to the King's Mind Where will you have a Foundation to build your Work upon for as it is found contrary to all these weighty Things so by their Authority your Work in cases of Conscience may well be Questioned The Law of the Nation may justly question you the Spirit of Truth may justly question you the Scriptures may justly question you Christianity may justly question you Reason may justly question you Christ Jesus may justly question you the King may justly question you and what can your Foundation be but the love of Money printed 1668. Mark Reader the Impudence of these Quakers who twit others with their own Crimes I am sure every particular may be apply'd to themselves rightly and yet such is their insolent boldness even whil'st Diffenters and acted as well contrary to the Laws as all the things by them mentioned to give out a general Summons to all the Ecclesiastical Order Established by Law But if I give them a Summons this is presumptious seditious tumultuary yea if I Arraign them as New Rome and print without Licence I must be by them indicted and had I not had a Church of England Jury I might have been ruined These are the meek Men the righteous Men the just Men that Burrows and in him the Quakers prayed in the last recital of Burrow's Works to the Government that they might have the executive part of the Law and that Cases between Man and Man might be left to them but thanks be to God who have given the Nation such a sight of their Hypocrisie that hitherto they have not been thought worthy of a place in the Government no not so much as Constable a remembring their Anti-magistratical principle laid down by their first Founder as in News coming up c. p. 20. Sing all ye Saints and Rejoyce clap your Hands and be glad for the Lord Jehovah will Raign and the Government shall be taken from you pretended Rulers Judges and Justices Lawyers and Constables all this tree must be cut down and Jesus Christ in us will Rule alone c. But I thank God this Tree of Defence is still standing which preserved me from your inveterate malice who for not Licensing my Book tho' it be your own daily practice Indicted me as one turbulent and unquiet practicing and intending falsly unlawfully seditiously and maliciously c. as also to move stir up and cause discords tumults and miserable slaughters c. and all because I printed unlicensed Arraigned them as New Rome c. But behold they can Arraign Try Summons and Judge yea and Condemn Magistrates Ministers and whole Churches by whole sale Are these the meek Men the just Men the righteous Men that would so fain have the Administration of the Government God forbid and let all good Protestants and sincere Christians say Amen Reader I must beg pardon for this Digression 't is a fault that sometimes better Writers fall into The next I shall recite is a Dialogue or Catechism between Tradition and Truth The Terms being interpreted are thus in the Original Truth that is the Quakers and Tradition that is the Church of England and if I were to recite it all it is worse than Tho. Hicks's Dialogue between a Quaker and a Christian for the substance of that is true to my certain knowledge but this is so barbarous a Dialogue as none but such that are void of Charity and the Fear of God would ever have attempted but the Quakers they may domineer and insult over their Superiors yea Summon Arraign Try Judge and Condemn the Church of England and thereby the Magistrates Ministers and People present their seditious Petitions to the Parliament Advise and Councel them to let the Ministers alone stand not say they by Baal's Priests down with all that judge for Money alias take Money for their pains and labor as the Quakers themselves do yet none must say a word to them Oh no no touch the hem of their Garment as if they had a Pattent to commit all manner of reproaches revilings scandalous destructive horrible Blasphemies and all manner of impieties cum privilegio Smith 's Works p. 157. A Catechism by way of Dialogue to all Priests and Prelates Truth lay down thy Fundamentals and what they are that they may be known and in their place come to Tryal Tradition these be my Foundation principles of my Religion believing they are sound because I find in the Scriptures that the Saints performed them and served God in them I have Churches Preaching Praying Singing and Bishops Ministers and under them other Officers for order sake Truth these in their places must be examined and by the Spirit of Truth i. e. Quakers proved whether they be right in the ground and have their rise from the Power of God Open thine Eye and behold thy Ceremonies and see what Monsters thou hast generated and brought forth from thy Adulterous Womb. And so hath the birth of thy Adulterous Womb deceived the Nations Tradition I am reasonably satisfied from what hath been said as to the Ceremonies belonging to my Worship but as to my Church Preaching Praying Singing Bishops and Ministers they must be duly observed Truth I shall try them in order and if I find them right in the ground shall approve them if not testify against them therefore speak plainly what thy Church is that I may proceed to Tryal Tradition my Church is a consecrated Place for my Worship to be perform'd in and by many Ancient Fathers Laws been set by c. Truth now I shall try thy Church and if it be not in God it is none of his but an adulterated Harlot covered over with the Mystery of Iniquity therefore Tradition be silent a little and Truth will shew thee thy Error so be cool and hear what Truth saith for now thy Church comes to Tryal Tradition I know that Praying in my Worship is right for it is mentioned in the Scripture and was practiced very much by the Saints and I have the Lord's Prayer and have made many other Prayers which be useful and comfortable for all conditions and on all occasions and I have put them together in a Book which I call the Book of Common Prayer and use it in my Devotion Truth Prayer in the Spirit the Saints practiced but thou art degenerated and hath formed such Prayers as the Lord hath not required neither doth he open his Ear to them and that which thou call'st the Lord's Prayer be thou silent and make no mention of it for thou hast nothing to do with it Oh thou Adulterous Tradition What Monsterous births hast thou brought forth Thy Common Prayer Book is seen to be conceived in thy Adulterous Womb and to branch forth from the Pope Tradition but what if my Common Prayer Book do not fully agree with the Scriptures and the Saints practice yet there are many good things in it and many Scripture sentences which may edifie and comfort Truth that which is
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth and Progress OF QUAKERISM Setting Forth That the Principles and Practices of the Quakers are Antichristian Antiscriptural Antimagistratical Blasphemous and Idolatrous from plain matter of Fact out of their most approved Authors c. Containing Also A modest Correction of the General History of the Quakers wrot in Holland by Gerard Croese By Francis Bugg Senior Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out mine hand and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1. 24 26. Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Psalm 137. 7. London Printed Anno 1697. THE INTRODUCTION Courteous Reader IN my former Books I thought my self obliged to Apologize for my writing against the Errors of the Quakers because some People then even the Author of the Snake in the Grass c. thought I might wrong them as the Quakers suggested who since are better satisfied therein their Mask being taken off But yet some objections still remain to obviate which I shall proceed to do Obj. 1. But say some Fra. Bugg in his Book Entituled The Qua. Detected c. gave a tollerable account of the Quakers respecting their beginning and now to write contrary seems contradictory Ans I do acknowledge that in the year 1686. when I wrot that Book I had better thoughts of them respecting their beginning than now I have neither did I then in 1686. know them guilty of holding such pernicious Principles and Fundamental Errors as now I know they do having then not seen many of their Books which since I have both seen and perused But grant I did not so clearly see them then as now nor understand their Fundamental Errors so clearly then as now yet I saw enough to justifie my separation from them from the charge of Apostacy as I made fully appear not only in that Book but also in my Book i. e. New Rome unmask'd c. neither did my acknowledging them and their deportment and the simplicity and plainness of their Carriage which attended them and their Doctrine which I since understand was only a decoy to catch simple Souls to be a reason for their being Orthodox and my self an Apostate from the Christian Faith since not only I but Men more Learned and of better Judgments than I have been mistaken Witness that famous Man and worthy Martyr of Jesus Christ Archbishop Cranmer See Fox's Acts and Mon. p. 1488. The Church of Rome Taught in the beginning a pure Doctrine but after she fell into the new Doctrine of Transubstantiation I marvel that any one could allow it if they knew it But whatever they bear the people in hand that which they write in their Books hath neither Truth nor Comfort Again p. 1325. ibid. I am said Huge Latimer that worthy Martyr Ignorant of things which I trust hereafter to know as I do now know things in which I have been Ignorant heretofore ever learn and ever to be learned to profit with learning I thought in time past that the Pope was Christ's Vicar had been Lord of all the World as Christ is So that if he should have deprived the King of his Crown it had been enough for he could do no wrong Now I think otherwise I thought in time past that if I had been a Fryer in a Coul I could not have been Damned nor afraid of Death and by reason thereof I have been minded many times to have been a Fryer namely when I was sore sick and diseased But now I behold my Superstitious Foolishness It were two long to tell you what blindness I have been in and how long it were e'er I could forsake such Folly c. Reader These two Instances if there were no more shew forth that the best of Men are fallible and may err as I did and be mistaken as also the Humility of these two learned Prelates and worthy Martyrs are exemplary in their Christian acknowledgment thereof and forsaking such a corrupted Church infected with Idolatry and Superstition which cleared them from the charge of Apostacy and the same cause leads to the same thing And if I once had a good opinion of the Quakers you see these famous Men had as good if not a