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
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
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
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
so is TREASON c. Thus then is it apparent that what is in others Treason they themselves practice in the Face of the Government For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest neither any thing hid that shall not be made known and come abroad Luke 8.17 CHAP. VIII Shews the Executive Part of the Quakers Laws and Government in their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings I Join the Use and Service of their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings together for Brevity-sake as also because they are much the same in all Respects only the Monthly is inferior to the Quarterly because in one County there may be three or four Monthly Meetings much like Justices Monthly Meetings where the Party offending need not be Concluded but entering his Recognizance to appear at the Quarter-Sessions he may have a more full Hearing so it is with the Quakers he may Appeal from the Monthly to the Quarterly Meeting This I know very well not barely because I was Clerk in these Meetings many Years but also during my Controversie with Sam. Cater I Summon'd him first to the Monthly Meeting and when I found no Justice I Appeal'd from that to the Quarterly and indeed from the Quarterly to the Yearly and so twice or thrice round as I remember For it was the greatest Tryal that ever was amongst them in regard it struck at the Ministry viz. WHETHER THEY OUGHT NOT TO TELL THEIR NAMES AND HABITATIONS AND THEREBY SET THE MSELVES IN A LIKE SUFFERING CAPACITY WITH THE HEARERS †At large in my Book The Painted Harlot both Stript and Whipt c. And the Postscript stiled Reason against Railing c. c. since they advised us to be valiant and give up all c. But to the Matter When we came together which is commonly 9 or 10 a Clock then we sat awhile together Silent unless we have a Teacher with us and then it may be we may have a short Exhortation to keep to our Antient Testimony * i. e. George Fox's Commandments and some other things which in the next Chapter you 'll hear of so then the Doors being secured they proceed after this manner The Clerk calling over the Meeting I mean the particular Meetings of every Town which possibly may be Forty Towns more or less viz. Clerk Come Friends How is it as to your Town of Littleport A. and B. For there is to be two appear from every Town Things are pretty well with us only D. E. is married with a Priest Meeting Aye How came that to pass Did you not perceive his Relapse from the Truth and the Order of it till he made such a Revolt as to become an Apostate A. B. Truly we found he declin'd and some Friends in our Town spoke to him and warn'd him of the Danger of it but all would not do Meeting Well let some Body be ordered to go to him and admonish him if he Repent and acknowledge his Fault and confess to Truth †i. e. To them for if he confess his Fault to them they Absolve him and all 's well again Clerk How is it at your Town of Milden-Hall A. B. Things are pretty well with us but Francis Bugg still continues his Writing against Friends And he being examined by Samuel Fulbig whether he owns W. Rogers's wicked Book Which admits of Liberty of Conscience to pay Tythes or not to marry with a Publick Minister or not and he owns it And therefore we must take Care about him for he does much hurt to Truth and lays Stumbling-Blocks in the way of others Meeting Course we know not well what Course to take with him he will neither lead * Into blind Conformity nor drive †Into an Implicite Faith Indeed we have suffered him too long Clerk in this Meeting but he may thank R. S. J. A. E. L. and some of you his Friends or else he had been excluded long since for his very owning W. Roger's Book which admits of a voluntary Payment of Tythes which as our dear Brother Ellwood saith is a Mark of Antichrist a Denial of Christ come in the Flesh yea downright Ranterism Antidote p. 78. 139. But notwithstanding thro' such Arguments as W. Rogers use we have by woful Experience seen that some have been convinced Ten some Twenty Years and yet can pay Tythes without any Acknowledgment of Evil therein Christ Quaker disting Part 2. p. 42. And altho' we grant saith our Brother Ellwood in his Antidote p. 109. That our great Apostle G. Fox did say in his Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth Friends to you all this is the Word of the Lord †See Fox's Papers are the Word of the Lord whilst they say 't is Blasphemy to call the Letter i. e. Scripture the Word Take heed of judging one another judge not one another I command you in the Presence of the Lord See his Book entituled The Way to the Kingdom of God pag. 4. and judge not one another behind one another's Backs * Yet they passed Sentence on me behind my Back I not being there that Day i. e. 4th of June 1682. I command you in the Presence of the Lord this is the Word of the Lord unto you Neither lay open one another's Nakedness and Weakness behind one anothers Backs for thou that dost art one of Ham 's Family which is under the Curse c. This indeed continues our Beloved rother is a Warning to Friends not to judge one another †No let their Immoralities be gross do but keep in the Unity of the Corrupt Body But it is not a Warning to Friends not to judge those that oppose Friends being gone out of the Unity of Friends themselves and endeavouring to draw others out also and to divide and rend the Church so that you have mist your Aim and lost your Blow c. Thus Friends you have the Judgment of the Church and Francis Bugg has not only owned that Pernicious Book but has written two Books against Friends as Pernicious as that of W. Rogers Intituled De Christiana Libertate c. and The Painted Harlot both Stript and Whipt c. Nay not only so but hath wrote divers Letters Remonstrances and Queries to particular Friends to the Second-day Meetings And therefore 't is time to take some Course with him c. Meeting Content therefore let us draw up a Paper against him and when we have view'd it let us Record it c. This was done a Copy whereof is as followeth viz. At a Quarterly Meeting in Hadenham 7th Day of the 4th Month 1682. Whereas this Day there was inferred ††Notable Scholars INFERRED into our Meeting several Papers subscribed by Francis Bugg wherein he hath Unrighteously and Ungodlily reflected upon Antient Friends and greatly abused Faithful Ministers of the Gospel * * They can call other Ministers Witches Devils Thieves Robbers Antichrists Jesuits Bloodhounds Sodomites and what not But
