Goods was Distrained yet not a Penny worth sold and he kept this Ten Pound and never returned it and yet this is not all but in their Quarterly Book it was not long since Recorded as a Suffering Such Cheats there are amongst them and Thirty Pounds at a time for Writing five or six Sheets of Paper Fifty Pound per Annum for Clarks Wages as standing yearly Sallery and Twelve Pence for Writing a Marriage Certificate of Ten or Twelve Lines sometimes your people might publish their Intentions of Marriage at the Market-Cross or before a Magistrate if they were free so that here is Ambo-dexter indeed sometimes Liberty and by and by its taken away again by these Infallible Legislators so that when all comes to all it s no Body knows what but the Leading Quakers are all in all tot quot omnis Thus the Quakers Priests who talk for self Is fangling talk against it self ' Gainst Truth a prate a pitious preachment That can't make good its own Impeachment As Penn 's and VVhitehead 's Doctrine do Who heeds not well which way they go Fox and Sam. Cater dances round And round again in th' self same ground It staggers to and fro and reels Skips up and down and runs on wheels Starts aside like some broken Bow Crosses Christ like Cris-cross in the row Who so can feel in it may feel As 't were a wheel within a wheel A net gin trap a snare's in 't A whirlpool gulf a bottomless pit Wind dusk husk chaff no stable steeple A tale that takes unstable people A toy a cloud mist smoke a fog Right Quakerism yea a quavering bog A quick sand a quagmire that sucks Who 's in 't his feet out-seldom plucks Himself who 's in get seldom out It 's self's more seldom in than out It flutters like some night-blind batt Now here now there this way now that Now it is one thing then another And now and then nor t 'one nor t'other Sometimes it 's this sometimes it 's that Sometimes it 's this and this and that Sometimes it 's either this or that Sometimes 't is neither this nor that Now this not t'other anon it 's either Then by-and-by both both and neither One while it looks like so not no Another while like no not so One way it seems or so or no Another way nor no nor so Some way it shews both so and no So 't is a mere endless no and so Postscript To write no more I long since did intend But none but God knows now when I shall end For still I find when I think all is done As much to write as when I first begun Jan. 1. 1686. Fra. Bugg Reader I have transcribed the more of this former Book of mine Intituled The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. by reason George Whitehead in his Book styled The Contentious Apostate c. recites the first Point then under Consideration which was How I came to be a Member of their Society But the second Point under Consideration which was How I came to see and perceive their Apostacy and leave them And the third Point under Consideration which was How and by what means I came to have satisfaction in going to the Publick I say these two last Points G. W. takes no notice of For I having in the first Point acknowledged what I then apprehended he represents it as if I was of the same Judgment when I went to the Publick for if that be not his intent he speaks in the Air and to no purpose Now if I at the time of my going to Church was in the belief that the Quakers were in the true Faith true Worship spiritual Testimony attended with that Simplicity c. which I in 86. thought them to be in as I did in 1660 c. Then I grant I had gone self-condemned because I had acted contrary to my belief But to answer that so long as I had those thoughts I kept to them nay longer But when I went to the publick that part of my Book now recited shews my mind sufficiently and my judgment concerning them to which I refer the Reader Obj. Well but still George seems to object that I did once own them to have been the true Church and therefore to leave them is SELF-CONDEMNED APOSTACY Answ I marvel G. W. should think that to be Apostacy for if that be sound Arguing then I will prove most of the Ancient Quakers self condemned Apostates since they have separated from the Church of England or some other Protestant Churches which they once owned to be a true Church And to confirm this my opinion and judgment I will produce a good Author in my Esteem whatever he be in G. W.'s and that is Archbishop Cranmer that Innocent Martyr whose life is worthy to be had in Imitation by all English Protestants for he was the principal Instrument under GOD and the King that threw off the Popes yoke of Supremacy c. Foxes Acts and Mon. p. 1488. Well let us hear what he says In the beginning the Church of Rome taught a pure and sound Doctrine But after the Church of Rome fell into a new Doctrine of Transubstantiation I marvel that any man would allow it if they knew what it is But whatsoever they bear the people in hand that which they write in their Books have neither truth nor comfort Now George was this Martyr a self-condemned Apostate let me have your opinion in your next He said as much in commendation of the Roman Church as I ever said of yours and by the way I believe upon better grounds For I must tell you I am not of the same mind I was in in 1686. concerning you in the beginning since I have of late examined your ancient Errors and observed the consequences of them but of that more anon I say was this Arch-bishop an Apostate for that he owns she was once a true Church And yet he separated from her and says there is neither truth nor comfort in their Books though perhaps she pretended like her youngest Daughter See your 6 principle that she gave forth her Papers and Printed Books from the eternal and immediate Spirit of GOD and that they were of greater Authority than the Scriptures yet you hear Dr. Cranmers opinion that there is neither truth nor comfort in their Books And I am of the same opinion concerning most of yours and do as much marvel that the people will allow your Books many of them at least which you pretend to be of such Authority so immediately given forth by GOD's holy Spirit when they are filled much with nonsense lyes forgeries false doctrine blasphemies yea I do as much wonder at your People Defence of the Apology of the Church of England p. 460 461. as this good Man did at the Papists your Ancestors since the Papists could not be worse And if you will see the 460 and 461 Pages in the