better opinion of the Papists who yet left them and forsook them as I did the Quakers and for which I bless God who put it into my heart to forsake such a manifest Heresie Amen Obj. 2. But say the Quakers in their Book Judas and the Jews c. p. 78. But herein you shew your malice for had G. F. been a cursing Man like Muggleton c. Implying it somewhat pardonable then to write against the Quakers Ans See their Book Truth 's Defence c. G. Fox's words to Mr. Camelford a Minister thus O thou filthy Beast no Prayers can we send to thee but for thy Destruction thou Man of Sin and Enemy of Christ O thou impudent and brazen fac'd thou Hypocrite and Pharisee thou art damn'd openly Thou art in the Sorcery in the Witchcraft and in the Adultery and in the corrupt Seed whose Blessings are Cursed O thou slanderous Beast thou natural Brute-beast and here I charge thee to be a Witch and to bewitch the People Thou deaf Adder and Serpent thou child of the Devil Blasphemer and Enemy of all Righteousness O thou falsehearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of God are due to thee and that is thy portion thou blind Sot thou dark Sot thy Torment is but beginning and so fare thee well Thus far Fox Again hear another of the same Praternity viz. Ed. Burrow in his Works p. 29 30 31. In Answer to certain Queries sent to the Quakers by one Mr. Bennet Burrow's Answer runs in this Channel viz. Thou art manifest what thou art where thou art and what Spirit thou art off a Reprobate a child of Darkness the Light condemns thee and all thy Generation of Priests Eternally we witness thee and all thy Generation to be in the Witchcraft and Sorcery for thou art Darkness it self Here thou full of all subtilty hast made manifest thy Poyson and Enmity Here thou Jesuit and thou Reprobate see whether thou be'st not a blind ignorant Sot there thou accursed art made manifest Here thou beast to whom the Plagues of God are due and upon whom his wrath must be accomplished Here thou dark blind Hypocrite thou dead Beast here thou polluted Beast here stop thy mouth thou Sorcerer O thou dark Beast and Conjurer who art Querying with thy Conjuring words c. Reader behold and be amazed that this people should blame any body for writing against them when never did any write like themselves nor was Muggleton a greater Curser and Damner than Fox The next I shall mention is their Learned Fisher who writing against John Owen Richard Baxter Thomas Danson and John Tombs In his Book Stiled The Rusticks Alarm c. calls and compares them to
Gentlemen Justices of the Peace Ministers of the Gospel and People within the County Sheweth That George Fox and James Nayler are Persons disaffected to Religion and the wholsome Laws of this Nation and that since their coming into this County have broached Opinions tending to the destruction of the Relation of Subjects to Magistrates Wives to their Husbands Children to their Parents Servants to their Masters Congregations to their Ministers and of People to their God ††Indeed Mr. Croese in the foregoing recital tacitly says the same and have drawn much People after them many whereof Men Women and Children at their Meetings are strangely wrought upon in their Bodies and brought to fall foam at the Mouth roar and swell in their Bellies and that some of them affirm themselves to be equal with God contrary to the late Act as hath been attested at a late Quarter Sessions holden at Lancaster in October last and since that time acknowledged before many Witnesses besides many other dangerous Opinions and damnable Heresies as appear by a Schedule hereunto Annexed c. May it therefore please Your Honours upon consideration of the Premises to provide a Remedy as to your Wisdoms shall seem meet that some speedy course may be taken for the speedy suppressing these Evils And your Petitioners shall ever pray as in duty bound 1. Charge That George Fox professed and avowed that he was equal with God Defence It was not so spoken as Geo. Fox was equal with God but the Father and the Son is one I and my Father are one and where the same is revealed this is witnessed Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus who being in the Form of God thought it no Robery to be equal with God and this I witness to be fulfilled for the same Spirit where it is is equal with God and he that hath the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ is equal with God Observa Mark Reader here is the Charge that 's Blasphemy you do not hear him deny it only he brings in an Equivocation like G. W.'s It is not spoken of George Fox who then is that He I say who is this He if not George that Hath for He and Hath are but the Relative and the Verb. It cannot be meant here that the Spirit of God is equal no it is and He the Man that hath the Spirit which raised Jesus Christ is equal with God 'T is prov'd Blasphemy beyond all the Quakers Glossing 2. Charge That George Fox professed himself to be the Eternal Judge of the World Defence He that was a Minister of God said that the Saints should Judge the World yea Angels Herein they do shew themselves to be no Ministers of God Observe The Charge is confess'd and the Ministers who handed the Petition condemned as no Ministers of Christ for that they will not allow George Fox to be the Eternal Judge of the World 3. Charge He said he was Christ the Way the Truth and the Life Defence The old Man cannot endure to hear the new Man speak which is Christ and Christ is the Way and if Christ be in you must he not say I am the Way the Truth and the Life Observ 1. The Charge is Blasphemy 2. 'T is not denyed but fairly owned and the Petitioners justified to be wise and good Men and not wicked Men nor Fools 4. Charge That George Fox said whosoever took a place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it and from it was a Conjurer and his preaching was from Conjuration Defence And all that do study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the Letter are Conjurers and draw Points and Reasons and so do speak a Divination of their own Brain they are Conjurers and Deceivers and their Teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the Mouth of the Lord c. Observ What contempt is here thrown upon the Scripture and upon all the Servants of God who from the beginning of the planting of Christianity have frequently read the Scripture in the Churches and sometimes have expounded a Chapter and Catechized c. And frequently have taken a portion of Scripture and open'd it and held it forth to the People What signifies the Quakers vindicating the Martyrs printing a Book in Folio Entituled The Spirit of the Martyrs revived c. 'T is not reviv'd in the Quakers surely when they thus condemn them and their practice and condemn all Ministers of the Christian Faith as Conjurers Diviners c. This I would ask G. W. whether these following Martyrs and Ministers were Conjurers and Deceivers Viz. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Ridly Bishop of London Latimer Bishop of Worcester Hooper Bishop of Glecester Bradford Prebendary of St. Pauls Dr. Taylor Parson of Hadly I say were these and their Brethren which took places of Scripture and Preached from them with the Assistance of God's Spirit accompaning the Ordinance all Conjurers and Diviners 5. Charge That Fox said the Scriptures were Carnal Defence The Letter of the Scripture is Carnal Obser This contempt is confessed c. 6. Charge R. Hubberthorn said that Christs coming in the Flesh was but a Figure Defence As he is held forth in the Scripture Letter without them as in the Flesh without them he is their Example or Figure which is both one Obser Then Christ in the days of his Flesh was but a Figure his Death and Sufferings a Figure his Resurrection and Ascension a Figure of the Quakers Light within them his Death within them his Crucifixion and Resurrection within them This is perfect Blasphemy and infallible Quakerism 7. Charge Ja. Milner professeth himself to be God and Christ and gives out Prophesies that the day of Judgment shall be the 5th of Novem. next that there shall never sit Judge more at Lancaster that he must e'er long shake the Foundation of the great Synagogue i. e. the Parliament c. Defence George Fox said as for Ja. Milner tho' his Mind did run out from his Condition and from minding that Light of God which was in him whereby the World takes occasion to speak against the Truth and many Friends stumble at it yet there is a pure Seed in him Obser I am the longer on this Head because it contains all the Pillars upon which Quakerism stands Gen. Hist p. 103. say these Words were denyed there is not a word of reproof like that of the Apostle who has bewitched you Not a word of condemning his Blasphemy but all is hush'd he had a pure Seed in him I write the more for Mr. Croese his sake that he may see and in seeing may correct the Quakers for their false Information 8. Charge Leo Fell said that Christ had no other Body but his Church Defence There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called c. Obser John Whitehead Joshua Coal and as many of them as have spake honestly what they