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
c. p. 14. That to say Christ is God and Man in one Person is a Lie The Sword of the Lord drawn c. p. 5. But as I said We may sometimes see cause yea and great cause too otherwise to word the Matter yea contrary to our Ancient Testimony and yet mean the same thing c. The Counterfeit Convert c. p. 72. that is to say mean not a word we say And now to the Consequence and for which we prefer the Bible For Friends we no sooner Signed this Confession but we had our Liberty and we no sooner had our Liberty but all our London Preachers spread themselves like Locusts all over England and Wales * * Like Mice uncall'd for and like Flies unsent for and fall upon their Provision some went East some West yea North and South and being generally Tradesmen We not only got our Quarters free our Horses free and well maintain'd in our Travels a Silver Watch here a Beaver there a piece of Hair-Camblet and sometimes other Gifts Moreover by our Liberty obtained by the recited Confession we got into great Trades and by spreading our selves in the Country into great Acquaintance and thereby received Orders of the best of the Country Tradesmen for Parcels whilst the Protestant Tradesmen in London ††Londoners look about you for none like the Quakers but Jews and Jesuites as time will farther shew who had not this Advantage stood still and in their Shops had little to do whilst we fill'd our Coffers Witness Tho. Greene for one Instance whose Wife would scarce suffer him at home she being willing according to the Proverb to make Hay whilst the Sun shines insomuch that in a little time he raised his small Beginning to many Thousands Since I printed this Tho. Greene is dead and died worth as is said Six or Eight Thousand Pounds who was a poor Mason when he set up for a Preaching Quaker All which shew that the Scriptures are accidentally good c. And this leads me to the second Proposition namely The Authority of our Friends Books and Sayings c. First I shall shew you that as 't is Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God To all that would know the Way to the Kingdom c. p. 4. Mene Tekel c. p. 22. so I shall shew you that our Scriptures for as I told you in my Serious Apol. p. 48. Writings signifie Scripture are the Word of God and this you will find written in the Epistle of our Second Moses in these Words Friends to you all this is the Word of the Lord take heed of judging one another this is the Word of the Lord unto you I charge you in the Presence of the Lord God to send this Epistle among all Friends and Brethren every where to be read in all Meetings to you all This is the Word of God Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 60 61 62. Again that I may corroborate and strengthen your Faith in the Exercise of our Ancient Testimony * * G. W. keeps to his Text. Read in the Gospel of our Great Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Geo. Fox where you 'll find these Words viz. You may said G. F. to the Priests as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Writings for our giving forth Papers and Printed Books it is from the IMMEDIATE ETERNAL SPIRIT of God Truths Defence c. p. 2 102. upon which our Dear Brother Thomas Ellwood saith That none can squirt any Filth on the Epistles of Friends but it will tend to be spatter the Apostles An Antidote against c. p. 1 44 57 125. And in Confidence thereof our Brother Robert Barclay hath these Words That as the true Principles of the Gospel by their i. e. Quakers Testimony are restored so is also the ANCIENT Apostolick Order of the Church of Christ re-established amongst them i. e. Quakers and settled upon its right Basis and Foundation that as thro' our Faithful Testimony in the Hand of the Lord that Antichristian and Apostatized Generation the National Ministry hath received a deadly Blow by our discovering and witnessing against their Forced Maintainance and Tythes so that their Kingdom in the Hearts of Thousands begin to Totter and lose its Strength and shall assuredly Fall to the Ground So on the other Hand we do weaken the Strength of their Kingdom who judge for Reward The Nation shall come to be disburdened of that deceitful Tribe of Lawyers as well as Priests * * Let all Lawyers Tradesmen Clergy and Magistrates guard against the Prevalency of Quakerism for they are all highly concerned I never knew any that left us prove steady to those to whom they go I find other Professors make but small Boasts of any Proselytes they get out from us I hear little of their proving Champions for the Principles of others against us The Anarchy c. p. 1 16 42. Thus Friends you see that upon Confidence of the Truth of our elder Brother Geo. Fox's Ancient Testimony viz. That it was Blasphemy to call the Scriptures the Word of God and yet laudable to call his Papers sent up and down to be read in Meetings The Word of God the Word of the Lord God I say you see how stoutly our Brother Ellwood avouched that none could squirt any Filth on the Epistles of Friends but it must inevitably fall upon the Epistles of St. Paul and he was in the right on 't ††G. W. is no Changling he keeps to his Text. and likewise R. Barclay in confidence of the Truth of G Fox's Testimony viz. That to call the Scriptures The Word of God was no less than Blasphemy whilst his own Writings sent up and down to spread Truth and in order to it to be read in Meetings was The Word of the Lord and as such to be read and as such to be receiv'd You may see I say how he built his Hopes of our Restoration and the Downfal both of the Clergy and Lawyers insomuch that he did not once think any should ever go from us to prove Champions for the Principles of others against us And therefore I exhort you this Day to stand Faithful to your Ancient Testimony which is to throw down the Scriptures and exalt our own Books and so will the Work of your Light prosper in your Hands Besides for your Encouragement and that you may see my Sincerity and Seriousness which is the sign of my writing in every of my Epistles look into one of my Gospels and you shall find these VVords That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Truth defending the Quakers c. p. 7. VVherefore ye dear Lambs be ye encouraged and go on boldly and if any Apostate write against us besure you warn all our Friends in the Country not to
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
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