corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit O generation of Vipers how can ye being evill speake good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evill man out of the evill treasure bring forth evill things But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speake they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement so shall Iohn Audland for his cursed speakings in his Pamphlet Therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I beseech all you that shall read or heare this little book in the bowels of Jesus Christ upon consideration of the premises to avoid and abandon with might and maine the private meetings and conventicles especially the books and erroneous doctrines and hellish Blasphemies of this new upstart impious generation commonly called and known by the name and title of Quakers and Shakers whose manner and custome is to fall a quaking and trembling with their whole bodies just after the manner of damned wretches at the last day to whom Christ shall say go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devill and his Angels Beware saith our blessed Saviour of false Prophets which come to you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening wolves ye shall know them by their fruits do men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt tree bringeth evill fruit A good tree cannot bring forth evill fruit neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit * Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them Mat. 7.15 16 17 18 19 20. Then if any man shall say unto you loe here is Christ or there beleeve it not For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you he is in the desart go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers * beleeve it not Mat. 24.23 24 25 26. Remember what the Holy Ghost saith Acts 8.9 There was a certain man in Samaria called Simon who before time in the same City used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria giving out that himselfe was some great one as these Quakers now do yet he was in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity ver 22 23. What Saint Paul said to the Galathians who were turned aside to new Lights to new Teachers such as the Quakers are the same do I say to the giddy headed people of the Church of England O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you This only would I learne of you received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh Have ye suffered so many things in vaine if it be yet in vaine Gal. 3 1 2 3 4. I marvell that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospell Which is not another but there be some that do trouble you and would pervert the Gospell of Christ But though we or an Angell from heaven preach any other Gospell unto you than that which hath been preached let him be accursed As I said before so say I now againe if any man preach another Gospell unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. The mystery of iniquity doth already worke only he who now letteth will let untill he be taken out of the way And then shall the wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his comming Even him whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye That they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 27 8 9 10 11 12. Saint Paul taught the primitive Romans and in them us First That it is the imputed righteousnesse of Christ only that makes us just in the sight of God Rom. 4.9 17 23. Chap. 3. from v. 19 to the end Chap. 5. totum 2. That our Election is of Gods free grace Rom. 9.12 Chap. 11.5 6. 3. That we are justified only by faith in the sight of God without good works Rom. 1.17 Chap. 3.20 28. Chap. 4. most part Chap. 5. totum 4. That the holy Scriptures are of divine authority Rom. 3.2 4. Rom. 9.17 Rom. 11.32 compared with Gal. 3.21 5. That no man since the fall of Adam can perfectly fulfill the Law of God in this life and therefore can by no means merit except it be wrath and damnation Rom. 3.19 c. Rom. 7.10 and so on to the end Rom. 11.32 Rom. 8.18 Rom. 6.23 Rom. 11.6 There is no salvation in any other but Jesus Christ for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Act. 4.12 No marvell then that the blessed Apostle and servant of God Saint Paul useth the sweet and comfortable name Jesus five hundred times if I am not mistaken in his Epistles to the Churches for it is that saveth his people from their sins Mat. 1.21 6. That he that hath received a Ministry should waite on his Ministry and take heed to fulfill it Rom. 12.7 See Col. 4.17 7. That every soule must be subject to the higher powers and yeeld obedience to every one of their Ordinances though humane if not contrary to Gods word for there we are to obey God rather than man and be at his commands in point of Gods worship so far as belongs to the circumstances how and when being in things indifferent in their own nature and that he also professe to disclaime all opinion of holinesse worship merit and necessity there must we be subject and all this for conscience sake knowing that God is the Author of Magistracy and Magistracy is also good even when the Magistrate is evill Rom. 13. v. 1. to 8. Then he adds Chap. 16.17 18. Now I beseech you brethren * marke them which cause