Remark at present I come next to shew what Slight and Contempt they have cast on the Scriptures in order to invalidate their Certainty and Authority and therein to shew G. W. how they value their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures both in words as well as in practice as I shall shew anon for I am not picking at the Rine now but plucking at the Root And tho I must confess they are sturdy Oaks yet the Ax that is laid will level them unless they repent which I pray GOD they may if it be his Will Amen First That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater Serious Apology page 49. By G. Whitehead in his Serious Apology p. 49. G. Whitehead's Ishmael p. 10. Secondly That which is written is the Letter which is Death and killeth Way to the Kingdom p. 8. Thirdly The Scriptures are a declaration of the Word the Husk Fourthly The Letter of the Scripture is carnal Saul's Errand to Damascus p. 7. and the Letter is Death and killeth In one of their Books * The Quakers Refuge fix'd on the Rock of Ages p. 17. they thus query viz. Whether the first Penman of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these or not one Or whether there are not many words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some words were not spoken by the grand Imposture some by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill expressed some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false Now Reader setting aside the Contempt George Fox George Whitehead and others anciently threw upon the Scriptures as Carnal Dust the Serpent's Meat Husk not of that Authority with what is said to be spoken from the Spirit of Truth and the like I say setting aside THAT what can be the natural Tendency of these Queries but to prejudice the weak Readers against the Authority of the Scriptures especially such who take Examples of them in that they never read a Chapter in their Meetings for the Worship of GOD. If what the true Prophets spake be FALSE If what good Men spake be ILL EXPRESSED If what wise Men spake be ILL APPLIED Then what is there left besides what was spoken by true Prophets good Men and wise Men If there be any as you seem to suggest that 't is spoken by the grand Impostor and by wicked Men and false Prophets c. And if there be some little left that was spoken by true Prophets and is true some by good Men well expressed some by wise Men rightly applied Yet you not having made any distinction who shall know what is true from that which is false that which is well expressed and rightly applied from the contrary since you have left these three wretched Questions unresolved and the Scriptures doubtful ambiguous and uncertain robbing them of that Authority which GOD's People from Age to Age have justly attributed to them As for the five Books of Moses who wrote them Moses or Hermes is now put into the world as a Question Yea whether either or neither be the Author of those Books Yea these very Writings of Moses which I never heard question'd before are now proposed whether Moses or Hermes be the Author of them Now if Moses and Hermes be all one then why is the Query put unless you would have Moses to be Hermes and not Hermes to be Moses And so Moses being lost and Hermes only a Philosopher in Egypt being found the Books going under the Name of Moses's shall be lost also If this was not your mind why do you fill the world with such Atheistical Queries c Christ himself often quoted the Writings of Moses * See Mark 12.16 Luke 16.29 Luke 24.27 Acts 3. Luke 26.27 44. and so did the Apostles I never till now took so much notice of this your wretched Design to bring the Scriptures into Contempt that so you might exalt your own unwritten Traditions and therefore there is Reason enough in this to shew that forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith CHAP. V. Shews that the Forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith IN my Book One Blow more at NEW ROME c. I gave six Reasons why I compared the Quakers to New Rome Rome's Sister c. Amongst which one was That they value their unwritten Traditions above the Scriptures five of those six G. W. never touches But that of their valuing their unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures he says is a Lye without giving any one Demonstration c. And therefore to justifie my Charge That you value your unwrit Traditions above the Scriptures I prove thus First it never was from first to last your practice to read any one Chapter of the Bible nor any one Epistle of Paul Peter or any of the Apostles in your Meetings for Worship of GOD when as you have read the Epistles of Robert Sandyland Samuel Cater William Penn George Whitehead and Stephen Crisp with as much Attention and Devotion as the Papists do their Legends and this with what is writ in Chap. IV. is sufficient to prove the Point for I take all which is written in opposition to or in competition with the Scriptures to be unwritten Traditions Now if I can make it first appear that it is a principle of the Papists not to read the Scriptures in their Churches And secondly That it was and is the practice of Protestants to read the Scriptures in their Churches and Assemblies for the Worship of GOD then I hope Geo. Whitehead will not blame me for calling them New Rome who in almost every point follows their Example And also I hope it will be a caution to many of the Quakers to look about them who shall find themselves led by their Teachers into the very Road and High way to Rome before ever they so much as thought of it nay that they are in her very Borders and Territories when they thought all had been well and that they had been as their Teachers tell them and would make them believe even in the Heights of Sion in the Truth and none but THEY and that amongst them ONLY is God known elected before the world began and the like First Then to shew that it was against the principles of the Papists to read the Scriptures in their Churches Mr. HARDING against JEWEL By the Instinct of Satan Defence of the Apol. of Ch. of England p. 580. ye have brought the People from Devotion to careless Idleness from speaking to God with Hearts and Lips to a spiritual Dumbness from Prayers to Chapters from holy Think or silent meeting to unprofitable Hearing Thus much from one of the ablest the Pope had to defend his Errors by which the Reader may observe that
