will the condemning Stain thereof be found upon YOU so fresh THAT YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BE THENCE CLEANSED BUT BY THE SAME BLOOD WHICH YOU SO CRUELLY SHED See The Guilty covered Clergy-Man c. p. 16 17. Again see Burroughs's Works p. 273. The Suffering of the People of God call'd Quakers in this Age is a GREATER Suffering and MORE unjust than in the Days of CHRIST or of the APOSTLES or in ANY time SINCE what was done to CHRIST and the APOSTLES was CHIEFLY done by a LAW and in a GREAT Part by the DUE EXECUTION of a Law c. Now to close up this Head let us hear what Father Penn says for none of them all express themselves more full to the Point in Hand viz. See The Christian Quaker and his Divine Testimony c. p. 107. To conclude We tho' this general Victory was obtained and Holy Priviledges therewith and that the Holy Body was not instrumentally without a Share thereof yet that the efficient and chiefest Cause was the Light and Life (x) Within p. 102. so that the Invisible Life was the Root and Fountain of all which is sometimes ascribed in the Scriptures to the Body by that common Figure or Way of speaking amongst Men the thing containing which is the Body for the thing contained which is the Life p. 209. Nevertheless not to the Body but to that Holy Light and Life therein (y) As in the Quaker's Body c. is chiefly ascribed the Salvation and to the Body however excellent but instrumentally p. 97 98. The Serpent is a Spirit now nothing can bruise the Head of the Serpent but something that is Spiritual but if that BODY of CHRIST were the SEED (z) Mark here Christ the promised Seed Gen. 3.14 the Son of David of Mary is plainly denied to be the Christ of God then could he not Bruise the Serpent's Head in all because the BODY of CHRIST is not so much as in any one †Yes by Faith Read Acts 4.10,12 Luke 2.11 and consequently the Seed of the Promise is an Holy Principle of Light and Life that being received into the HEART bruiseth the Serpent's Head AND BECAUSE THE SEED WHICH CANNOT BE THAT BODY IS CHRIST as testifie the Scripture The Seed is one and that Seed is Christ They are false Ministers that Preach Christ without and bid People believe in him as he is in Heaven above Smith's Primer p. 8. But they that are Christ's Ministers Preach Christ within Your imagined God beyond the Stars and your Carnal Christ is utterly denied that this Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie c. The Sword of the Lord drawn p. 5. Reader I have taken in enough to shew the Marrow of the Quaker's Divinity and the Harmony of their Antient Testimonies And they tell you in a late Print That God is the same Truth is the same his People the same their Principles are the same c. The People call'd Quakers cleared c. p. 7. And in another Our Principles are now no other than what they were when we were first a People Primitive Christianity c. p. 53. Printed 1698. So that there needs no Comment only for further Satisfaction I refer to my former Books New Rome Unmask'd and her Foundation Shaken c. New Rome Arraign'd and out of her own Mouth Condemned c. Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving c. The Snake in the Grass c. Satan Disrobed
Tythes that belong to them thrown down P. 65. You who are the Parliament of this Nation you should have thrown down Tythes which Abundance of the sober People of the Nation hath petition'd you †What Impudence is this Pretend to petition and beg yet teach the Parliament and tell them what they should do to have taken them away which you voting them up hath voted your selves out of the sober People's Affection of the Nation among the Brutes you should have sold all the Glebe-Lands and sold all the Bells saving one in a Town and Colledges and their Lands and given them all to the Poor of the Nation P. 68. And the Priests cry to you Magistrates for Tythes the Pope's Alms and lye begging with their Petitions at your Doors * It was highly necessary then as well as â—…s now foâ— some to oppose Quakeriâ—… And we would have you maintain these begging Priests some other way than by the Pope's Alms. P. 69. AND EXCEPT YOU TAKE COUNSEL OF THE JUST YOU SHALL NOT SIT †☞ Reader I have recited enough of the Quakers Petition against the Clergy to shew the Nature of their Ancient Testimony and pointed with a Finger ☞ to two Sayings which with the rest are full of Impudence And when against the Clergy I think I may take their Word their whole Carriage and Deportment both by Word and Writing do confirm it But when for themselves they have any Favour to obtain DISTRUST THEM IN ALL THEY SAY for they II stick at no Promise as in the Case of their Indulgence witness their Acknowledging the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given forth by Divine Inspiration That it is the Rules of Faith and Practice c. whilst they believe not one Word of what they themselves say and as a Demonstration thereof I shall recite one of their Epistles sent to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings shewing their Care of their own Books Nay them very Books which teach that the Scriptures are Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Food c. Therefore From the Meeting of Sufferings in London ††Renewed Advice to the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England and Wales for preserving and spâ—eading Fâ—iend's Boâ—ks for Trâ—th's Serâ—ice Priâ—ted 16â—9 Dear Friends With our dear Love in the Truth unto you all these are to let you understand that our Friends have at several YEARLY MEETINGS had under their serious Consideration how all those Books that are printed for the Service of Truth and in the Unity of Friends might MOST EFFECTUALLY be SPREAD for a general Service to Truth and at the last YEARLY MEETING it was left unto this Meeting who accordingly have taken Care and Pains therein and settled as followeth That those that print Friends Books shall the first Opportunity after printed within one Month at most send to one of the Correspondents in the Counties viz. For your County two Books of a sort for each Monthly Meeting in your County if under Six Pence and but one of a sort if above Six Pence per Book for these Reasons 1 st For Friends to have general Notice what Book is printed 2 dly That they may send for what other Quantities they see a Service for And 3 dly That the Printer may be encouraged in Printing for Friends 4 thly For a Quaker Library That one Book at least of a sort that shall be printed may be kept in each Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Service of Truth and Friends as there shall be occasion for the future And as 't was agreed at the last YEARLY MEETING 1692. in the Printed Epistle 5 thly It is agreed that for Encouragement the Printer will allow 2 d. in the Shilling for all such Books 6 thly It 's agreed that some here shall be appointed that two or three Weeks before each Quarter Day to examine the Printer to see that they