p. 223. A just and lawful Tryal of the Ministers of this Age by a perfect proceeding against them and hereby they are righteously examined and justly weighed and truly measured and condemned to disagree and be contrary to all the Ministers of Christ in former Ages and to agree and concur with all the false Prophets and Deceivers in their Call in their Maintenance and in their Doctrines Conversations and Practice and being brought to the Bar of Justice are truly charged and legally proved upon them and found guilty c. I forbear to recite their proofs but by the Title aforesaid 't is easie to see their Insolence Impudence and Arrogancy That a dissenting People should thus Arraign Try and Condemn the national Ministry to be contrary to all the Ministers of Christ and to agree and concur with all the false Prophets and Deceivers This is such a Charge as is worthy observation and yet if they be Arraigned oh how they take it Witness their Books against me for Arraigning them c. next Burrow's Works p. 523. why they see that the wicked Clergy's Interest is more prospering than the just freedom of the People And this I say unto you the Parliament in the Name of the Lord that whil'st that Interest of the Priesthood is so much favour'd and defended you can never prosper nor the Nations be happy under you for it is one of the greatest Oppressions this day of the Nation the maintaining and upholding of this Ministry by Tythes and the very Land groans under the Oppression of this Church and Ministry which lies as a heavy burthen both upon Persons and Estates and Consciences of many good People even of your dearest Friends Their own doings are a sufficient Testimony of the malice of their Hearts against you and all good Men in the Nation yet nevertheless some of you seem to shut your Eyes crying up your Godly Ministers and thus are you blinded and see not were the Cause lies of your interruptions I say 't is the favouring of that Interest which stops the issue of good things and while you oppress peoples Persons Estates and Consciences to uphold this Ministry and Priesthood aforesaid the Lord shall never prosper you nor make the Nations happy under your charge wherefore I do say unto you it is high time for you to lay aside the Interest of this oppressing Clergy so much levened of the Whore of Rome your selves do know that the Spirit of the Romish Clergy was in the late Bishops which you cast out for their wickedness and the very Spirit of those Bishops is entered into these Priests and bears Rule in their Hearts and thus by succession hath the Whore of Rome levened the Clergy of England Therefore clear your selves do not any longer Drink the Whores Cup neither be you carriers of her and leave this false Church and Ministry to themselves for while you maintain and uphold this Ministry Church and Worship you do but cause People to drink the Whores Cup and you are but them which carry the Whore viz. the false Church and this is plain dealing to tell you the truth whether you will reject it or receive it Wherefore cast them off and let them not surk under your Wings for one day they will rebel against you and another day flatter you and for a season they will shew forth much love and kindness to you in Hypocrisy you had better be in a just opposition against them than in an unjust peace with them I know it appears to many of you a thing very hard to be born what to forsake our Godly Ministers think ye to hear tell of laying them aside is an amasement to some of your minds was it not the same concerning the King and Bishops Was it not as much terrible to him and his Lords and Councils to think of the overthrow of the then called Godly Fathers and Bishops but better had he cast them off and saved himself than to have perished with them for I tell you again that the very Spirit of the old Idolatrous Bishops is entered into the Hearts of these Men and there is as great a measure of Tyranny and Injustice and Abomination lying upon these as once was upon the Bishops and these are no less free from the abomination than they were and these are nigh as ripe for Vengeance c. Burrows Epistle c. And the word of the Lord we sounded and did not spare 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 and and our Spirits filled with indignation against the Priests and Teachers 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 Profaness and against them we cryed shewing unto all these People that they were not lawful Ministers of Christ but Deceivers and Antichrists and we spared not publickly 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 we entered upon to thresh down the Deceivers and lay them open that all People may see their shame and come to turn from them Reader I gave you an account of their Rise and when and now of their Progress and how These are the Sayings of Edw. Burrow the Quakers great Prophet spoken about 1658. by the motion of Edward Burrow's Spirit and reprinted by the order and approbation of George Whitehead Geo. Fox Josh Coal and others of their Teachers Anno 1672. And the whole community own stand by and at all turns are ready to defend my Lord chief Justice Burrow's who you see first by a just and lawful Tryal hath arraigned and condemned the Clergy by wholesale and for a crime if it were true would deserve it too tho' not from them viz. being contrary to all the Ministers of Christ in all things and according to all the false Prophets and Diviners in all things oh dreadful You see also their Petition to the Parliament it needs no comment they plead heartily against the Clergy against their Interest against their Tythes they tell the Parliament they can never prosper if they do not throw off the wicked Clergy leave them to themselves stand in a just opposition to them that their first Work was to make War against the Clergy as the Deceivers of the Nation the Issue of Prophaness yea the Fountain of all Wickedness and with them and against them they first began to War for their Mouths were filled with indignation against them I believe them and in all Places publick and private in Churches in Markets on the high Ways and in private
Meetings oh how did they lay them open But Reader give me leave to insist now largly on this Head it being the Quakers Master-piece Burrow 's Works 846. Antichrists Government detected Dedicated to all the Rulers c. Now I come to declare who are true Judges of Heresie and Hereticks None are able to discern of Heresie nor to Try and Judge rightly who are Hereticks none but they I say that have the infallible Spirit of God in them to guide them and have infallibility and perfect certainty of Judgment and Knowledge in that case of Heresie None else I say are rightly able to judge who are Hereticks But such as have the infallible Spirit of Christ and are infallible and certain in their judgment these only and none else are able to judge they only are competent judges in this case of Heresie and who are Hereticks It is but out of Envy if they have not the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment to discern by for no Man can justly judge another in the matter of Heresie as a Heretick by their own Thoughts or Suppositions for the judgment in that matter must be Just Equal Holy and True and only by the Spirit of Jesus Christ which is infallible and gives infallibility of judgment and discerning into all Cases and Things For it was Christ Jesus and his Apostles and the Saints that had the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment The Jews could not judge because they had not the infallible Spirit of Judgment nor the certain infallible Knowledge nor can the Christians There 's none can truly discern nor justly judge what Heresie is nor who is a Heretick but such as are guided by the infallible Spirit of Christ and have infallibility of Judgment So both the Law-makers and the Judges of the Law must what must they turn Quakers be infallible c. I think I have said enough of their infallibility as it lies in half a page in their Book stiled the Antichrists Government detected c. Dedicated to all the Rulers in the Christian World boldly taking upon them the Power making Laws or trying any in the case of Heresie least they themselves should be tryed unless they had infallibility of Judgment which Protestant Parliaments do not pretend too The next is this Entituled p. 793. Persecution impeached as a Traitor against God c. By which the Quakers boldly Impeach all Parliaments and Courts of Judicature Thus can they Try Judge Arraign and Condemn all the Protestant Clergy and Impeach the Proceedings of all our Courts But if I Arraign the Quakers as New Rome and Impeach their yearly Meetings this is accounted by them an unpardonable Crime how justly soever Behold their great presumption But to the next Burrow 's Works p. 588. A Message to the present Rulers of England whether Committee of Safety Councel of Officers or others delivered unto them by an Ambassador from the only Right Heir of the Government whose Right alone it is to Rule and by special Authority from him this is sent unto them My Master is a High and Mighty and Powerful Prince and very Honourable Fear and Subjection belongs to him alone Something you may and ought to do but if to make the Whore the false Church more Naked and to scourge her more than some others have done And indeed my Lord requires something more of you to do than others before you could do and tho some of you present Rulers be looked upon as great Traitors and Tyrants in cutting off the King's Head and extirpating Episcopacy the Lord doth not account as Men these things must needs have come to pass for the furtherance of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and if you were but faithful to what the Lord requires of you what you have done to them in the Murther aforesaid should not be reckoned an account against you neither by God nor good Men. Let all forced maintenance to Ministers as Tythes be speedily taken away and let just Men and righteous Men and meek Men i. e. Quakers have the Power and judgment committed to them to determin things between Man and Man down with all that judge for Rewards and away with all hireling Rulers that execute the Law for Money and as for the Men call'd Ministers the way of their setting up sending forth and maintenance are the greatest oppression in the Nation they are the woful cause of the Nations groaning their iniquities cry for vengeance for they are full they are full and God's Eternal vengeance is their next Reward from the Eternal God What shall I say of them but this The Earth is oppressed by them the Inhabitants groan under them and God is vexed thro' them and they are the Men of high Indignation and fierce Wrath let this Ministry alone and joyn not your selves to Baal least you perish neither take part with Antichrist any longer uphold not this Ministry against my Lord and this is from the mouth of my Lord to you Reader bear with me I am now telling the growth and progress of Quakerism and how and by what means I need not comment upon it This was Writ in 1659. by E. B. but reprinted in 1672. by the order and approbation of some words first being left out Geo. Whitehead and others See p. 592 to the same purpose SECTION IV. Their Corrupt Principles as their Light within Infallibility Enthusiasm c. and their pernicious Books proceeding therefrom c. and their censorious condemning others without a parallel GEN. Hist p. 53. The Quakers did always enveigh against the Liturgy as stuffed with the Fopperies of Popish Darkness superstitious and ill-plac'd Lessons and Prayers Ornaments Gestures and Bodily actions and many Rites of observing Holy-days These the Quakers did vigorously oppose c. Reader as I have given a hint of the Quakers addressing themselves to the supreme Assembly i. e. Parliaments as well to prove the learned Authors Testimony true as to let the World see how Quakerism advanced by their bitter Letters and invective seditious Petitions and Books keeping therein to their old way of Accusations as he well observes concealing their own Crimes and how their business was to defame others both Magistrates and. Ministers imprecating all Evils upon them from the most High God I am now come to prove what he says touching their enveighing against the Liturgy for where I find him well informed I am willing to corroborate his Testimony from matter of Fact as well as where I see him warp to correct and set him right viz. Smith 's Works p. 161. A general Summons from the Authority of Truth to all Ecclesiastical Courts and Officers And now upon what Foundation will your Building stand for your work is found contrary to the Law of the Nation and contrary to the Spirit of Truth contrary to the Scriptures contrary to Christianity contrary to Reason contrary to the Law and the Prophets contrary to the Doctrine of Christ contrary