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 O haste to to the Work abovesaid least the wrath of the Lord overtake thee before it be done and be reconciled to Geo. Fox who is Gods Friend and the Servant of the living God and great Apostle of Jesus Christ haste away to the North for thy time is short and go quickly thou and thy Brother if possibly you may bring again to the Body of Jesus Christ those ye have scattered least that their Blood be required at your hands Arise quickly and be going For this is the word of the Lord to thee That this year shalt thou John Story dye because thou hast taught Rebellion against the living God The first Day of the first Month 1677. Soll. Eccles. See the first part of Babels Builders unmasking themselves by Thomas Crisp p 15. Oh the Impudence of this Imposture and false Prophet of G. Fox In that First he avouched Womens Meetings to be the Good Ordinances of Jesus Christ which he had set up in his Church Secondly In saying that to the reconciled to the Body of the Quakers which he deemed to be the Body of Christ was the only way to find Mercy Thirdly In delivering that great Lye in the Name of the Lord. This year shalt thou John Story dye who at that time was very ill and not like to recover but it pleased God that he lived about four years after Fourthly This was he even he that burnt his Fiddles on Tower-hill Fifthly This was he yea even he that went as a great sign and notable wonder stark naked with a Pan of Coals on his Head to Bartholomew-Fair enough to deceive the very Elect as Christ said if it were possible Sixthly This is he who in his Musick Lector c. p. 22. said viz. I do affirm that if John the Apostle had said he had been a Sinner he had lyed Seventhly This is he yea even that false Prophet who writ thus of G. Fox his Master viz. A Prophet indeed it was said of Christ he was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not So it may be said of this true Prophet G. Fox whom John said he was not Quakers Chal. p. 6. Now Reader Upon our Christian Creed this is down-right Blasphemy But according to the Quakers Principles it harmonizes with their Creed which is doubtless the very reason why they never to this day condemned it by publick Censure mark the fifth Branch of their Creed which is as followeth The Quakers Creed V. THE Light Christ The Great Mist c. by G. Fox p. 254. by which all things were made and created glorified with the Father before the World began which the Scripture testifies of is above the Scripture before the Scripture was they that be not in this Christ are Reprobates in which the Scripture end and testifie of and so is Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever that the Saints came to witness within them not another Christ nor many Christs c. Remark Now who can blame Soll. Eccles upon the Quakers Creed for saying first That G. Fox was in the World secondly that the World was made by him thirdly that the World knew him not as to the first my self and Thousands more can bear him witness as to the second according to their Creed last recited the same Christ by which all things were made and Created is in them which if true then that proves sufficiently what Eccles says and as to the third see p. 1. of G. Fox his own Book call'd News coming out of the North c. which says viz. Writ from the Mouth of the Lord Cloathed with Righteousness whose Name is not known in the World risen up out of the North which if true who can blame Sollomon For though he was not a wise Man he was a Prophet I mean one of Geo. Fox's Prophets According to the old Proverb as was the Master so was the Man viz. Both false Prophets false Pretenders and great Impostors Indeed G. Whitehead in his Vindication of Solomon in his Book Serious Search p. 58. does a little complain in a little failer in Syntax but to amend it and to help Sollomon Eccles John Blackling and other Idolaters in the right wording the Matter he says Judgment fixed c. p. 19. For I affirm G. Fox doth deny the same in reference to himself as a perticular Man or Person whose Days and Years are limited only the truth of the Immortal Seed Christ in him he stands to maintain against all Opposers and Persecuting Gain-sayers and Apostates See also his Innocency against Envy c. p. 18. to the same purpose so that had Solomon said the Light in G. Fox was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not he had then acted according to their innate Principle and suitable to their Creed which had been I say equally Idolatrous and Blasphemous The Quakers Creed VI. A brief Discovery of a Three-fold Estate of Antichrist p. 15. ALL teaching which is given forth by Jesus Christ is to bring up the hearers to Perfection even to the Measure Stature and Fulness of Christ this the Scripture witnesseth and I witness the Scripture fulfilled in me G. Fox * See your Book Intituled A New England Firebrand quenched being an Answer to a Book put forth by Mr. Roger Williams intituled Geo. Fox digged out of his Burrow c. in two parts containing 488 pages in Quarto one thing is worthy of observation that where the said Firebrand takes notice of G. Fox's great Mistery Yea and may well also be ashamed of the said Firebrand which is as full of Errors almost as Leafs and yet G. VVhitehead in the second part p 236 assists G. Fox what he can with a Marginal Note c. of which perhaps more hereafter It is no horrible Blasphemy to say the Soul is a part of God c. G. Fox's Answer to the Westm Pet. p. 33. If ever you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Writings you will own our Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and Power Truths Defence c. p. 21 to 24. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries for our giving forth Papers oâ— Printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God p. 92. we are elected to Salvation we have the Witness within us Praises be to the Glorious Lord God for ever who hath elected and chosen us before the Foundation of the World But thou meaning the Querist art ordained of old for Condemnation and Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate one that hates
but in this next let him acknowledge hat he hath made such Confession as craved such Pardon If he should say he did or that it is their practice his People would witness against him as a Lyer for upon their principles of Perfection and Infallibility it is impossible for him or them to make such a Confession and ask such Pardon since the year 1654 when he came forth in the Ministry as he pretends and then he says something Again VVhen the Author of the Book The Qua. Volumn c. recits part of their own Declaration viz. We have chosen the Son of God to be our King and he hath chosen us to be his People and he might command Thousands and Ten Thousand of his Servants at this day to Fight in his Cause He might lead them forth and bring them in and give them Victory over all their Enemies and turn His Hand upon their Persecutors neither can we yet believe that He will make use of us in that way Tho it be his only Right to Rule in all Nations and our Heirship to Possess the utmost parts of the Earth but for the present we are given up to bear and suffer all things for His Name sake Which is a plain Demonstration that when they gave forth that Declaration they did not know but God would make use of them in that way though they did not as yet believe he would but that for the Present they were given up to suffer c. Oh but says G. W. this Particle Yet is not rightly Construed they have put ad huc for tamen when 't is as plain as Possibly it can that according to our usual Dialect and according to the Grammatical sense too that the word yet relates to time and ought not to be