send no Books but what are approved by Friends and no more than two of a sort as aforesaid except the Friends in the Country shall write for more which it 's hoped they will not fail in ††I have heard that they begin to fail and send but slowly as they see a Service for them 7 thly It 's agreed or advised that the Printer's Accompts be fully cleared once a Year at least by those Friends the Country shall send up to the Yearly Meeting 8 thly It 's agreed that the Name of the Printer imploy'd by Friends should be sent with Directions how to write to him And Dear Friends and Brethren It 's Tenderly and in Brotherly Love advised and recommended unto you that ye be careful and diligent in the Spreading of All such Books that are printed for the Service of Truth and are either written in Defence of it or Christian Doctrine or Holy Profession or by way of Epistle Warning Caution Exhortation or Prophesie Not a Word of the Bible that so we may not be any way or in any wise Remiss or Negligent in promoting that Holy and Eternal Truth it hath pleased Almighty God to bless us with the Knowledge of and hath raised us up to stand Witnesses for in our Age and Generation nor nothing may be wanting on our parts to promote it and the spreading of it Signed on the Behalf of the Meeting for Sufferings in London 18. 6. Mo. 1693. By Benj. Bealing Postscript And this Agreement and Account herein sent we think it needful you should record it in your Quarterly Book and sometimes read it for Remembrance and general Notice Observations from hence Reader From what hath been said you may observe First That there is such a Meeting as I have set forth both from their Yearly and the recited Six-Week Meeting in case the Quakers deny it Secondly That their Business principally is to take Care of the Sufferings of their own Friends and that how plentifully they reward such as are faithful to their Church-Canons as in the Instance of Sam. Cater who for pretending to suffer 20 l. tho' he suffered not a Groat yet had 10 l. sent him as a Reward for meeting boldly contrary to the Law in that Case made and provided Thirdly That they have a Fund or Common Bank and that the Accompts are examined by a Committee chosen out of the Yearly Meeting for that Purpose Fourthly That such as suffer for Non-payment of Tythes are to send to the Quarterly Meetings Correspondents left their Sufferings be delayed Fifthly You may also perceive what a Confederacy is held by the Quakers and how they are enabled by their Exchequer to hold Suit with both Priest and Impropriator †As in the Instance of Mr. Holeman who was a Justice of the Peace a Counsellor at Law yet tired Sixthly You also may see how the Quakers solicite the Parliament for Favours as also how they Petition against the Clergy the Churches the Colledges and Bells too Yea this is according to their Ancient
Testimony and they are not chang'd they tell you so as I have herein before observed Seventhly And as a Pregnant Instance of the dangerous Consequence of this their Six-Week Meeting and their common Stock or Fund observe that of Joseph Clark one of their Preachers before noticed who tho' he pretended he was moved of God their usual Pretence for their Villanies yet when J. Field and their Fund failed him he presently pays his Tythes professing also that he then could pay them as well as other Taxes which is a clear Demonstration that such as stand it out and will rather spend 20 l. then pay 13 s. is because they are supported by this Illegal Fund c. And Lastly You may by this recited Epistle observe the Confederacy of their Yearly-Meeting and Six-Week Meeting to spread their venemous Books to infect both Youth and Aged Male and Female Old and Young and all under the fine Notion of the Service of Truth meaning Quakerism For if they meant the Truth of the Christian Doctrine they would at one time or other read a Chapter in their Meetings at one time or other recommend to their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings the reading of some Portion of the Holy Scriptures But not a Word of this in their Epistles not a Chapter read in their Meetings for Forty Years together but their own Epistles their own Prophesies their own printed Exhortations These they not only read in their private Meetings in their Families but they must Record you see this recited Epistle in their Quarterly-Book and sometimes read it Oh! 't is a precious Epistle And now Christian Reader I cannot but think my self unable to give a full and compleat Caution against the spreading of the Gangrene of Quakerism and therefore give me leave in the Words of Mr. Ralph Farmer a Minister formerly of Bristol to rehearse part of his Exhortation in his Book i. e. The Myst of Ungodliness c. viz. Now beloved if thou beest a Christian what say'st thou Is not here a Mystery of Ungodliness to the Purpose Where was it hatch'd think'st thou Could any less than all the Devils in Hell keep a Conventicle to Contrive and Plot this Black and Hellish Treason against the Majesty of God Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures Oh! ye Christian Magistrates who rule for Christ and to whom you shall one Day give an Account of your Government how you have ruled for him and how tender you have been of his Honour what is become of your Zeal for Christ and his Glory Good Sirs if these wretched Souls have such Liberty of Conscience to think thus contemptuously of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Gospel let them not upon Pretence of Liberty of Conscience be so audaciously Blasphemous to write and speak thus And O ye Servants of the Lord my Fathers and Brethren in the Ministry of our Dear and Ever-blessed Jesus you that are the Pastors of the Lord's Flock and the Watchmen for the Sheep of his Pasture lift up your Voices and spare not cry aloud to all your Congregations and forewarn them that they be not a Prey to Satan's Devices let the Wolves know that you are not Dumb Dogs and cannot bark and Idol Shepherds that can neither hear nor see nor understand any thing and that at a time of Need can say nothing certainly certainly such as these may ill look for their Gain from their Quarters they deserve it not who so they may be fed care not nor care to discover what devouring Beast comes to destroy the Flock of Christ But you my dear Brethren who are set over the Lord's Folds and who watch for their Souls as those that must give an Account and that have a Desire to do it with Joy and for the Profit of your People read and practise what St. Paul gives in charge to the Pastors of the Church at Ephesus Acts 20.28,29,30,31 and let me give it thee here in his own Words what he gave forth to his Son Timothy I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the Quick and the Dead at his Appearing and Kingdom preach the Word be instant in Season out of Season reprove rebuke exhort with all Long suffering and Doctrine for the time will come and it