born of the Flesh is Flesh and that is against the Spirit and can neither edifie nor comfort though good Words and Scripture sentences may be spoken for it is not speaking the Words of others that doth make a true Prayer but in receiving a measure of the same Spirit of Prayer which is not in thy Common Prayer Book to be found therefore it is made of none effect because thy bowels bring it forth and the Pope gives Life and Breath unto it and from his Loyns it draws its Strength and not from the power of God Tradition what can I say to be received for truth my Ceremonies c. are denyed but there can be nothing said against my Bishops and Ministers the Scriptures speak so plainly of them c. Truth now Tradition harken what Truth saith and give thine Answer to what is demanded of thee Who made thy Archbishops and Lord Bishops and who gave them these Names And who first divided unto them their several Diocesses and appointed them to Rule within their own Diocess And who first made Deans and Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates and who gave them their Names And who first set up certain Places for Schools And who gave them the Names of Universities And how came they to be call'd Christ's Colledge and Emanuel's Colledge John's Colledge and Jesus's Colledge And who set up Commencements and Degrees that a Man must be made Batchelor of Art and Master of Art before he can be approv'd to be made a Minister in thy Order And who first made that Law which forces and compels the payment of the Tenth part of things encreased to such a Ministry and whether are such the Ministers of Christ who make use of that Law to force their maintenance Are these thy Bishops and Ministers which thou say'st there can be nothing said against them Open thine Eye and behold them for they are Monsters which from thy adulterous Conception are brought forth and they are stamped with thy Image and all thy abominations are denyed and testified against this is a Charge against thee Tradition this thing which make such discoveries of my Practices and with such boldness reproves me for them it is of God for it is not in fear of me nor my power which now is Strong and of great Authority Truth that which doth discover thee and thy deceitful Practices is the Truth i. e. Quakers of God which was before thou had'st a Name and will be when thy Name is lost and it doth boldly reprove thee and is without any fear of thee or thy power and hath opened thee and ript up thy Bowels and discovered thy adulterous Womb and all the false Conceptions that hath been conceived their and now behold ye Archbishops Lord Bishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates and all Prelaticals here is the Womb of your Conception opened and that made manifest from which you draw your breath and prolong the length of your days with all your Service and Worship which you so much esteem and promote Therefore hear and consider ye Bishops Deans Prebends Doctors Vicars and Curates with all Prelaticals you must come to the Bar and if you will but soberly peruse this Catechism or Dialogue you may know and learn that which all your Universities could never give you the knowledge off nor all your Learning and Wisdom could never teach you so escape for your Lives that the stroak may not fall upon you Truth Reader marvel not too much at the Impudence of this Man for it is the Heart of Quakerism He was a right Quaker and no Mungril and Eminent Teacher and a ready Sail. You see he feared not the Bishops nor their Power he had no respect to the Law which Establish'd the Book of Common Prayer nay should the Question be put to Geo. Whitehead whether he would under his Hand condemn this Antichristian piece to be burnt on Tower-hill he would say no not for a World it is the Marrow of his Religion I could give Instances of the like nature out of 100 of their Books but for brevities sake and that I may not stay my Reader too long from something new I shall only recite 2 or 3 Books more that so the Author of the Gen. History may hear his Text fully proved viz. that the Quakers enveigh against the Liturgy and that bitterly too together with the Ministry of the Church of England A Touchstone or perfect Tryal of all Priests Bishops and Ministers This Book contains more than 100 Pages in Quarto printed 1667. by Margaret Fell whom George Fox afterwards Married the purport of which is to shew them all the Clergy are false Prophets Deceivers c. which being but a Woman tho' a very proud imperious Dame I pass her by The Innocency and Consciousness of the Quakers c. p. 7. As for the purity of the Church of England it 's out of our sight we can see a great deal of impurity in it and as much the Members of it confess themselves indeed they confess enough of themselves to cause all wholsome sound understanding People to shun them and their Church and Worship as Men shun a contagious Disease or Infection I think this is so bold as well as base that it need no comment But if they look into the Cage I presume they 'll find little cause to boast especially if I give them the right Key to open it and that amongst their Teachers and Writers but if I should make a Cage for their Hearers ir would be much enlarged every way Truth exalted in a Short but sure Testimony c. by W. Penn p. 9. Come Church of England whence came your Forms of Prayer and Church Government from the Scriptures or the Mass-Book and Popish Canons and what President do you find for Litanies Responces Singing Organs Altars Bowings c. with much more such like dirty Trash and soul Superstition Stand up and answer me you Members of the Church of England But are they not the Off-spring of the Popish Generation God is now breathing forth in Vengeance to Thunder down and Consume all your fair Buildings and pleasant Pictures of Babilonish Inventions But alas poor Souls are you not at have mercy upon us miserable sinners there is no health in us from seven to seventy c. The Guide mistaken by W. Penn p. 18. And whil'st the idle gormondizing Priests of England run away with above 1500000 l. a Year under pretence of being God's Ministers and that no sort of People have been so universally thorow Ages the very bane of Soul and Body to the universe as that abominable Tribe for whom the Theatre of God's most Dreadful Vengeance wait to act their Eternal Tragedy upon Burrow's Works p. 244. Oh what cruel Injustice and Tyranny in Civil Government Oh what abominable Superstition and Idolatries have been in Church Government It is a vexation to the Spirit of the Lord to consider it and the righteous Soul hath long
the Persons charged from his Imputation yet I have so much Justice I confess as not to condemn Parties by Particulars and Charity as to be satisfied with their solemn disclaiming of such Practices For I did never love that one Man should have the making of another Man's Faith and Confession especially if he were his Adversary I must tell him also I cannot admire his Wisdom Manners or Justice in his Reflections on the Roman Catholicks after the Assurance that so great an one of their Communion has given him and his Friends of their Security and Protection for if they are a People able to ruin the whole Earth and lay the Foundations of Eternal Mischief to Mankind believe me England is in an ill pickle And tho' I am an ill Judge he has in it put but a scurvy Complement upon the King let him be just and he will find the Excluders almost every Sunday at their Parish Churches and if three quarters of them were to pray for their Lives it may be they could better read their Clergy than say their Prayers without the publick Liturgy c 3. Animadversions on the Apology of the clamorous Squire c. p. 3. But when he has done all he can they were not Dissenters under Correction that in 1680. prosecuted the Roman Catholicks and refused them Liberty but Church of England Men and such of them too as would not allow it to some Protestant Dissenters for fear that Dissenters should hide themselves amongst them and that they therefore must swallow the most severe Tests that could be framed †Whilest the same W. P. framed the said severe Tests to shew themselves * It seems it was but to shew himself no Friend to that Communion not Friends to that Communion i. e. Papists and to tell Truth and I beseech the Gentleman not to take it amiss that I say the Dissenters were invited into the share they had in opposition to Popery by Church Men ay they were for a comprehension to make the Church of England stand broader the better to receive the assaults of Rome without hazard p. 4. I do affirm the excluders were Conformists and are yet Communicants of your Church and the greatest part of them upon education and constant practice too and that this is a Truth and no Slander read the List and 't is a demonstration nay I challenge the Gentleman to name six Persons of all the excluders that dissent from the Estalish'd Church nor is this of yesterday for if we look back we shall see the most celebrated Bishops of our Church barring the succession in the Law the 13 and 27 of Eliz and when that Queen pleaded Conscience in not assenting to a Law to put our King 's great Grandmother Mary Queen of Scots to Death the same Reverend Bishops undertook to remove the Scruple p. 5. 'T was the Gentlemen of that Communion that impeached the Prerogative in the Declaration of Indulgence and set the Political capacity of the King in opposition to his natural and to make their business more popular bestowed that comment upon it of a design in the Court to let in Popery and Arbitrary Government p. 2. Our Brave King 4. A persuasive to moderation submitted to the King c. p. 1. Pref. We have not to do with an insensible Prince but one that has been toucht with our Infirmities more than any Body sit to judge our cause by the share he once had in it 5. Reasons for the Repeal of the Tests c. p. 3. They ought to be taken away because they are unreasonable and unjust p. 5. 