rendered tamen viz. Nevertheless as is more evidently made appear in a Printed Letter to E. S. Esq Stiled Some Remarks c. p. 4. to which I refer the Reader Well might Christ say Woe be to you Scribes and Pharises and Hypocrites which strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camiel Mat. 23. For they have taught their People to be so stiff and Stout * I once was one of them but I thank God I am escaped their Snar and perceive their Juggles and do now abhor their deep Hypocrisie c. as that they will not pay their Assestments to the Trained Soldiers and that under a pretence that it is not lawful to use nor yet to contribute towards the use of a Carnal Weapon And yet at the same time they have and can pay to the Royal Aide Tax and that of carrying on the War against the Dutch and carrying on the War against the French As if it was not as great an evil to pay towards an actual Offensive War as to pay towards the sending out our Trained Solders for the Defence of our Nation Not granting either to be an evil when there is just cause for it But I mention this to shew how our Pharises Strains at a Gnat and Swallows a Camiel For of the Two an Offensive War is not so necessary as a Defensive War Good Reader These are the People that exalt themselves above all other Professors whatever reckoning all save themselves to be of the World out of the Truth Heathens Apostates and without the Poale of the Church and themselves the only People of God and that they and they only are in the Truth and for distinguishing themselves from others they have taken up some singular Observations as saying thou not you to a single Person calling no Man Mr. but John Thomas William c. and the like not that I thank you for any kindness but I receive thy Love not carrying the Feet but the Head foremost of their Dead they condemn the Courtesie of putting of the Hatt to any others though of their Apprentices they exact it to themselves * This Piece of Hypocrisie I testifyed against more then 16 Years since which was before S. Cater and I did differ about his fine by Letter to their then Yearly Meetings In short they affected singularity in most things that are Customary in England how Innocent soever now I would ask my Reader what of real Vertue or singular Goodness is in these things suppose the whole world did observe them would they be at all the better for it However by these things they have cut off all others how Religious and Sincere soever Read the Quakers Unmasked c. p. 26. And there you shall see that their great Prophet G. Fox believed himself to be in a State beyond the First Adam that fell and in the State of the Second Adam that never fell that his very Marriage was above the State of the First Adam in his Innocency In the State of the Second Adam that never fell and that he never fell nor changed That he had Power to bind and loose whom he pleased and much to the same purpose The next thing I shall observe to the Reader is whereas they have often Called Printed and Exposed me a Contentious Apostate a Self condemned Apostate c. That I have endeavoured to avoid Contention and that I am not what they represent me I must devide these Two charges viz. Contentions from a Self condemned Person which last I Reserve to speak more fully to in the body of the Book since 't is only a finer and softer word for a Heretick and therefore though at present they have not power to do much mischief yet they have Malice they have Envy they have False Glossings they have the Art of Forgery they can Invert Pervert VVrest Amuse and Abuse their Reader And by keeping behind the Curtain they can mislead wise Men for they have their Evasions their Equivocations their Mental Reservations viz. Only let forth so much at a time as that the unwary Reader would take them to be plain simple and well meaning and that they had no Skill in the Art of Juggling But if you mark well what I say you shall find that they can pretend to meet to Dispute their Opposers Priests or Professors and for that Reason too that Truth may be manifest and Error denyed disowned and rejected But behold they mean no such thing it is far from their Intention as anon will appear they can call all the Doctors and Schollers in Europe out of their Holes Dens c. As if they themselves were ready to come forth into the Field with their Slings and Stones and Bags but alas t is but like the Jugglers striking up his Sleeves and making bare his Arms. And the like I say tis what they never mean for 't is impossible to get them out of their Holes Dens and Lurking places where they lye Skulking to deceive the People Thus Reader you see they have got the Papists Tools and Implements I know of nothing wanting but the Law on their Side and therefore I am concerned to Vindicate my Christian
many c. I say when thou seest this their erroneous Princiciple and considers that they reckon none Believers but themselves thou wilt begin to see a necessity for a Testimony to be born against them tho' they rail and rave because thereof like their Predecessor Mr. Harding I say when these erroneous Principles and the Consequences of them come to thy view thou mayest then consider whether I have been vainly contentious yea or nay I know if thou wilt observe G. Whitehead and his Brethrens Advice they would like their Elder Sister have thee Read but one side burn and consume such Books as rip up their Errors for Errour loves obscurity they would have you believe as the Church viz. as they believe without any farther Examination and to pin your Faith on their Sleeves But if you obey then know that you are upon the Borders of Rome let their pretences for their direction and yours for your blind Obedience be never so fairly gilded and curiously painted And therefore I beseech thee and that for thy Souls sake search thou the Scriptures as Christ biddeth thee Learn to know the Will of God as St. Paul himself adviseth thee have pleasure in God's holy Word as the Prophet David warneth thee and thou shalt never be deceived But be able to try all things and inclined to hold fast that which is good Which that we may all do is the Desire and Prayer of thy Faithful Monitor MILDEN-HALL January 12. 1691. Fran. Bugg New Rome UNMASK'D AND HER Foundation Shaken c. CHAP. I. Shewing that the forsaking the Quakers is no errour from the Articles of the Christian Faith AS a Preface to what I have set forth from their own Writings to be their Principles I think it needful to incert the Terms upon which I offered to dispute with them in order to prove them erroneous and the rather because I took them out of Edward Burough's Epistle in the Front of his Works which they printed in Folio and in the Works of G. Fox his Great Mist c. which I also left with the Quakers at their publick Meeting in Milden-Hall November 22. 