are absolutely necessary to salvation This Creed is the badge or cognizance by which the faithfull are discerned from unbeleevers This is the Catholick faith which except a man beleeve faithfully he cannot be saved This short and perfect confession of this Catholike Creed which was assigned by the sentences of twelve Apostles is so perfect a celestiall Armour that all opinions of Hereticks may by this alone as with a sword be cut in peeces As Tertullian learnedly saith Regula quidem fidei un a omnino est sola immobilis irreformabilis credendi scilicet in unicum Deum omnipotentem c. Haec Lege fidei monente caeterajam disciplinae conversationis admittunt novitatem correctionis operante scilicet proficiente usque in finem gratia dei The rule of faith is wholy one unalterable never to be mended never to be changed to wit I beleeve in God the Father Almighty c. This Law of Faith remaining in other things you may encrease and grow The knowledge of these Articles is required of all in the defence whereof we should be ready to suffer the extreamest things even death it selfe if God be pleased to call us thereunto and which we should count the very Characters of true Religion the distinct knowledge whereof we should lay up as great riches Let us therefore be alwaies ready after the example of Christ to witnesse a good confession albeit it be even before Pontius Pilate 1 Tim. 6.13 Do any perswade you to forsake your Ministers and to follow new lights This perswasion commeth not of him that calleth you but of those who trouble you and would pervert the Gospell of Christ Gal. 5 8. Chap. 1.7 Whilest some men yea the most do sell the truth O do you buy it at any rate and sell it at no rate according to the counsell of the wise man Pro. 23.23 For I am perswaded the devill had never such a harvest of soules since the Reformation as he hath now by our innovators they are the devils brokers the Popes Agents sent abroad throughout the whole Land to seduce and to disturbe the Nation be you for Gods sake not seduced by them for errours in the judgement are far more dangerous than errours in life for sound doctrine may reforme a bad life but a scandalous life cannot establish sound doctrine Continue you therefore in the faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospell Col. 1.23 Would any perswade you to forsake the publike Assembly of Gods Saints Let your answer be and your resolution too we will not forsake the house of our God Neh. 10.39 Oh do you not as you tender the salvation of your soules forsake the Temple and truth of God to follow the bleating of Ieroboams calfe in Dan or in Bethel 1 Kin. 12. v. 25. to 31. As for these Quakers they are at this day miserably misled God of his infinite mercy open their eyes for now the blind do lead the blind and if they go on both will certainly fall into the ditch Oh therefore I do humbly and earnestly beseech you to have nothing to do with this gadding Tribe with this intoxicated giddy headed and brain-sick generation For your incouragement hereunto I beseech you seriously to consider what our blessed Saviour saith by way of commendation to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.2 I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not beare such as are evill and hast tried them which say they are Apostles men sent from God and are not and hast found them lyars Marke and canst not beare them O that the same mind were in us of the Church of England Consider also what a discommendation and reproofe our blessed Saviour gives the Church of Pergamos Rev. 2.14 I have a few things against thee because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balaac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto Idols and to commit fornication So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate So to the Church of Thyatira he gives a sharp reproofe for suffering false teachers to roost among them such as the Quakers are Rev. 2.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest * that woman Iezabel which calleth her selfe a prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants c. And I am afraid that the Lord hath a controversie with the Church of England for * suffering these Quakers and decivers under the species of Religion to teach and to seduce the people not only in their private meetings and conventicles but also in the Presse by scandalous and lying Pamphlets which is the way to make our Magistrates and Ministers to be in contempt of the people and our adversaries the Papists do rejoyce at it for the Pope had never such a hopefull successe of reducing Popery into this Land as he hath now God of his infinite mercy prevent it And Oh! that our faithful Magistrates into whose hands God hath intrusted power would be valiant for the truth upon the earth as hitherto they have been to cut off false Prophets Hereticks and perverse and incorrigible seducers and blasphemers for these are the pest of Church and State Lev. 24.16 2 Kings 23.20 Chap. 10.4 5. 2 Chron. 15.8 12 13 14 15 16. That judgement may flow down as the rivers Psal 99.4 And I am perswaded the worke would be so acceptable to God that he would multiply his blessing not only on the persons of our Magistrates but on their seed also Pro. 29.4 14. This note was the swan-song of the sweet Psalmist of Israel which the God of Israel the rock of Israel spake to him he that ruleth men must be just ruling in the feare of God and he shall be as the light of the morning * when the sun riseth even a morning * without clouds as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine 2 Sam. 23.1 3 4. Deale couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good 2 Chron. 19.11 So shall the wicked feare the godly love and all reverence you but if not you and your authority will be contemned and kicked against by every worme And O ye inhabitants especially of the City of London and Bristoll and all other the Sons of the Church of England both high and low old and young rich and poore male and female O that my counsell might be acceptable unto you have not itching eares forsake not your old teachers to follow new lights for the good way is an old way Ier. 6.16 Use much prayer especially morning and evening in your Family and in your Closets and beg earnestly of God from a faithfull and penitent heart to shew you the right way Ezra 8.21 Psal 119.36 Esa 48.17 Psal 27.11 Gad not about to change your way Ier. 2.36 Rather consider that undeniable truth
devisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them Then he adds the reason For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple O that we would all imbrace this wholsome counsell of the blessed Apostle even to marke and so to marke as to avoid all Papists Arminians Antitrinitarians Anti-scripturists Anabaptists Quakers and all other Sects and Sectaries whatsoever that cause divisions and offences contrary to this or any other doctrine which the blessed Apostle taught the ancient Romans and that upon the reason of the counsell ver 18. Make not the light within your rule to walke by further than it agrees with the light without shining forth in the holy Scriptures Follow your light within and your teacher within what else But so as not to neglect the light without shining forth in the holy Scriptures For as the Scriptures are the word of God 2 Tim. 3.16 So it is a perfect rule of righteousnesse containing all our duty to God to man to our selves all those things which are to be done or left undon or to beleeved to salvation Psal 19.7 The holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproose for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Whilest the upstart Sect the Quakers do look principally after the light within we saith Saint Peter have a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well * that ye take heed even as unto a light which shineth in a darke place untill the dawn and the day star arise in your hearts Knowing this first that no Scripture is of any private interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. Wherefore I humbly beseech you that ye be not soone shaken in mind by this up-start generation of quaking seducers who have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof from such turne away For of this sort are they which forsaking the publike assemblies creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Now as Iannes and Iambres those sorcerers spoken of Exod. 7.11 22. withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith but they shall proceed no farther for their folly shall be made manifest unto all as theirs also was But continue you in the things which ye have learned and have been assured of knowing of whom ye have learned them Tim. 3.5 6 7 8 9. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithfull that promised and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting of one another and so much the rather as ye see the day approaching Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Now the just shall live by faith But if any man draw back my soule shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them who beleeve to the saving of the soule Heb. 10.23 24 25 35 36 37 38 39. Be ye henceforth no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in waite to deceive Eph. 4.14 Embrace the counsell of the Apostle 1 Ioh. 4.2 Beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits to wit those who say they are sent by the spirit whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world But how shall we try them To the Law and to the Testimoney if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid Godspeed that is shew him no countenance by receiving him hearing him and the like for he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evill deeds 2 Ep. of Ioh. 10 11. ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 Little children saith Saint Iohn it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist should come even so now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us But ye have an unction from the holy one and shall know all things Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall also continue in the Father and the Son And this is the promise that he hath promised us even eternall life These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you 1 Ioh. 2.18 19 20 24 25 26. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with a hot iron 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Thus saith the Lord stand ye in the waies and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and you shall find rest for your soules Ier. 6.16 Therefore suffer not your selves to be led aside out of the old way after new lights new waies new notions new doctrine a new Gospell a new Church for the good way is an old way but stand stoutly and to the death in the cause and quarrell of the good old way and contend and that earnestly for that old faith once delivered to the Saints Iude 3. Which faith is laid down in the sacred lines of the holy Scriptures from the Alpha of Genesis to the Omega of the Revelation and is summed up in that almost forgotten Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed which may be truly called the Summary or Abridgement of the Gospell for it is a short sum of all those gospell-Gospell-truths which