'T is highly necessary that these Tests be abrogated this appears in that the King desires it the Papists crave it and the Interest of the whole Nation requires it We are all then in prudence to consent thereto We have been Taught †who Taught that Doctrine more than W. P. See the first 3 Books quoted to entertain very hard thoughts of their Religion and as we learnt to speak so we stammer'd it out no Papist no Popery Whence sprung this aversion mainly I am sure from our apprehension that Blood and Cruelty attended it The Roman Catholicks tho' sure of the King are willing to concert and accomodate matters with us and to deliver us from what we so dreaded their persecution upon the most reasonable and equal Terms of being freed from the danger of ours I hope our Establish'd Church will bethink her self and better consider of things than by her stubborn Adhesion to her Laws of severity and force to encline us to love Popery when we find it gentle and easie to be entreated p. 6. 7 8. The King promised to maintain her so he doth and will undoubtedly persevere to do if she runs not her self into a forfeiture of the Royal Grace Let her cease to be angry and rebuke her Sons very unmannerly sitting in Judgment upon and censuring the King's Proceedings Let her I say be Wise and know her Duty and Interest the advice is requisit she being at this day tampering to draw the Fanaticks into an Association against the King's most Gracious purpose to them and all his People It is insinuated that undue and false returns of Parliament Men may be made c. But surely there lives not a Man without the Pale of the Church we are talking of so wicked as to think the King doth not detest the Thought of so base a practice he that whispers a thing so greatly below the King will for ought I know suggest that to morrow his Majesty will return us a House of Commons from Hounslow-Heath Discourses of this kind may not be heard but in Bedlam or Newgate therefore adjourning them thither for cure or correction 6. The great and popular objection against the Repeal of the Penal Laws and Tests briefly stated and considered c. p. 3. If the consequences that are imagin'd to follow the Repeal of the Penal Statutes and Tests were indeed so terrible as they are industriously represented I should readily fall in with the common jealousy and help to augment the number of those that are for their continuance But when I consider how long our Government was happy without them how much of heat and partiality prevailed in their constitution and how troublesome and impracticable their Execution are and that in our present circumstances they appear a plain barriere to our happiness p. 11. I own it may affect the present Ecclesiastical Policy of the Church of England but I never took that for Protestancy Reader the reason why I have insisted so long on this Head beyond my first intention is threefold 1st to shew W. Penn by his 3 first Books in his Protestant Dress and by his last six with his Mask off in the contrary Dress 2. That by comparing his last six Books with the Quakers Addresses to the late K. J. 11. from their Anniversary Synods you will see they run in one and the
strengthen the same even like William Smith's Primmer and Catechism which contain more than a 100 pages yet in all the Treatise there is not one verse of Scripture quoted nor that I remember one exhortation to read the Scriptures in their Family and in his Works in Folio do I find very few Scripures quoted if any and them that are quoted much perverted and abused but to the matter Of Womens Meetings see an abstract of a Letter from G. F. who was the first mover and setter of them up viz. Dear Friends To whom is my Love It would be well and be of service to have a Womans Meeting that you may assist and inform the Men of necessities in what you cannot do your selves and so it would do well for the Women to have a distinct Meeting by themselves once a Month in the County Town meeting together about the Tenth hour of the day and keep a little Stock amongst themselves George Fox This Letter was wrot about 1670. pursuant to his motion for the Establishment of a Womans distinct Meetings but yet in many places they came on slowly and they made but small progress in this Administration of their Female Church Government for it met very early with opposition from amongst themselves and especially when the observation of it came to be imposed as a thing necessary which many looked upon a thing indifferent and therefore the Anniversary Synod confirmed it in all Points by one of their Acts Anno 1675. A Copy thereof followeth viz. London th 3d. Month 1675. To all Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and elsewhere c. touching Womens Meetings It is our Judgment and Testimony in the word of God's Wisdom that the Rise and Practice setting up and establishing Mens and Womens distinct Meetings in the Church of Christ in this our Day and Generation is according to the Mind and Counsel of God and done in the ordering and leading of his Eternal Spirit and that it is the duty of all Friends and Brethren in all places to be diligent therein and to encourage and further each other in that blessed Work and particularly that Friends and Brethren in their respective Counties encourage their faithful Women in the settlement of the said Meetings and if any professing Truth i.e. Quakerism shall either directly or indirectly discountenance or weaken the Hands of either Men or Women in the Work and Service of the Lord let such be admonished according to the order of the Gospel and if they receive it not but reject it resist Counsel and persist in the work of Division We cannot but look upon them not in the unity of the Church of Christ and order of the Gospel Therefore let Friends go on in the power of God and in that work for him his Truth and People and not be swayed or hindered by them or their opsitions Signed by William Penn Stephen Crispe John Burnyet George Whitehead Thomas Salthouse Alex. Parker c. This new order of George Fox's for Womens distinct Meetings being ratify'd and in all Points confirm'd and special orders from above given for the strict observation of them There was then but few that in plain words did care to oppose them notwitstanding their was not a word of Scripture neither by Fox nor their yearly Meeting offer'd to prove their proceedings Apostolical nor to warrant their Precept nor to shew a President since the days of Christ or before that Women should hold a Court or Synod distinct by themselves have a Clark a Book a Purse and the management of Church Government once a Month to meet in the County Town about the tenth hour c. according to the Order and Institution of George Fox And notwithstanding there was no Scripture President nor Divine Authority to confirm this Order of George Fox Yet you see by this Anniversary Synod it was ordained enacted and decreed by and with the Assent of the Delegates and Representatives that whoever discountenanced them directly or indirectly was ipso facto to be declared excommunicate out of the unity of their Church I might enlarge and shew the Decree which went forth from their Anniversary Synod 1677. Signed with 66 Names of the Foxonian Quakers condemning John Story and John Wilkinson and their Party for refusing subjection to the Decree above mentioned as likewise another Letter from the Storian Quakers out of the North signed by 67 Quakers disdaining and utterly condemning the Foxonian Quakers and their Pride and Arrogancy who look upon them not only to make Laws unscriptural but when done to condemn such as did not obey them and over whom they had no power but I rather refer to a Book stiled a Testimony against the 66 Judges c. and W. Rogers stiled The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. and my Book aforecited where both the said Letters are at large and the controversy thereabouts more largely handled I shall only add a Prophesy delivered in the Name of the Lord in a Letter to John Story one of the opposers of the Womens Meetings before several Witnesses the first of the first Month 1677. viz. Oh John Story what hast thou done against the Lord and thy own Soul Thou hast divided the Heritage of the Lord and the good Ordinances which Christ Jesus hath set up in his Church hast thou contemned especially Womens Preaching and Womens Meetings therefore the Lord will throw contempt upon thee and if thou dost not repent speedily miserable will be thy end Oh how hast thou lost thy Place and Dignity which thou had'st among the Saints in Light and now to be numbered amongst the Rebellious If ever thou findest Mercy with the Lord go home to the North with speed and break up the divided Meetings which thou and John Wilkinson has been Instrumental to divide from the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ The Anger of the Lord is chiefly against thee and thou art bound with two bonds for the Church and Brethren have bound thee on Earth and thou art surely bound in Heaven and this is the Testimony of Jesus to thee neither shalt thou be able to get from under these bonds till thou art reconciled to the Brethren i. e. submit to G. F. c. Oh hast to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to George Fox who is God's Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ hast away into the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy brother if possible you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least their blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going for this is the word of the Lord to thee viz. That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God Solomon Eccles. I have recited the more of this Letter of Solomon Eccles for