1691. referring them to Book and Page out of which I collected their said Principles giving them a Months time to appear in their defence that so neither for want of time nor yet the knowledge of the Books they might plead a surprize or that they had not fair dealing c. I also then did signifie to them that if they did not appear in their Vindication I should print them All this like a fair Antagonist I have done leaving them without Excuse And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the World (a.) Deceit for if so you would have met and not declined a dispute that we may freely and chearfully 4 10 20 30 more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors A Meeting for dispute (b.) A very sham your declining the dispute hath discovered you at every place in England (c.) If so why then at Milden-hall at what time and for what continuance as they shall ascribe and consent unto And to dispute and controvert between us and them any such thing and eveâ—y such particular (d.) Are not the following particulars of Moment for you to make out if you can work a Miracle as shall be objected That by such dispute and opening of such causes objected Full and Real and total satisfaction may be given to the whole Nation and every particular Member therein (e.) If you indeed meant as you make shew of in your boasting why did you not appear and answer my challenge defend your selves your Tenents and Principles otherwise let the Priests and Professors or any of them Object what they can against us in our Principle Faith Practice and our whole Religion (f.) That 's a grand lye spoken in deep Hypocrisie for your guilty Conscisciences will not suffer you to meet And they shall have free liberty to give Proof and Reason for what they affirm and alledge and upon this race will ingage with them and with any of our Enemies (h.) Another lye spoken in Hypocrisie or what Sect and Profession soever to the intent only that Truth may be manifest (g.) What a plain Evasion is this I know not what mental Reservation they had or could have and imbraced and Deceipt and Error discorded and denyed And let such whether them or us that cannot prove our selves to be the true Church of Christ nor of the true worship and true Religion but 't is found to be in the errour and out of the Truth let such deny their Religion and Church and Renounce their Faith and confess to all the World under their hands that they are and have been deceived and freely upon these Issues and Conditions we will joyn Tryal with them let them appoint Time and Place What are you not ashamed Did I not appoint time and place according to your own Conditions and Proposals this is as Hypocritical as G. Whitehead's seinged Prayer in his Book Judgment fixed p. 356 357. and profer Terms at their own pleasure c. These Proposals of theirs having a fair countenance I carried them read them and the Principles as I have observ'd which were as follows And because they shall have no occasion to complain of any wrong I shall in this Column set down their own words verbatim out of their own Books quoting Book and Page In this Column I set forth their Principles unmask'd in their Native Complexion that they as in a glass may behold their own Tenets and others beholding them may be caution'd to be aware of them 1. The Quakers Books 1. Geo. Fox his great Myst p. 89. c. being charged that they pretended to a high pitch of discerning of Knowing who are Saints Devils c. made Answer Here thou hast shewed that the Quakers have a Spirit given to them beyond all the Fore-fathers which we do witness since the days of the Apostles in the Apostacy And they can discern who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates without speaking ever a Word 1. The Quakers Principles 1. We have a Spirit given to us beyond all the Fore-fathers since the Apostles days And we know and can discern who are Saints who are Apostates and who are Devils without speaking ever a Word 2. The Quakers Books 2. Judas and the Jews p. 58. We need none to give us discerning or Judgment Christ hath furnish'd us already and doth in all occasions 2. The Quakers Principles 2. We need none to give us discerning or Judgment Christ hath furnish'd us already and doth in all occasions 3. The Quakers Books 3. A Question to the Professors p. 33. viz. Now the Scriptures do expresly distinguish between Christ and the raiment which He wore between Him that came and the Body in which He came between the substance
which was vailed and the Vail which vailed it Loe I come a Body hast thou prepared me There is plainly He and the Body in which He came There was the outward vessel and the inward Life This we certainly know and can never call the bodily Garment Christ And his flesh is a figure c. says G. F. Saul's Errand p. 14. 3. The Quakers Principles 3. He that was born of the Virgin Mary He that sat upon Jacob's Well He that wept when Lazarus was raised He that hungered after he had fasted forty days in the Wilderness He that was peirsed with a Spear crowned with Thorns Spit upon smote with the palms of their hands crucified dyed and was buried is not the Christ the Saviour of the World but they say a Figure a Garment a Vail c. Oh horrid Blasphemy 4. The Quakers Books 4. A Question to the Professors per Is Penington p. 27. Is not the Substance the Life the Annointing called Christ where-ever it is found doth not the Name belong to the whole Body and every Member in the Body as well as to the Head and are they not all of one yea all one in the Anointing and in Saul's Errand c. p. 8. G. F. says He that hath the same Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with GOD. What an Abominable Assertion is this 4. The Quakers Principles 4. The Name Christ belongs to the whole Body as well as to the Head And to every Member of the Body the Name is not given to the Vessel but to the Nature to the heavenly Treasure to that which is of Him in the Vessel And he that hath the same Spirit which raised up Jesus from the dead is equal with God In short all the Members of Christ's body deserve the Name of Christ as well and as authentickly as He that suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem and as certain that every such an one that hath the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead every such an one is equal with GOD. O horrid 5. The Quakers Books 5. Edward Burrong's Works p. 47. That is no Command from God to me what he Commands to another neither did any of the Saints which we read of in Scripture act by the Command which was given to another not having the Command to themselves 5. The Quakers Principles 5. That is no Command to me which was a Command to another neither did any of the Saints act by a Command that was given to another 6. The Quakers Books 6. Serious Apology by Geo. Whitehead p. 49. verbatim also Truths Defence by G. F. and R. H. p. 90. 