is now when they shall not endure sound Doctrine but after their own Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching Ears and they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables but watch thou in all things endure Afflictions do the Work of an Evangelist or Gospel Preacher make full Proof of thy Ministry c. CHAP. XI Shews the Quakers Second-Day Meetings and Hypocrisie thereof with its ill Consequences in order to Deceive Reader I Am now come to their Second-Day Meeting even to that Meeting where Satan dwells and where he employs his Archest Emissaries I shall not wrong them as believing I must one Day give an Account for my Actions before the Man Christ Jesus who shall Judge both the Quick and Dead at the Great Day where I hope I shall not be afraid to meet G. Whitehead with this Testimony in my Hand so on the other Hand I shall not spare them hide nor cover them who have by their Wiles by their Books of two sorts deceived the Nations deceived many of the Magistrates many of the Clergy nay my self for I could not have wrote thus Fifteen Years ago †No if I had not seen their deceitful Practices and measur'd them by the Scriptures I could not have known them rightly I took them then at least some Years before to be Prophets at least sincere and to meet there for the approving of what was Right Sound and Orthodox and for condemning the contrary But behold I have found the contrary and that by sad Experience yea I have found that their whole Business is to deceive and carry on a Design yea a Confederacy under the fine Notion of Unity and Concord I have laboured many Years under great Difficulties I have spent my Estate I have spent my Strength I grow into Years I have a Conscience to Discharge I think I cannot do it unless I compleat that Discovery which I have began Tho' I find it prejudicial to my Health and other Business I find my self conscientiously concerned in this weighty Affair I do know that the Reverend Author of the Book entituled The Snake in the Grass * To whose Works I refer the Reader c. have done exceeding well he hath done beyond what I am able to do 't is a Learned Piece and becomes a Learned Reader But I am directing the greatest part of what I say to the more unlearned †i. e. The common People who are not so well School-Learn'd to such whether Quakers or others as sometimes must spell as they read and read over and over before they can understand this makes me sometimes write over and over
in the nature of them and such intolerable Scandals as had they not had more Patience than the Quakers notwithstanding the loud Noise they make of Patience Humility and Meekness c. they would never have lain under such Public Scandals And therefore when in the next Chapter I come to touch their tender Part as Erasmus once said to a Monk I shall see how patient they 'll be when they are paid in their own Coin nay I hope far better at least to a better Purpose CHAP. XIII The Quakers Convocation George Whitehead's Sermon explaining their Ancient Testimony Reader THink not the following Sermon a Romance or Fiction for the Design of it is good and intended for their Conviction Read the Books in the Margin and you 'll find it fully proved to be the Sum and Marrow of their Ancient Testimony which by their Contempt of the Scriptures shews their Antichristian Principles and how their Doctrine carries all Iniquity in the Womb of it and opens the Flood-gates to all Atheism Deism Socinianism Arianism and all other vile Errours And therefore in hopes that this following Illustration of their Principles may be of use to their Hearers I proceed in this unusual Method But with my Lord Bishop of Lincoln in his Advice to his Clergy Second Edit p. 25. I will say ' Not that this can be expected from the Leaders of that Party they have Ends to serve in the Conduct of that deluded People that will engage them notwithstanding Confutation and Conviction too QUAKEâ—… SYNOD A SERMON for George Whitehead to hold forth at their Convocation or Yearly Meeting Friends I Beg your Attention to what shall be spoken this Day upon this Solemn Occasion being met to inspect the Affairs of our Society throughout the VVorld The chief Subject upon which I shall treat is our Ancient Testimony as you will find it written in our Gospel viz. God is the same Truth is the same his People the same and their Principles the same For our Principles are now no other than what they were when we were first a People The Quakers cleared c. p. 7. so we cannot but recommend unto you the holding up the Holy Testimony of Truth which had made us to be a People Prim. Christ continued p. 6. and that in all the Parts of it for Truth is one and changes not amp c. Their Yearly Epistle Printed 1696. Beloved in the opening the VVords of my Text I am to tell you First That as God is the same so are his People the same and according to our Ancient Testimony as unchangeable Secondly That our Principles are now no other than they were in the Beginning in all the parts of our Ancient Testimony whether relating to Monarchy Magistracy the National Ministry and all Points of Doctrine News coming up p. 18 19 20. Thus having opened the VVords of my Text I shall now let you know the Doctrinal Parts I intend to discourse of and then proceed FIRST The Scriptures which the Christians profess to be their Rule shewing their great Mistake therein and the Uncertainty thereof SECONDLY The Authority Certainty and Infallibility of our Friend's Books and Sayings and both Affirmatively THIRDLY and Lastly I shall apply the same by way of Use and for your Consolation Negatively and these in their Order First then As to the Christian's Mistake about the Scriptures look into the Epistle General of our Great Apostle Geo. Fox viz. And therefore all People that are here Christ is not in the Letter nor the Life is not in the Letter nor the Word is not in the Letter This mediate Stuff has reigned long in the Cage of unclean Birds you get the Letter for the Light a Steeple-House for the Church Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel c. To all the People who meet in Steeple-Houses c. p. 4 5. Printed 1657. Thus Beloved you see what great Mistakes are hapned to this People of England who by following the Doctrine of their blind Guides have taken Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel that is Glad-Tidings No no 't is Beastly VVare yea Dust and Serpents Meat and this I can prove by Two Books wrote by our Apostle Geo. Fox the one stiled News coming up c. p. 14. the other Several Papers given forth for the spreading of Truth c. p. 3 4 44 45 46 viz. So Dust is the Serpents Meat their Original is but Dust which is Death so these Serpents feed upon Dust and their Gospel is Dust Matthew Mark Luke and John which is the Letter c. Thus Friends have I shewed you the great Ignorance of the VVorld's Teachers who first take Matthew Mark Luke and John for the Gospel and now see what they have got for their Rule VVho would think they should hear such a Teacher as hold a Bible in his Hand and tell People it 's the VVord of God and bid them hear it and obey the Doctrine of it at their Peril for it 's the Law say they by which you shall be judged another Day VVhen alas my dearly Beloved as I have more than once in Print affirmed saying That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any meaning our selves is of as great Authority as the Scriptures or Chapters are and greater c. And I still affirm the same and do tell you that it is according to our Ancient Testimony and you know we cannot change nor alter being as unchangeable as our Light within See G. W. Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. Printed 1657. A Ser. Apology p. 49. Moreover the Scriptures are so uncertain that 't is questionable who was the first Pen-man thereof whether Moses or Hermes yea either or neither How then can any Man depend upon them as a Rule to walk by Thus you see how the Christians are mistaken for have not I my self told you as well as my dear Brother Christopher Atkinson That Friends do not call Matthew Mark Luke and John the Gospel and New Testament as the Ignorant Priests do David 's Enemies discover'd c. p. 7. And is it not written in the Gospel of my said Brother Christ Atkinson That for any to say that Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. What Ground then hath any Body to hold a Trinity of Persons Nay my Brother Penn and I have jointly said in our Apology Dedicated to the King's Lieutenant-General of Ireland That we deny the Terms of three distinct Persons in the Godhead whereby we do positively deny the Creeds called the Apostle's Athanasian and Nicene Creed A Ser. Apol. p. 20. If any Object Why we refuse to acknowledge them in Words not altogether of tho' agreeing with the Scriptures seeing we our selves use many Words not Scriptural as those of calling the Scriptures Death Dust Beastly Ware Serpents Meat c. those of our calling the Clergy Monsters Bloodbounds Grinning Dogs
magnified be our Light within which hath thus exalted us above the Prophets above the Apostles above the Martyrs and above all Christians as our dear Brother G. W. hath most excellently made it out First In opening his Text and also in the two Branches proceeding from it but more especially in the Use and Application where he hath confirmed me in not making Confession of Sin nor regarding the Ten Commandments nor those two Ordinances of Baptism and Supper all which is ratified and confirmed by G. Fox's Journal laying there on the Table But yet I have a short Testimony to bring in touching the Priests which I think our Friend G. W. left out unawares for I take it to be as necessary an Ancient Testimony to be kept up as any other only a little more Privately and Prudently for they are as great Enemies to our Design of Supplanting Christianity as any the World afford But however though we are the same we were and are not changed yet besure you do not admit that we are the first Challengers or that we begin with the Priests But to shew you in private that we were always the Beginners of all Controversies and what Cause we had for it I therefore bring in my Testimony and my Proof for the Antiquity of my Testimony shall be out of Edw. Burrough's Epistle to G. F.'s Great Mystery Printed 1658. viz. And the Word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare and caused the Deaf to hear and the Blind to see and the Dread of the Lord went before us and behind us and Terror took hold on our Enemies And first of all our Mouths were Opened * * Then the Quakers began and our Spirits Filled with Indignation against the Priests and Teachers ††True every Word and with them and against them we first began to War as being the Causers of the People to err and the Blind Leaders that carried the Blind into the Ditch and against them as the Fountain of all Wickedness abounding in the Nations and as being the Issue of Prophaneness and against them we cried shewing unto all these People that they were not Lawful Ministers of Christ but Deceivers and Antichrists and we spared not Publickly * * Then why should you be spared and at all Seasons to utter forth the Judgments of the Lord against them and their Ways and their Churches and Worships and Practices and this was our first Work ††So it was my first Work to thresh down the Quaker Deceivers we entered upon to Thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all People may see their Shame and come and turn from them neither can we pray for the Priests but for their Destruction c. And this Testimony lay upon me to bear which is in all Parts according to our Ancient Testimony Truth 's Defence c. by G. Fox and Rich. Hubberthorn p. 15. Printed 1653. For my Dear Friends and Brethren read our great Apostle G. Fox's Primer W. Smith's Primer in which there is not a Verse of Scripture quoted by which you may be sure it is agreeable to our Ancient Testimony Again read Saul's Errand to Damascus and A Three-fold Estate of Antichrist The Quakers Challenge And from all these Books you may gather that by the false Ministry we mean such as Preach out of the Scripture such as Preach a Christ without and bid People believe on him as he is in Heaven above And you 'll see first by Reprinting Edw. Burrough's Epistle 1672. and by W. Smith's Works which render the Bishops Monsters and the Clergy Witches Devils Sorcerers Jesuits Blasphemers Bloodhounds Antichrists Sodomites and an Hundred such Names This Beloved is according to our Ancient Testimony only let us word the Matter so now as to make them believe we mean not the present Clergy but those in former Days Benjamin Bealing Clerk Let us sing an Hymn of Praise and Self-Exaltation and to the Confusion of our Adversaries as you will find it written in the Epistle General of that Son of Thunder Edw. Burrough prefixed to our Apostle George Fox's Great Mystery Printed 1658. The Waters have I seen dry'd up the Seat of that great Whore Who hath made all Nations drunk with her inticing Power And caused the whole Earth She hath Her Fornication Cup to take Whereby Nations have long time err'd on whom She long hath sate But now her Miseries are seen Her Witchcrafts are discover'd And She no more shall Men deceive for Day-Light is appear'd And the Bed woful I have seen of Torments great prepar'd Whereon She must be cast and Plagues must not be spared But Woe to Her the Cup of Wrath is fill'd Her to receive And as to others she hath done the same She shall now have And Drink She must of that full Cup of God's fierce Indignation And then shall all Her Lovers mourn and make great Lamentation For Fire in Her is kindled which must Her all consume Behold Her Smoak ascendeth Day and Night up to Heaven The Antichrists who hath put on and cover'd with Sheeps cloathing And long-rul'd King on Nations Inwardly Ravening Who hath devour'd God's Heritage and had a