need not here relate what an Influence their first Epistle had and how little the Law was regarded or observed the whole Nation is witness and as to the last about Tythes and Church-warden Rates which the Parliament took care to preserve in their old Channel in the same Law which indulge the Quakers in the exercise of their perswasion yet this very Law they Anno 1696. Charged implicitly with Antichristianism saying p. 1. That all due care be taken against that grand Oppression and Antichristian Yoke of Tythes that our Christian Testimony born and greatly suffered for be faithfully maintained against them in all respects and against Steeple-house-rates or Lays as also against the burthen and imposition of Oaths c. Here we see Tythes are Antichristian and their Testimony Christian a perfect Map of their whole Doctrine the Parliament Antichristian the Quakers Christian the Parliament great Oppressors the Quakers Oppressed tho' they pay no more than their Neighbours the Parliament lay Antichristian Yokes upon the Quakers the Quakers the only Christian sufferers and persecuted People of God whose sufferings and persecutions are greater and more unjust than the sufferings of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs for what was inflicted upon them was duly executed by a Law and to this practice of ours agree that Doctrine of St. Edw. Burrow's as it is written in our Gospel in the Book of our Holy Scriptures which we at all times stand ready to vindicate vulgarly call'd Ed. Burrow's Works p. 501. Witnesses we stand against Parliaments Councels Judges Justices who make and execute Laws in their own wills over the Consciences of Men and to such Laws Customs Courts or Arbitrary Usurped Dominion we cannot yield obedience c. And therefore by this our Anniversary Decree we Ordain and Enact that the Members of all our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and all other our Associates in every Kingdom Nation and County that adhere to us and believe us to be the universal Church of the First born who cannot err but are led by an infallible Spirit that all and every of our Disciples throw off all these Antichristian Yokes of grand Oppression and from henceforth stand faithful Witnesses against Tythes as Antichristian against Church Rates against lawful Oathes against carrying Guns and this as the Historian says is to go through England and Wales yea all the World over and all that suffer for their Stubborness and Antimagistratical Principles by the same Edict is to be taken into Record who it is that suffer for what cause they suffer and on what account I have not time to set forth the dangerous consequences of these Anniversary Synods when they once gain upon the People that they are the only universal Catholick Church and as such cannot err that as G. Whitehead Teaches the People are to believe as she believes I say on this Doctrine of Infallibity hangs a load of dangers the Parliament say one thing the Anniversary Synod at Devonshire-house another they now argue privately but in time may dispute the Point publickly Infallibility sticks at nothing provided it be for the Holy Church in the Papists Dialect or for Truth 's sake in the Quakers They are Terms Synonymous respecting their Authors and W. Penns Books cited declare plainly how vigorous he was for his near Friends and dear kindred in the late Reign and the Quakers addressed from their Anniversary Synods run in the same Channel and flow from the same Fountain for K. J. II. and against the Church of England there came forth publick Addresses Annually besides Books every Month in favour of the then Government and against the Church But since King William came to the Crown never a publick Anniversary Address to King W. nor one Book wrot in favour of the present Governments as anon will appear And thus Quakerism like the Snake in the Grass creeps on undiscovered or at least little notice taken how she secretly Smites and privately Stings and throws out her Poyson both at Church and State She 'll Arraign Impeach Try Judge Summons Dialogue Condemn both Magistrate and Minister Ruler and People yet if she be but toucht Oh how she winches and giffles up and down crying she 's wrong'd she 's abus'd and all is malice that 's said of her whil'st she takes the liberty to abuse traduce stigmatize and calumniate all other People This is the Temper of this clamorous Woman and tho' I do solemnly profess as in the sight of God Angels and Men I am not for Persecution neither do I desire nor none need to fear that our King and Parliament should follow the French King's example in what is of the nature of Persecution or Cruelty yet on the other hand when they perceive the Ingratitude of this insolent People they probably may take some measures to stop the stream of Heresie which spreads like a Leprosie through the Nation And forasmuch as something that is praise worthy on the French King's part in granting the Ministry of the reformed Churches leave to hold a national Synod and for the exemplariness of the French Protestants zeal for God care of his Church subjection to the Laws according to the Evangelical Doctrine of Christ his Apostles and Martyrs I shall set down a few things worthy observation from the 28 Synod held at Charenton near Paris the 26 day of December 1644. as in the 2 Vol. of John Quick's Hist p. 4. 28. to 437. viz. The Sessions being opened with Prayer the Lord Marquis of Clermont General Deputy presented the Writ given forth by His Majesty's Command for calling the Synod as followeth This day being the 12 of February 1644. the King being then at Paris upon the most humble Petition of his Subjects of the pretended reformed Religion to permit them the calling and holding a national Synod desiring to gratifie and treat favourably his said Subjects hath permitted and doth permit them the Convocation of a national Synod next to Charenton but with this condition that they treat in it of none other matters but of those which he allowed them and that the Commissioner whom His Majesty shall please to appoint be present in the said Synod as hath been accustomed in witness whereof His Majesty hath commanded me to issue out this Writ which he hath Signed with his own Hand and caused it to be counter-signed by me his Commissioner and Secretary of State and of his Command Signed in the Original Lewis and a litt'e lower Phelipeaux The Lord Commissioner unto the Synod Messieurs AS it is a very great honour to me to be Commissionated to assist in your Synod and to acquaint you with his Will and Pleasure so also have I great deal of joy and satisfaction to behold this illustrious Assembly chosen out of all the Provinces of this Kingdom and that I can tell you by word of Mouth which is to assure you of their Majesties good will unto you and protection of you and of all your Churches and
profess true Religion It is that which hath made the Jesuits to be abhorred amongst some of the honestest of the Papists themselves so that they would not let them come into their Houses If the Maid be a wise Woman and of Age to dispose of her self she will not let any of our Preachers meddle wiâ—h her concerns of chusing a Husband for her that is none of their business they should only meddle with their own business and let honest Friends make their choice themselves we have no Law nor Custome among us for such as defame lawful Marriages or obstruct lawful Marriages The Church of England is honester upon that account than we They make such as obstruct or defame Marriages either to make good their charge or to make sufficient satisfaction to the Parties wronged c. Again see W. Rogers second scourge for G. Whitehead who has been many years acquainted with their private way of raising Money and hoarding up Common Banks which indeed is as bad as hoarding up Arms and Ammunition for as Money is said to be the Sinews of War so have I often said it is the Nerve of Heresie For this Dagon Money raised by the Common Bankers amongst the Quakers has an ill tendency many ways Well let us hear W. Rogers opinion thereof and Ellwoods answer thereto And yet when she Rome's Sister is but call'd She winches like touch'd Horses that are gaul'd Confusion her attends next follows wo For thus she whirls but God knows whether she 'll go Who when they wanted money to proceed The Church her cash then did supply her need And therefore when her cash was emptied she Crav'd money to supply her ministry And when that practice was dislik'd by some She seem'd like some whose downfal's near to come This Church will fall her load will be her guile If you O Flock keep Purse-strings fast a while When that Spring fails by her you 'll not be priz'd Usurpers then o'er you you 'll see despis'd And woes may long attend such prating Preachers As for preferment turn'd deceitful Teachers Fox is term'd Head yet Whitehead steer'd the course Till both was scorn'd and they grew worse and worse Thus Reader you see Testimony after Testimony against their raising Money for their Teachers in a clandestine way pretending they do all things free without Money or without Reward Now hear Tho. Ellwoods Answer by his Book stiled Rogero Mastix where instead of denying matter of plain Fact he confesses all what is said and laid to their charge viz. But that Christ's Ministers should be supply'd With necessaries by his Church his Bride Is such a known and certain truth as none Perhaps has e'er oppos'd but thee alone That 't is the Churches duty to supply The needful wants of all her Ministry And truth it is too plain to be deny'd Christ's Church should for Christ's Ministers provide What carps thou at then William would thy muse Plead that St. Paul did not this priviledge use That what was lacking to him privately The Macedonian Brethren did supply Thus it appear'd the Apostle did partake Of that Provision that the Church did make Christs Ministers to furnish and their need Supply when they want money to proceed Pretend thou can'st not that this Stock is given To such as have no need thereof but even Thy flurt at Richardson for taking pay For what as Clark he writes do much bewray Thy folly and injustice is' t not fit Who works for others should be paid for it And that by them who him to work desire The labourer is worthy of his hire Thus has Ellwood confest the whole matter and tells us 't is too plain to be denyed as indeed it is Thus you see they confess their Ministers take Money their Clarks take Money Why then do they so bitterly enveigh against the Clergy for taking Money and pretend that their Ministers take none But if Mr. Mead would open his Books of Accounts we should see how many Thousand Pounds their Speakers have in a Year besides their private Quarters who comes like Flies and Mice uncall'd or unsent for and so live on the Provision of others And this I may say that their Ministry hath cost me as much in 4 Weeks as the publick Ministry has cost me in 4 Years and yet these are the free Preachers free Writers and free People if you will believe them But having been more large on this Head in my Book Battering Rams against new Rome c. And that Entituled New Rome unmask'd c. I shall conclude this Head since they are first charged to preach for Money write for Money contrary to their pretences and that T. Ellwood whether at unawares or no I will not here determine has confessed to be matter of fact and thereby puts the thing out of doubt c. I find the Author of the Gen. Hist p. 63. treat about their Marriages and also a few days after