94. 269. 6. The Quakers Principles 6. That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Authority as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. The Letter of the Scripture is carnal is death and killeth Serpent like thou feedest upon Dust which is the Letter 7. The Quakers Books 7. Truths Defence c. p. 104. For our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God p. 2. You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the fire as our Queries 7 The Quakers Principles 7. We say you may as well condemn the Scriptures to the fire as our Papers and Queries our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God 8. The Quakers Books 8. Now he that is not infallible in his Judgment Counsel and Advice is not he in errour And are not the Ministers of Christ the Ministers of the Spirit And is not that out of the errour which is infallible in Counsel and Judgment This I say None be Ministers of the Spirit nor none be in the Spirit nor none have the Spirit of Christ nor the Holy Ghost nor the Spirit of the Father speaking in them but who have that which is infallible And thou sayest That the holiest man is not able to give an infallible Character of another man hast not thou in this discovered thy self to be no Minister of Christ or of the Spirit who cannot give an infallible Character of another mans state how canst thou minister to his Condition Geo. Fox his Great Mystery c. p. 33. 82. 107. 8. The Quakers Principles 8. None are Ministers of Christ but such as are infallible none are Ministers of Christ but such as can give an infallible Character of another mans state none are Ministers of Christ but such as are infallible in their Counsel Judgment and Advice 9. The Quakers Books 9. The Quakers Challenge p. 6. Edward Burroughs Epistle to the Camp of the Lord in England c. p. 16. Truths Defence c. p. 81. 92. Be astonish'd Oh Reader when thou readest these blasphemous Assertions And what good things G. Fox assigns without Condition or Terms but absolute for themselves And what misery woe and horror for others without any Terms or Repenting or Mercy of God Oh dreadful And yet these are but little of what might be collected But the consequences of this Luciferian Pride is abominable and pernicious to the Christian Religion 9. The Quakers Principles 9. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they Above all the Families of the Earth the Tabernacle of God is with you and his dwelling Place is among you and only among you is God known We are elected to Salvation we have the Witness within us Praises be to the glorious Lord God for ever who hath elected and chosen us before the foundation of the World But thou art ordained meaning the Minister of old for Condemnation and for Perdition among the ungodly ones and art a Reprobate Thou Enemy of God and man of Sin for Destruction thou art ordained to go therein thy fear of it doth begin and the Lake that burneth and the Pit thou art for to be turned into Eternally G. Fox 10. The Quakers Books Josiah Cole's Letter to G. F. from Barbadoes 21. 12. Month 1658. Dear Geo. Fox Who art the Father of many Nations whose Life hath reached through us thy Children even to the Isles a far off to the begetting many again to a lively hope for which Generations to come shall call thee Blessed whose Being and Habitations is in the Power of th Highest in which thou rules and governs in Righteousness and thy Kingdom is established in Peace and the Increase thereof is without end This is vindicated by W. Pen. See Judas and the Jews c. p. 44. and in Innocency against Envy p. 18. excused by Geo. Whitehead 10. The Quakers Principles Idolatrous and Blasphemous 11. The Quakers Books 11. Good Advice to the Church of England Rom. Cath. and Protestant Dissenters by W. P. p. 39. Edw. VI. succeeded a Prince that promised Vertues that might more than ballance the Excesses of his Father and yet by Archbishop Cranmar was compelled to sign a Warrant to burn poor Joan of Kent a famous Woman but counted an Enthusiast Thus
Defence of the Apology of the Church of England you will find Bishop Jewel of Archbishop Cranmer's Judgment c. Obj. But G. W. in his Book styled The Contentious Apostate c. p. 17. argues a little learnedly viz. But Francis Bugg is fallen back-sliden and apostaliz'd from his Testimony which he bore amongst the said People THEREFORE HE is the APOSTATE and not WE So that he cannot be right now if he was right then But if he says he is now of another judgment then this is to condemn F. B's own testimony to the truth of our Doctrine and Conversation which he hath given since he turned to the Clergy and Church of England And I could not find that either F. B. or his Minister could clear him of this Dilemma if ever he was in the truth while he was among the People called Quakers or in society with them he must be in the error now in his turning back to the Priests and Church of England Answ Come George I think it is easie to clear my self from this Dilemma and to escape your Snare for tho I thought well of you in the beginning yet you abuse your Reader to make him believe and think I thought so well of you in 86 No far was such a thing from me Viz. The Quakers Detected c. as may very well be seen by what I have herein incerted of THAT Book which you boast so much of for my Testimony of you INDEED I must say I had in 86. better thoughts of you with respect to your beginning than I now have and if by reason of them good thoughts I had of you I was in an Error as if it will do you any good I will tell you I was yet this doth not render me an Apostate for if so you will make all the Martyrs and Protestants that had ever any good thnughts of the Romish Church APOSTATES then you will be Rome indeed and she ought to give you the right hand of Fellowship But I would hope you are not gotten so far as yet tho I think you are marching on apace for she accounts all Apostates and Hereticks that are not of her Faith And truly you do little less in that you charge me to be A SELF-CONDEMNED APOSTATE for that I gave my charitable opinion of you in the beginning If you were not what you then pretended to be as I now believe you were not I was then the more mistaken and in the greater Error all this I grant But who was in the fault you or I I am sure you ought to have been sincere humble and meek as I took you to be and the fault was yours if you were not so and the more you make People believe you to be what in reality you are not the more you will have to answer for And if I was in an Error in taking you to be what you were not even so was Martin Luther who was a zealous Fryer who said * Foxes Acts and Monum p. 410. If the Lord refused not to have Testimony given against his Doctrine how much more I that am but vile Corruption and can do nothing