Kingdom great I have seen Him made War against and Truth give Him Defeat Behold the Whore Her Flesh is burnt Her Beauty doth now fall She that is all Harlots great Mother whose Daughters are Whores all The Close of the Meeting by George Whitehead Friends I have still one Word of Exhortation as you will find it in the Prophecy of our deceased Brother Samuel Fisher touching Magistracy and Government which being according to our Ancient Testimony I could not well omit viz. * * * Sam. Fisher's Works p. 19 20. observ'd by Mr. Boothhouse I will hold my Peace no longer saith the Lord as concerning this Evil which they so prophanely commit and do daily against my Chosen but will utterly subvert and overturn them and bring the Kingdoms and Dominions and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven into the Hands of the Holy Ones †††Meaning the Quakers of the most High and give unto my Son and his Saints to reign over all the Earth And take ALL the RULE and AUTHORITY and POWER that shall stand up against my Son in his Saints and put it down among all the rest as one of his greatest Enemies under his Feet saith the Lord. For tho' the World take no Delight in them yet I take Pleasure in my People saith the Lord And I will beautifie my Meek Ones * * * Meek Quakers with Salvation and I will put my high Praise into their Mouths and a Two-edged Sword into their Hands †††Mark this is your Ancient Testimony as well as Prophecy writ 1656. and they shall execute Vengeance upon the Heathen and Punishments upon the People and shall bind their Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron and execute upon them
Conversation answer their Holy Profession neither do I bring these Testimonies to excuse my self from my own Infirmities I am not without Sinful Imperfections I do acknowledge Here follows the Contents of the several Certificates above-mention'd Viz. First That he Fr. Bugg neither is nor never was distracted or discomposed since any of us can remember him or that ever we heard of Secondly That in all his Time he has been moderate both in his Meat Drink and Apparel and never by any of us known to be Drunk as is reported nor yet inclined to Drinking in Excess Thirdly That he ever was a good Provider for his Family a Lover of his Wife an Indulgent Father to his Children forcing none farther than Perswasion to a Comformity to his way of Worship Fourthly That we believe he never left his Wife and Son amongst the Quakers to introduce him to them again this is a Malicious Report to render him a Hypocrite which his whole Life and Conversation has declared the contrary to his Cost Fifthly The Press being open and both Parties having equal Priviledges we look upon it utterly wrong to make use of such Indirect Methods And some of us are sorry we have no better way to confute his Arguments Sixthly That we are ready to enlarge on any of these Heads to any Man's Face that shall question the Truth hereof Subscribed by William Belsham Matthew Belsham Philip Cranniss Fran. Bugg Junior Reader As I could not pass by such Publick Mercies and Benefits as I have received without some Publick Acknowledgment without great Ingratitude both to God and Man so would I not be too particular lest thereby I do offend yet with St. Paul I can say That as Sufferings and hard Usage formy Testimony-sake abound so do not only Inward Consolation but Outward Benefits abound also 2 Cor. 1.5 and as a Proof thereof I shall add but one Instance more which is That since I came to London an Ancient Friend of mine to whom I did owe a certain Debt upon Bond who considering the hard Usages I have received from the Quakers in which he himself has had a deep share and finding me still conscientiously concern'd without my asking or once thinking of or expecting brought me the Bond and forgave me the Debt resting due to him upon it without any Covenant or Promise on my part Thus hath God opened the Hearts of his Servants and moved them to Compassion Blessed be his Holy Name for ever and Humble Thanks to all unto whom I have been oblig'd CHAP. XVI A Word of Encouragement to all who are Sincere amongst the Hearers of the People call'd Quakers who begin to be weary of the Yoke of Quakerism and are willing to embrace the Christian Faith FRIENDS HAving given you a Brief Account of my Travel in this Pilgrimage and shewed you the many Turnings and Windings which I have gone through and the many Quicksands and Quagmires that I have passed without sinking tho' oft-times in great Danger what by Enemies within and Enemies without as also in some Places pointed to Israel's Rock the Man Christ Jesus I am now come to remove one Stumbling-block which Solomon Eccles has laid in your way namely That there is as great a Gulf fixed between you and the Christians as there was between Dives and Abraham insomuch that if you would come from them i. e. Quakers you cannot his Words are these Viz. I testifie in the Spirit of Truth * Viz. By Authority greater than the Scripture Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. by G. W. that there is as great a Gulf between the Baptists and consequently other Christians that are NOT in Christ that is NOT in the Quakers Light and those Quakers that are in the Truth as there was between Abraham and Dives See his Music Lecture c. p. 23. Again as an Explanation of this Doctrine he saith Come Protestants Presbyterians Independants and Baptists the Quakers deny you all The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they c. The Quakers Challenge c. p. 2 3. And from this and the like Doctrine spring that Aversion in you that it is impossible to prevail with many of you either to hear a Sermon preach'd by the Publick Ministers or to read their Sermons So that when the Quakers once catch any in their Cobweb it is very hard and difficult to get you out unless here and there one that is resolv'd to observe the Apostle's Advice who said Prove all things holdfast that which is good 1 Thess 5.21 And I am not doubtful but that as there has been a Remnant that has taken this Advice and has forsaken the Quakers Errors so will there many more follow their Example For this Doctrine of theirs which alludes to Christ's Parable is falsly applied for that Parable relates to the Final Estate of the Blessed and the Damned after this Life as you may read at large Luke 16. And as for the Quakers denying all the Professors of Christianity affirming themselves to be in the Truth Only or the Only Church of Christ as in my former Writings viz. The Picture of Quakerism c. Part first I have made to appear from their Books this is all Pride yea Spiritual Pride and Self-Conceit and ought not to be any Hindrance to you in your Examination and Tryal of your selves but rather as a Spur to your Zeal lest you should be in the Wrong And if you come once sincerely so to do I no way doubt but you will soon forsake Quakerism I well remember that when I first heard it Rumour'd that