a Child is born of their calling the Midwife Of the first he seems only to speak by way of commendation not mentioning so much as one of their Orders and as to the latter as if he were wholly a stranger to them there being no such matter as calling the Midwife or Neighbours on such an account However that he may the better be informed I shall shew several of their Forms for Marriages which are at large treated on in my Book Innocency vindicated and Envy rebuked c. The First Order for Marriage by George Fox printed by Tho. Symons the 7 of the 11th month 1659. Somewhat abstracted viz. And if any Friends go together in the power of the Lord after the thing hath been made known between themselves and laid before able Friends and nothing appear to the contrary they may declare it in the end of the next general Meeting or as they are moved they may declare it in the midtime of the Market on the Market day in the next Market Town or they may not as their freedom is And if they are moved they may declare it to the next Magistrate if they will or they may not then after in an Assembly not less than 12 they may speak their Testimony and then a Certificate may be given of the Day Month and Year and Recorded but that nothing be Recorded for money in these things but freely a free People serve one another in love c. A Second Order for Marriage by George Fox Anno 1662. And when they take one another in Marriage let not less than a dozen Friends and Relations be present according to your former Order having first acquainted your Mens Meeting and that it be Recorded in a Book c. A Third Order for Marriage Anno 1667. That as any are moved of the Lord and in his Light called to take a Brother or Sister in Marriage let it be made known to the Children of Light and being by the Light made manifest to be of God let them be joyned
because the Parliament do not know them no more than Constantius knew the Hypocrisy of the Arrians who at length thro' their subtle delusions and fair pretences prevail'd and got the Pulpit and the Orthodox banished and I have heard some fear the like consequence respecting the Quakers But let such be satisfied that Quakerism is at the heighth and begins to tumble and our Governours both of Church and State begin to see them I remember that in 1693. They were very fair to obtain a Bill for their solemn Affirmation to go for an Oath but when I deliver'd in my sheet shewing their Principles in two hours time it was thrown out and as Col. Goldwell told me there was not a Man appeared for them and when I came to London March 1696. some worthy Members of the Commons House chid me for not coming sooner saying they wanted matter of Fact adding that the Quakers frequent and unwearied Sollicitation prevail'd with too many worthy Gentlemen who understand not their undermining Principles However much good may their obtained Bill do 'em since the 10 l. clause is in and they barr'd from any place of Trust so much as of being Constable And whereas their judgment is whatever is more than yea yea and nay nay cometh of evil and is Swearing yet now they must call God to witness c. which is indeed not less nor more than an Oath and this pleases some of them that could Swear before but some it displeases who say the Act do them no good for whatever is more than yea yea nay nay is swearing Well but may some say have not the Quakers Merrited the favour bestowed on them yea by the rule of contraries for the Quakers have Recogniz'd the Parliament Antichrists the Beast that carry the Whore and that it 's as commendable to give Liberty of Conscience to the Papists nay to a People that worship false Gods graven Images c. as to tollerate Episcopacy the false Church whose Bowels they have ripped up adding that the Common Prayer Book is Popery and from the Loyns of the Pope receiv'd its Strength c. And the Parliament have as they pretend and often boast Recogniz'd them Protestant Dissenters give them their Liberty without any restraint but how not knowing them nor their Principles but as Constantius was are mistaken in them whose Books and Carriages are of two sorts I remember the last Whitsuntide in Northcoat's Shop in George-yard Lombard-street W. Mead the great Quaker asked me if I broke Bread with the Church of England I said yea what said he dost thou lick up thy old Vomit I 'll warrant you he said no such word to the Worthy Members of the House of Commons nor to the Bishops of the Church no no as their Books carry two different Faces so do their Carrage and if it be Criminal to conceal Treason against my natural Prince what is it to conceal these Impostors who undervalue the Death and Sufferings of Christ condemn his Laws despise his Ordinances revile his Magistrates and reproach his Ministers which I hope this Book fully sets forth and which I stand ready to prove out of their Books upon G. W.'s Proposition to the Parliament as cited by me in the First Part p. 123. And until they do so meet and if proved upon them then Retract them they are not to be believed tho' in their Meetings they like the Magitians in Moses's time may make the likeness of the same Confession and Profession that G Keith and others do as well as in their late Books yet while their other Books which teach the contrary stand uncondemned the Quakers are Quakers still and their Principles diametrically opposite to all Christians Saints and Martyrs in all Ages and they ought to be guarded against as Enemies to Church and State May 5. 97. F. E. A Short Map of Quakerism Reader HAving since the foregoing was Printed off seen a Book Entituled Some Seasonable Reflections upon the Quakers Protestation against the Proceedings at Turners-hall April 29. 1697. c. Wrote by an Ingenious Hand Wherein the said Author marvels as well he may that the Quakers should Accuse G. Keith for Invading of Property who themselves hold it no Sin to Invade the Properties of others as in the Case of Tyth's which are as much the Property 's of the Clergy Confirmed by Act of Parliament as any Man's Estate in England nay not only so but as the Author well observes in other things from several Particulars which G. Fox c. sent to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Printed 1659. p. 8. 32. Particular viz. Let all those Fines that belong to Lords of Mannors be given to the Poor for Lords have enough Particular 29. Let all those Abby-lands Gleab-lands that is given to the Priests be given to the Poor of the Nation let all the Abby's Steeple-houses and Whitehall be for Alms-houses for the Blind and the Lame to be there And in the fore mentioned Address to the Parliament 1659. Subscribed by above 7000 Quakers p. 59. 63 and 65. They require that the Late King as these Rebels Stil'd him his Rents Parks and Houses should be Sold and all the Colledges and Lands and the very Bells out of the Churches except one in a Town to give notice of Fire c. This was no Invading of Property in them but for G. Keith or any others to Detect their Errors this is Incroaching upon their Properties as English-men yea forsooth Persecution But say's Edward Burrough in his Word of Advice to the Souldiers p. 2. Give the Priests Blood to drink for they are worthy Slay Baal turn the Hirelings out of the Kingdom c. Here was no design of Persecution or hurting any Man's Property or of Reviling and Blemishing the Reputation of Free-born English-men and exposing them to the Fury of the Mob to the Scorn Contempt and Rage of the mixt Multitude who are Unmeet to Judge of Religious Controversies as these Meek Lambs the Quakers urge against G. Keith in their Protestation c. And that they are not chang'd see their last Yearly Epistle 1696. Wherein they Exhort their Disciples not to be mov'd at the Objections against their Doctors But to hold up the Holy Testimony of Truth which hath made us say they a People to God and Preserved us unto this Day And that in all the parts of it for Truth is one and changes not and what it convinc'd us of to be Evil in the beginning it Reproves still c. i. e. The Church of England and all the Magistrates Kings Lords and Commons to be Serpents Devils and Scarlet-coloured Beasts c. For Truth is one say they and changes not i. e. Quak. who are and always have been in the Truth have not chang'd at all since the beginning So that 't is plain that as they are the same still so have they made themselves answerable for all that have been said by them since their
this very Testimony from this Great Prophet of theirs Printed 1659. and Reprinted in 1672. by Whitehead and the Chief Quakers Approbation and at the same time too when the Quakers were seeking Favour was such a piece of Impudence as Arius never had But to proceed to my 4th and last Head proposed viz. Who are in the Quakers Account True and Orthodox Preachers since all that Baptise with Water all that Study the Scriptures and Preach out of them all that Preach Christ without as he is in Heaven above all that take Receive or pay Tyth's are false Ministers Witches Devils c. In a word all not Quakers for so they affirm The Quakers Challenge c. p. â— Come Protestants Presbyterians Independents and Baptists the Quakers deny you all p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they c. And therefore 't is highly necessary to know who they account true Preachers which are these that follow viz. 1. Such as Teach that the Name of Christ belong to every Member of the Body as well as to him that Suffered at Jerusalem that his Body was but a Vail a Garment c. and which they can never call Christ that his Person was no more to his Disciples then another Person but for the sake of the Spirit Frame and Temper that dwelt in him his Disciples loved him that Christ is not God and Man in one Person For Proof hereof see Is Pennington's Question to Professors c. p. 20. to 33. Will Bayly's Works p. 300. 307. The Sword of the Lord Drawn c. p. 5. 2. Such as deny the Blessed Trinity see W. Penn's Sandy Foundation c. p. 15. to 20. and W. Penn's Christian Quaker and his Dev. Testimony p. 98. 3. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are Dust Death Serpents Food that the Sacraments are Dust that Matthew Mark Luke and John are Serpents Meat Dust and Beastly Ware and such as propose it doubtful whether Moses or Hermes was the 1st Pen-man of the Scripture and whether some of it was not spoke by the Grand Imposter some by Wicked Men some by Wise Men ill Applyed some by Good Men ill Expressed some by False Prophets and yet True some by True Prophets and yet False for Proof see The Quakers Refuge Fixed c. p. 17. News coming out of the North c. p. 14. David's Enemies Discovered c. p. 7. 