but err c. Here you see that if I was in an Error a better Man than either G. W. or F. B. does not think himself too good to own he was in an Error And that it may still appear that good Men have been mistaken in and by the cunning crafty Papists as much as I was in your fair Pretences and smooth DEMURE Carriage as if you could not hurt a Worm when the poyson of Asps was under your Tongue I will produce one Instance more and then proceed to shew more Reasons why the forsaking you is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith I am said Hugh Latimer that laborious Preacher and blessed Martyr Ignorant of things which I trust hereafter to know as I do now know things Foxes Acts and Monum p. 1325. Humility indeed In which I have been Ignorant heretofore Ever learn and ever to be learned to profit with learning I thought in times past that the Pope was Christs 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 and I thought in time past that and if I had been a Fryer in a Coul I could not have been damned nor afraid of Death and by occasion of the same I have been minded many times to have been a Fryer Namely when I was sore sick and diseased and now I abhor my superstitious Foolishness It were too long to tell you what blindness I have been in and how long it were e're I could forsake such Folly and thus far Humble Latimer Come G. W. What do you think was Hugh Latimer right when he was amongst the Papists or right when he gave this plain Testimony against them You will say he could not be right then if right now but if right now he could not be right then Now I will not say but he was in an error in being so zealous for rhe Popish way but yet thus far I will venture to go on the Martyr's side that he was right in his intention and in Sincerity when he was thus deluded by the crafty Frier's carriage but they being so subtile and crafty that we see this worthy-learned Preacher was carried away viz. with the â—eaven of the Pharisees for possibly they said THEE and THOV possibly they did not wear LACE possibly they pretended to preach FREELY nnd pretended many fair things but when Hugh Latimer once saw their Craft and Subtilty and that there was nothing but Self-Ends and Self-Righteousness in the bottom then he soon left them But for his pains they called him Heretick and Self condemned Apostate Contentious Apostate And had this young Harlot power I have reason to expect the same Fate Come G. W. and the rest of your infallible Tribe who pretend you have a Spirit given to you beyond all the Forefathers indeed if you had said contrary to all the Forefathers you had spoken truth to purpose for here you may see the blessed Martyrs Men of Parts of Learning of Sincerity Integrity and such Christian Courage as the flames of Fire nor all the Taunts Reproaches and Slanders of your Predecessors were able to cast or inflict upon them could not daunt nor discourage them yet such was their Humility that they acknowledged themselves ignorant of some things which in time they did hope and trust to know and modestly said they did they trust know some things which formerly they were altogether ignorant of yea that they once had as erronious opinion of the Pope as John Blackling Josiah Coale Solomon Eccles John Audland and their Brethren had of George Fox But you see their humble acknowledgment of their superstitious opinion and that it was a long time ere they could forsake such Folly
Spirit contrary to the Prophets contrary to the Apostles contrary to the Ancient Fathers and contrary to the Spirit Faith and Principle of the blessed Martyrs but such hath been the art of these Deluders that as they have undervalued Christ calling him a Garment a Vail a Figure c. So have they undervalued the Holy Scriptures by calling them Carnal Death Dust the Serpents Food and the like Antichristian names as anon I shall shew so that it will be hard to perswade their Disciples to read the Scriptures cited And if they do yet not to yield them that Authority which G.W. gives to their speaking by the Spirit who says That which is spoken from the Spirit of Truth in any is of as great Aurity as the Scriptures and Chapters are and greater c. Ser Apoll. p. 49. Oh the consequence of this monstrous opinion if HE that was born c. be not the Christ but a Garment a Vail a Figure c. Then why did not the Prophets foretell that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Garment That a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Vail a Figure c. Oh monstrous So that it s no marvel that you do not pray in the Name of Christ beg pardon in the Name of Christ since you own Him only as a Garment which waxeth old or as a Figure c. Object But perhaps some of your own People may say is it indeed such a Christian duty to make Confession of our Sins to God and to beg Pardon for Jesus Christs sake If we indeed believed it a duty we would notwithstanding the practice of our Teachers who we know does not practice the same c. Answer I hope then there is some such Bereans still left how thin soever they be amongst you and for their sakes in my book The Quakers detected and their Errors confuted c. I laid down many precepts to which I refer you as also to the Scriptures in the Margin and if you read the Scriptures you shall not read one book from Genesis to the Revelations but you shall find some precept which may strengthen you in this your duty And that I may not leave this point without warrantable proof I will add to the Testimony of the Prophets and Practice of the Apostles and the Precept of Christ who has taught his Disciples and in them all that follow them in the same Faith to say Forgive us our Sins c. The Practice and Judgment of the blessed Martyrs who unanimously as a Cloud of Witnesses concur with the Judgment and Practice of the primitive Chistians And against the singular opinion and singular practice of your Ministers who though they pretend and make you believe they have a Spirit beyond all the Forefathers it is indeed being rightly interpreted a Spirit contrary to all the Forefathers of the Christian Race First then hear Dr. Robert Barnes viz. The whole Church prayeth LORD forgive us our Sins See his works p. 254. wherefore she hath spots and wrincles But by acknowledging them through the Merits of Christ her wrincles be scratched out c. Next hear what Martin Luther says touching this particular duty viz. But thou wilt say the Church is Holy the Fathers are Holy it is true notwithstanding See his Commentary upon Gall. p. 36. albeit the Church is Holy yet is she compelled to pray Forgive us our Trespasses so tho the Fathers are Holy yet are they saved through the Forgiveness of sins These two have given joint Testimony that 't is the Churches Duty nay she is compelled to confess and beg pardon of her Sins I come next to holy Bradfords