G. Fox was looked upon as a second Moses to give forth Laws and Orders for us to walk by and Methods and Forms of Church-Government I presently wrote Six Queries touching Church-Government in the Year 1678 * 22 Years since which went in Manuscript far and near as Printed in my Book intituled De Chris Lib. Part 2. Page 72 80. the Tenor of which was Query 1. Whether Jesus Christ be Head of the Church or George Fox Query 2. If you say Christ then whether he be not Lawgiver to his Church Query 3. If you say that Christ is both Head and Lawgiver to his Church then whether we ought not to Follow and Obey the Commands and Precepts of Christ which are laid down in the Scripture by the four Evangelists and his Apostles rather than the Commands and Precepts of G. Fox Query 4. If you say that the Commands and Precepts of Christ ought rather to be obey'd than those of Geo. Fox then I further Query whether Christ or any of his Apostles ever commanded the Observation of Womens Meetings apart and distinct from the Men Query 5. If you say that neither Christ nor his Apostles commanded nor left any Example or President for Womens Distinct Meetings to be set up Monthly any way to intermeddle with the Government of the Church then I further Query where have George Fox or you your
2.36 Heb. 5.9 cap. 12.2 Rom. 8.34 1 Cor. 15.15 Acts 7.35,36 cap. 10.38 to 44. cap. 17.3,31 cap. 18.5 John 20.31 which I have taken Pains to collect and he will then certainly find that I have on my Side the Testimony of the Glorious Angels Holy Apostles Blessed Martyrs yea the whole Tenor of the Scriptures and beside all this a Cloud of Witnesses viz. the Concurrent Testimony of the Ancient Fathers and all the present Christian Churches to this Day and that G. Whitehead will have none of his Side but W. Penn and a few of his Brethren and the Writings of Isaac Pennington W. Bayly W. Smith Edw. Burrough Geo. Fox Ja. Nayler Christ Atkinson c. But I knowing that so soon as your Teachers once espy your looking towards Christianity they will not only hinder you from reading such Books that are or shall be wrote against Quakerism but refuse you the Sight of such Books of theirs as we quote for so long as they can keep you in Ignorance so long they may keep you Quakers I shall therefore give you the same Quotations out of some of their Books which I shall in this Book let you know where to have the most of them viz. William Penn's Serious Apology c. p. 146. W. Smith's Catechism c. p. 57. W. Smith's Primer c. p. 8. W. Shewen's Treatise of Thoughts c. p. 35. Jos Coale's Works c. p. 93. News coming up c. p. 33. The Teachers of the World Unvail'd c. p. 35. The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. Edw. Burrough's Works p. 149 273. Geo. Fox's Great Mystery p. 206 207 210 211 250 254. The Quakers Challenge p. 6. Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 7 8. Some Principles of the Elect People of God call'd Quakers p. 126. A Question to Professors c. by Isaac Pennington p. 25 27 33. The Capital Principles of the People call'd Quakers Sol. Eccles's Testimony p. 24 25 41. Will. Penn's Part in The Christian Quaker c. p. 97 98 W. Penn's Sandy Foundation c. p. 10 to 30. I shall now add something out of a Book intituled News of a Trumpet sounding in the Wilderness c. Wrote by Dan. Leeds who has been a Quaker about 22 Years which is come lately out of Pensilvania Printed 1697. and for the Usefulness of it I could be glad that it was reprinted with this Title A Trumpet sounding from Pensilvania giving an Alarum to the Magistrates and People of England to beware of Quakerism That so not only the Justices of the Peace but even our Honourable Patriots might have one put into their Hands But all things in their Season Quakerism had a time to advance and it must have a time to fall But as no Heresie since the Days of Christ ever rose so fast prevailed so much nor carried on with so much Craft and curious Paint so none ever fell so fast as I am perswaded this of Quakerism will do insomuch as that in a few Years it will be a Shame for any Man of Sense to appear in the Streets who owns the Principles and Practice of the Quakers according to their Ancient Testimony And now a Hint out of the Pensilvanian Book aforesaid intituled News of a Trumpet sounding c. p. 21. viz. Tho' they i. e. Quakers clash between their Old and New Testimonies yet we see says D. Leeds that they have in their late Books dropt here and there some Christian Expressions more than formerly And what may we think they intend thereby Why Geo. Whitehead in his Counterfeit Convert p. 72. says I may see Cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet our Intentions be the same Now is it not admirable that a Man of Geo. Whitehead 's Pretences * To Seriousness to Sincerity to Reality to Fidelity to Constancy to Infallibility to Perfection to Plainness c. Ib. 42. should be grown so bold in Crafty and Deceivable Glosses to deceive his Readers Is this like the Ancient Simplicity of the Quakers to say I may see Cause otherwise to word the Matter and yet intend the same Pray who knows then when such a Man is sincere or bow to believe him in what he says that thus hides his Meanings says one thing and means another c. And now I cannot but expect says Daniel p. 42. that there will be great Devising Pulling and Drawing Painting and Glossing rather than make Confession of their Errors Confusion and Contradictions herein Manifested and Charged as also in other Books by Geo. Keith Tho. Crisp Fr. Bugg and others because they have so much accused their Opponents for the same things themselves are now justly charged with surely some curious Wire-drawing Mincing Mangling otherwise Wording and Equivocating †G. W. You must now call your Brother Ellwood and your whole Society of Jesuitical Scribes for the Alarum is sounded in your Pope's Borders we must expect but they having caught themselves in this Net the more they flutter the more they 'll fetter insnare and entangle themselves for they cannot thus dance in a Net but some Body will see them For they are now as easily seen thorough God be thanked as they pretend to see through others yea this will certainly be the Consequence till they use the only Christian Means to get out of this Net which is by Humbly Confessing and Condemning their Errors in their Books as Geo. Keith has done c. To all which I cannot but joyn and wish for their own sakes it may be so adding that if ever it so come to pass then I shall see a great Truth in what Tho. Ellwood wrote in his Epistle to Friends p. 72. viz. The way to recover the Deceived is to discover and lay open the Deceivers In the mean time taking it to be a sound Truth I have adventured to put his Doctrine in Practice and so I conclude this Passage out of that Useful and Compendious Book from Pensilvania which had that People receiv'd my Advice in my Postscript to my Book intituled De Christianae Libertate c. Printed 1682. p. 214. viz. To frequent the Holy Scriptures and read them diligently c. this might have been prevented And now to conclude my Advice lest any should prevent you taking the Advice I gave the Pensilvanians 18 Years ago as above I shall according to my further Experience in this Pilgrimage tell you that it was the Practice both of the Church of the Jews and the Christians which for Substance are one to read and expound the Scriptures in their Assemblies which the Quakers call Conjuration from Morning to Mid-day and to give the Meaning thereof to the People out of the Law of God given forth by Moses 1 Chron. 34.18,19,35 Nehem. 8.1,2 Ezra 1.10,11 and Christ himself went into their Synagogue as his Custom was where he stood up for to read And when the Book of Isaiah the Prophet was given to him he found which argues he