4. Such as Teach that the Scriptures are not the Word of God and that so to Affirm is Blasphemy See G. Fox's Book Stiled Firebrands c. 2 part p. 159. Printed 1678. and his Great Mist c. p. 240. Printed 1659. 5. Such who Teach that the Quakers Writings are the Word of God given forth by the Eternal Spirit of God that we may as well burn the Scriptures as their Books Papers and Queries That if ever we own the Prophets Christ or the Apostles we will own their Books that what is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater for Proof See Truth 's Defence c. p. 2. 104 107. Fox's his Answer to the Westmorland Petitioners c. p. 3. both Printed 1653. likewise G. Whitehead's Serious Apology c. p. 49. A Brief Discovery c. p. 8. Several Papers given forth for spreading Truth c. p. 40. 6. Such as Teach that Water Baptism is no Ordinance of God but an Institution of the Whore of Rome And that the Practice of it is Idolatry and that such are bewitched to accept of those two Institutions of Christ Baptisme and the Lord's Supper For Proof News coming up out of the North c. p. 34. 35. A Musick Lecture p. 25. Burrough's Works p. 51. 518. William Smith's Primmer p. 36. 7. Such as Teach that the Quakers Sufferings are greater and more unjust than the Sufferings of Christ his Apostles and all the Marters since That the Sufferings Inflicted upon Christ his Apostles and Martyrs were chiefly done by a Law and in a great part by the due Execution of a Law see Burrough's Works p. 273. Behold Reader not only how they Magnifie their Sufferings the Blasphemy of their Doctors But the horrible Lye far exceeding that of Mahomet's Journey to Heaven as at large in that Learned Treatise Wrote by Dr. Prideaux Arch-deacon of Suffolk Entituled The Nature of an Imposture in the Life of Mahomet c. Printed 1697. Sold by W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet London 8. Such as Teach and leave it upon Record to Posterity that they Suffer 20 l. at a time for Preaching when they not only not suffer a penny but get ten pound clear by the Bargain as in this Book at large shewed in the Instance of that Self magnifying Teacher of theirs Samuel Cater of Little Port in the Isle of Ely See The lamentable Cry of Oppression c. p. 40. to the end Hadenham old Records c. 9. Such as Teach that the very Christ of God is within us his Sufferings within us that his offering himself as a Sacrifice is within us and by the scope of their Ancient Testimony deny him that was nail'd to the Cross Pierced c. to be Christ which their Light never was c. See Burrough's Works c. p. 149. W. Smith's Primmer p. 8. 9. and his Catechism p. 57. to 60. 10. Such as Teach that the Quakers have a a Spirit given them beyond all the Fore-fathers and thereby know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a word and that none need to give the Quakers Discerning or Judgment for Christ i. e. their Light doth furnish them at all times and on all occasions see G. Fox's Great Mist. p. 89. Judas and the Jews c. p. 58. 11. Such as Teach and that truly too that the Quakers are raised contrary to all Men yea ever since Noah's Flood and that they have given their Power only to God and that they cannot seek that 's a grand Lie the Parliament can bear me witness to outward Authority But stand Witness against Parliaments that 's true Judges Justices and to such Laws Customs Courts c. they cannot yield Obedidience that the Quakers Kingdom is from above and that they reject the Beasts Authority i. e. the Parliament and the Dragons Power And that the Quakers are gather'd up into the Life which the Holy Men of God lived in That they i. e. Quakers are fallen from the World and it's Ways and Nature That even the Father oh dreadful Blasphemy bears Witness of them and therefore their Witness is true Alluding as in many other Cases to Equalize themselves to Christ John 5. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me and I know the witness which he witnesseth of me is true that Teach saying What have you the publick Ministry lost the Lord to be your Strength that you must flee for Help to Men Must they make Laws to Establish
you and set you up Is not this the Whore that Rode upon the Beast and that the Beast meaning the Parliament carry her Again to the Parliament viz. You do but cause People to drink of the Whores Cup and you are but them that do carry the Whore viz. the False Church And this is plain Dealing to tell you the Truth for proof see Burrough's Works p. 50. 53 501 522 507. 521. 12. Such as Teach that the publick Ministry are Witches Devils Wolves Antichrists Sodomites c. The very bane of Soul and Body of the Universe That the Dissenting Ministers are an Ill-bred Pedantick Crew the bane of Religion and pest of the World the old Incendiaries to Mischief and best to be spared of Mankind against whom the boyling Vengeance of an Irritated God is ready to be poured out that they should give them i. e. the Clergy Blood to drink for they are worthy Turn the Hirelings out of the Kingdom that 't is as warrantable to tolerate Popery as Episcopacy that tolerating Episcopacy is making a League with Hell That all Kings and Emperors have sprung up in the Night of Apostacy that the Kings are Spiritual Aegyptians that such as dote on an Earthly King are Traytors that 't is a nasty and dirty thing to mention a House of Lords that all those Fines which belongs to Lords of Mannors should be given to the Poor that all Abby-lands Gleab-lands that is given to the Priests be given to the Poor of the Nation Judas was kind to the Poor that all the great Houses Abbies Steeple-houses the Kings Rents Parks and Houses should be Sold and all Colledg-lands and Bells out of the Churches except one in a Town to give notice of Fire That to take away the Priests Hour glass if you be moved to it is owned by the Eternal Power For proof of this Doctrine and five hundred times as much of the same Nature Read these Quotations for this is but a short Map of Quakerisme viz. G. Fox 's Great Mist p. 5. 30. to 40. A Serious Apol. c. p. 156. A Brief Discovery c. p. 7. 8. Several Papers given forth by G. Fox c. p. 8. 9 12 16 18. G. Fox's 59 Particulars sent to the Parliament Printed 1659. p. 8. 59 63 65. Burrough's Advice to the Souldiers p. 2. The Guide Mistaken by W. Penn c. p. 18. Reader I have in this little Map given thee a hint of the Doctrines of the Quaker Church I think they are so abominable Erronious Blasphemous and Uncharitable that they need no Comment and as to the Quaker Church their Bride and their Lambs Wife if you still ask me for a Discription of her I tell you they are a broken divided Sect who adhear to the Teachers of this Doctrine tho' in their Meetings before the World's People they sometimes talk a little otherwise but search their Books especially their old ones and they are not changed and this is the perfect Figure nay plain Words of their Doctrine But if any one or more will Condemn their Recited Errors publickly under their Hands they thenceforth are not of their Church but ought to be taken in as Protestants even as G. Keith and his Friends have done whom I neither Interrogate nor Accuse And now if after all their deluded Disciples will not be so noble as to search and after searching to to Renounce them and their Errors but will still remain willingly Ignorant it is a great sign that God has given them up to strong Delusion Reader the design of the Recited Book Intituled Some Reflections upon the Quakers Protestation c. And all that 's Wrote against them is only to bring them to a thorow Conviction of their Errors and to such an Acknowledgment and Confession of them as is Indispensible to a true Conviction there is nothing more desired of them than to Retract and disown what is proved to be Faulty in their Writings and such Faults too as are either Destructive to the Faith or Scandalous and so Sinful to the Reputation of their Neighbours in giving False and Uncharitable Representations of them And this they are obliged to do by all the Rulers of Christianity it being the smallest Satisfaction they can make to repair so far at least the Injuries that are thereby done to the Christian Doctrine and the Good Name of those they have Wrongfully Traduced they are the Aggressors they have Attack'd our Religion in all the Parts of it our Bishops and Clergy and our whole Constitution and we require no greater Amends for all that they have done against us then to say that they are sorry for it and though they should refuse us even this Justice and reasonable Security for the future yet we press for no Persecution against them for no Fines or Imprisonment but only that we should not be obliged to acknowledge them as true Protestants and that we may have Liberty to Justifie our Selves and Reliligion against the Calumnies with which they have loaded both And if this be refused us the Cry of Persecution will run on our side Is it no Persecution of the Tongue for the Quakers to Represent our Bishops and Clergy as the most odious of Mankind We grant their is a Toleration but 't is only for Religious Worship but with all caution that the Doors be open so as any may go in and see what they do but not to hold General Councels with their Doors Lock'd up or a Guard of three or four Stout Men to keep all out but whom they 'll admit and their Business is Government that 's plain which is no way within the Act of Parliament for there is a Clause in the Act p 307. Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Assembly of Persons Dissenting from the Church of England shall be had in any Place for Religious Worship †with the Doors lockt bard Mark tho' they do not always Bolt and Barr yet have they 3 or 4 lusty Fellows to keep Guard during their Convocation or bolted during any time of such Méeting together they shall not receive any benefit from this Law but be lyable to all the Pains and Penalties of all the aforesaid Laws c. which Prohibit all Convocations c. without the King's License much more to Enact Promulgate or Decree any Orders or Constitutions whatsoever Now if the Bishops and Clergy of England tho' Recogniz'd and Establish'd by Law wou'd incur a Premunire so much as to meet consult and debate tho' concerning only their own Order and Spiritual Jurisdiction without the King's Licence How then have the Quakers this Authority to hold their yearly Convocation without controle and with their Doors either lock'd and bar'd or a Guard at them and when there not only to make Laws for their People to observe but to Repeal if not Verbally yet Vertually the Laws of the Land And further If when the Clergy do meet in Council Convocation or