in the Power of the Highest in which thou Rules and Governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is Established in Peace and the Increase thereof is without end Judas and the Jews p. 44. Secondly Dear and Precious one in whom my Life is bound up and my Strength in thee stand by thy Breathings I am nourished by thee my Strength is renewed I cannot Reign but in thy Presence and Power Glory unto thee Holy One (p) Holy George for ever John Audland's Letter to George Fox Thirdly George Fox said John Blaikling is blessed with Honour above many Brethren and Thousands will stand by him in a Heavenly Record that his Life Reigns and is Spotless whose Eternal Honour and Blessed Renown shall remain yea his Presence and the Dropping of his tender Words in the Lord's Love was my Soul's Nourishment The Christian disting Part 5. p. 77. Fourthly George Fox a Prophet indeed it was said of Christ that he was in the World and the VVorld was made by him and the VVorld knew him not SO it may be said of this Prophet G. Fox The Quak. Challenge p. 6. Fifthly To confirm all this William Mead now living when he gave William Harris one of George Fox's Journals he said to him Here W. Harris I will give thee one of Geo. Fox's Journals it is a very good Book yea better than the Bible Object 1. But some may say this is only W. Mead's Judgment surely the Quakers do not hold that either their Books or Fox's Journal is better or of greater Authority than the Bible for the Fathers and Councils all submitted to the Test of Holy Scripture as the VVord of God Answ To this I answer That W. Mead is a knowing Man I will not say a wise Man unless in that one Action of his whereby he vigorously opposed W. Penn and endeavoured to exclude him out of their Ministry when he was proclaimed a Traytor to his Country for being charged to be in the Plot with the Lord Preston and others and was therefore forced to hide many Years and for which his Preface to Fox's Journal was not admitted to be bound up with the Journal but waited upon it like a poor Lacquey with its Blue Livery I say this Action of his excepted I will not say he was a wise Man yet as I said he is a knowing Man and spake the Heart of Quakerism in saving George Fox's Journal is better than the Bible First As you have heard 't is question'd by the Quakers VVhether Moses or Hermes was the first Pen-man of the Scripture indeed VVhether either or neither of them The Quakers Refuge fixed c. p. 17. But as for what G. Fox and Friends write it is from and by the Motion of God's Eternal Spirit and avouched so to be by a General Council of the Yearly Meeting (q) Held at London May 1695. And what any of our Friends speak from the Spirit of Truth is of greater Authority than the Bible and Chapters are Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. Now who can blame W. Mead on the Quakers Principles Is not a Certainty better than an Uncertainty Secondly The Scriptures lay many Obligations upon us it teacheth us the Observation of the Ten Commandments the Lord's Prayer the Apostles Creed Baptism and the Lord's Supper which the Journal does not at all teach nor inforce the Belief of only to listen adhere and hearken to the Light within and to obey its Dictates Therefore as the Journal is most certain so it is most easie and therefore the best Book and of most Authority and on the Quakers Hypothesis confirm all those Particulars above quoted Thirdly The Scripture teacheth to obey Magistrates as the higher Power and that we should submit our selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Matth. 22.21 Titus 3.1 Rom. 13.1,2,3 1 Pet. 2.13,14,17 See also Tindal's VVorks Obedience to a Christian Man c. p. 111. But the Journal p. 40 to 400. and our Friends Books teach both by Precept and Example That the Light in every Man is the higher Power to whom all must submit and obey for to it all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed Jos Coale's VVork p. 93. and that this Light is one in the Male and in the Female but to a proud heady high-minded Man there is no Honour due tho' he be in a place to Rule Smith's Primer p. 43. And if so who can say that W. Mead spake unadvisedly in saying The Journal of Fox is better than the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles I think him a right Quaker a knowing Man and one that loves a Certainty better than an Uncertainty Fourthly The Scriptures teach That VVomen should obey their Husbands yea that they Reverence them and live in Subjection to them as their Head Gen. 3.16 Numb 30 to the end 1 Cor. 11.8 1 Pet. 3.1 Tit. 2.5 Colos 3.18 Ephes 5.22 quoting Sarah as an Example But the Journal teaches That the Light is the higher Power that it is one in the Male and in the Female and 't is the Light in each that is to be obeyed for to that all Power in Heaven and Earth is committed Smith's Primer p. 13. The Journal p. 50 to 450. and that there is to be no respect of Persons and if the VVife conceive her Husband to be gone from the Light and the Guidance of it and she be moved to rebel against her Husband betray his Secrets to his Adversaries yea to give publick Testimony against him she does well and shall have Praise of the same The Content Apostate c. p. 5. And for this Reason the Quakers do not put in or make the VVoman promise by their Marriage Certificate to obey their Husbands which as it is contrary to the Tenure of the whole Book of God both the Old and New Testament so 't is agreeable to G. Fox's Journal and their Antient Testimony See their Marriage Certificate Fifthly In a word the Scriptures teach That Children should obey their Parents and honour their Father and Mother that Servants should obey their Masters that Subjects should submit to their Governours and obey Magistrates that Christians should obey their Pastors who are over them in the Lord who watch for their Souls as those that must give an Account But the Journal p. 20 to 320. teaches the contrary both by Precept upon Precept as also by the Practice of their great Apostle G. Fox who not only broke the Laws in disturbing the Ministers in their Churches but taught so to do not only refused to pay Tythes but taught so to do not only slighted the Magistrates Command who oftentimes commanded a strict Fast to be kept but taught his Followers so to do Nay lately one Thomas Mash an Antient Quaker living at Newberry in Berkshire was moved by his Light within to open his Shop-VVindows on the Lord's-Day as on Market Days and set out his Goods to Sale this the Journal justifies p. 200 to the
end this Whitehead justifies Truth defending the Quakers p. 18. Fox's Great Mystery c. p. 77. Nay Theft by Fox is likewise justified who said And as for any being moved of the Lord meaning their Light within to take away your Hour-Glass from you BY THE ETERNAL POWER IT IS OWNED c. Nay their idolized Apostle not only disregarded the Magistrates and their Laws but declared in plain and significant VVords That he neither heeded nor valued a Cart-load of their VVarrants c. Journal p. 278. Object 2. But some Men will say How then shall we reconcile the Doctrine of W. Mead and G. Whitehead Mr. Mead saith That G. Fox's Journal is a better Book than the Bible and G. Whitehead saith VVe prefer the Holy Scriptures above all other Books extant in the VVorld The Country Convert c. p. 26. To which I answer Very well for p. 72. G. Whitehead thus saith viz. I MAY SEE CAUSE OTHERWISE TO WORD THE MATTER AND YET OUR INTENTIONS BE THE SAME c. p. 72. ibid. Very well now to make it appear that G. Whitehead means one and the same thing that William Mead meaned read his little Book i. e. That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in ANY is of as great AUTHORITY as the SCRIPTURES and CHAPTERS are and GREATER Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. And on the Title Page thus viz. WRITTEN FROM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH in G. Whitehead and G. Fox the Younger Now if this little Pamphlet in Octavo of 70 Pages be of greater Authority than the Scriptures and Chapters are how much more G. Fox's Journal in Folio of near 700 Pages For that which is best is of most Authority generally-speaking and that which is of most Authority is the best Thus then is the Journal of Fox's better in the Quakers Esteem than the Bible and thus does Whitehead mean even as Mr. Mead spoke Object 3. But some will say How then shall we know a Quaker if not by the Import of his VVords I Answer 't is impossible to know them rightly as it ever was for the Protestants to know the Jesuits and therefore you ought to do as the Protestants did TO DISTRUST EVERY THING THEY SAY See the Book Entituled The Missionary's Arts p. 32. printed 1688. For as the Quakers stand on the same Bottom and are found in the same Steps with the same Equivocations Reserves and Double-meanings and the same Pretences to Miracles Visions Revelations Perfection and Infallibility they ought to have the same Answer viz. To distrust them in all they say until they Retract Sentence and Condemn one sort of their Books and this is highly reasonable on their part if they would be taken to be at all serious sincere and honest For many of their Hearers of the honest sort begin to think G. Whitehead little better than a Jesuit already he hath been so false in Fact such a Glosser and Defender of every Error the Quakers hold (r) Anne Docwra of Cambridge her Letter dated 26th 12th Mon. 1682. I have a Letter by me which my Cousin Anne Docwra Widow of Cambridge sent me dated 26th of 12th Month 1682. viz. G. Whitehead have sent one of his Books for me to read and there is the old Money Story in it with I know not what besides I was asked by an honest Friend if he was not a Jesuit I answered nay it is not solid enough for them to own especially when they write to a solid People there is pretty much airy conceited Stuff in it ANNE DOCWRA Thus it appears how long the honest sort of Quakers have take G. W. to be little better than a Jesuit and my Cousin Docwra was of the same Mind too else she would not have given me her honest Friend's Judgment only indeed she is thus far of my Mind That Book was not solid enough the Jesuits are more cunning than G. Whitehead then was but he is come on finely fince for of late he is grown so expert as he can Vindicate or Excuse any Blasphemy Idolatry Contempt of the Scriptures Contempt of the Magistrates Contempt of the Ministry Contempt on the Person and Sufferings of Christ yea and Undervalue his Precious Blood too And how contrary soever their Sayings are to each other yet they mean all one thing referring to their Beginning I have in my former Books shewed how their Books are of two sorts their Meetings of two sorts their Doctrine of two sorts carrying two Faces in all they do or say and yet Whitehead can tell you they mean all one thing One Example more I may give and so shall conclude this Chapter I find a Recital of a Letter writ by Solomon Eccles to Robert Porter in a Book of William Burnet's entituled The Capital Principles of the Quakers p. 41. printed 1668. viz. Robert Porter take heed of Belying the Innocent for I hear thou hast reported to a Friend of mine that I should say That the Blood of Christ is no more than the Blood of another Man I never spoke it but do very highly esteem of the Blood of Christ to be more Excellent Living Holy and Precious than is able to be uttered by the Tongues of Men and Angels I MEAN the Blood which was offered up in (Å¿) Perversion it s offered up thro' the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9.41 But the Blood that was forced out of him by the Soldiers after he was dead who before that bowed his Head to the Father and gave up the Ghost but thou say'st that was the Blood of the New Covenant which was shed after he was dead which I DO DENY Yet I did say That was NO more THAN the BLOOD of another SAINT These are my Words which thou art wresting to thy own Destruction I did also say That the Baptists Independants Presbyterians and Pope are all of one Ground and none of you understand the Blood of Jesus Christ no more than a brute Beast Therefore repent for God will soon overthrow your Faith and your Imputative Righteousness too for the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness which he did at Jerusalem and without the Gates the Pope the Episcopal the Presbyterian Independants and Baptists shall fare all alike and shall sit down in Sorrow short of the Eternal Rest But the true Imputative Righteousness of Christ we own but it is hid from you all till the Lord open an Eye WITHIN YOU c. Now comes G. Whitehead with his usual Paint to cover palliate and excuse his Brother Eccles saying Now whereas Sol. Eccles in p. 41. is accused of little less than Blasphemy about a Letter chiefly of a Passage concerning the Blood in these Words viz. The Blood that was forced out of him by the Soldiers after he was dead who before that bowed his Head to the Father and gave up the Ghost I did say THAT WAS NO MORE THAN THE BLOOD OF ANOTHER SAINT Now to these Words NO MORE THAN THE