practice that humble and constant Martyr of Jesus Christ in his Epistle to his London Friends which for the excellency of it I could willingly have recited the whole but brevity forces only an Abridgment viz. To all that profess the Gospel Fox's Acts Monuments p. 1176 1177. and true Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the City of London John Bradford an unworthy Servant of the LORD But with THEE is Mercifulness that thou mighst be worshipped Oh then be mercyful unto us that we might truly worship THEE help us for the Glory of thy Name be merciful unto our Sins for they are great Oh heal us and help us for thine Hoaour let not the wicked people say where is their GOD On this sort my right dearly beloved let us heartily bewail our Sins repent us of our former evil Life and heartily and earnestly purpose to amend our Lives in all things continually watch in Prayer diligently and reverently attend hear and read the Holy Scriptures By which you may perceive Firrst This holy mans humility acknowledgeth himself unworthy Secondly The like is not to be found in any of the Quakers former books His acknowledging his Sins Thirdly That he begged pardon for His Mercy sake Fourthly His holy Resolution and heavenly Exhortation And now to finish this Chapter I shall conclude in the words of Dr. Barnes whose Faith in Christ does as much differ from the Faith of and Principles of the Quakers as Light from Darkness See their 3d. and 4th Principle in the first Chapter For in Him which they call a bodily Garment and which they say they can never own to be Christ did this blessed Martyr at the Flames confess to be his LORD and Saviour also his practice of asking Pardon of Sin is directly contrary to their practice pray hear him Dr. R. Barnes his protestation which he made at the Stake concerning his Faith in Christ Jesus I am said he come hither to be burned as an Heretick and you shall hear my Belief Acts and Monuments p. 610. whereby you shall perceive what erronious opinions I hold and now hearken to my Faith I believe in the Holy and Blessed Trinity * I have often marvelled why the Quaker would not own the word Trinity but now I do not since they deny the 2d Person that created and made all the world I believe that without mans will or power Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and took Flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary That he suffered Thirst Hunger Cold †Which he could not do as he was God but as he was man viz. the man Christ Jesus and other Passions of our bodies Sin excepted according to the saying of St. Peter I belive that this his Death and Passion was the sufficient Ransom for the Sins of all the world * Then surely he was more than a Garment or Vail or Figure and the Quakers saying they can never own this bodily Garment to be Christ as their phrase is t is as much as if they had said they do not own the Christ of GOD. And I believe that thorow his Death he overcame Sin Death and Hell And that there is no other satisfaction unto the Father but His Death and Passion only Mind this ye
Pharisees who think to be saved by your own deservings as all do who do not own Christ to be their Saviour And that no works of man did deserve any thing of GOD but only Christs Passion touching our Justification For I know said this Humble Martyr that the best works that ever I did is impure and unperfect †Read your books observe your Ministers see if their Spirit be not contrary to all the Forefathers And with this he cast abroad his Hands and prayed to GOD for Christ's sake to forgive him his Sins as saith the Historian Thus gentle Reader have I shewed that the Doctrine Principles Faith and Practice of the Quakers is contrary to the Doctrine Principles Faith and Practice of the Apostles Primitive Christians Saints Martyrs and Holy Confessors of the Catholick Faith from Moses to this day both concerning the Humanity of Christ and praying and confessing our Sins to God and begging Pardon for Christs sake which is another reason and a good one too why the forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Christian Faith c. CHAP. IV. Sheweth that the forsaking the Quakers is no Apostacy from the Articles of the Christian Faith I Am now come to shew what they mean when they talk of Christ being in them as by their books are manifest and if they will not own their books which they have said are given forth by the immediate and eternal Spirit of GOD then let them first condemn the books of Geo. Fox Is Pennington and most of their eminent Writers and declare themselves fully that they are of another mind and that they own Christ according to the Angels Testimony and the Apostles and Martyrs Testimony or else we shall conclude they are as erroneous as their books set forth c. Pray hear Is Penington in his book stiled Quest to the Professors c. p. 27. viz. The Name Christ belongs to the whole Body as well as to the HEAD and to every Member of the Body The Name is not given to the VESSEL but to the NATVRE to the Heavenly TREASVRE to that which is of Him in the Vessel c. Now Reader mark what the consequence of this blasphemous Doctrine is which says that the Name CHRIST belongs to every Believer as well and as amply as to CHRIST the Head who is GOD blessed for evermore Here you see the Consequence first of their not owning HIM that was born of the Virgin Mary to be the Christ for if they cannot call HIM so they cannot own HIM to be so See your 2d and 3d Principle in the first Chapter of this Treatise c. c. but only a Figure a Vail a Vessel a Garment c. see p. 33. And 2dly in assuming to themselves the Name in that Christ the heavenly Nature is in them Thus have they magnified themselves equal with Christ and I will prove that they thus mean by the very words of their great Apostle G. Fox in their Book Intituled Sauls Errand to Damascus c. p. 8. Saul's Errand p. 8. viz. HE THAT HATH THE SAME SPIRIT WHICH RAISED VP JESVS CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH GOD. Now then if it be so as so they do believe it to be for first they say they have the eternal infallible Spirit of GOD in them from which they speak write act give forth their Orders for Womens Meetings * See my Book de Chr. Lib. c. from p. 36. to 72. where your whole Authority for your Womens Meeting is set down and their Original and all from G. Fox and your yearly Meetings sole Authority and not one verse of Scripture brought to strengthen their Rise Foundation and setting up c. Indeed John Fiddyman a Quaker did deny to have any other Spirit than what Christians own in common and to give him his due refused to own G. Fox's Books and I hope more will follow as they come to see their Errors c. c. Then I do demand what hinders them from deserving the Name Christ as well as HE that was born of the Virgin that suffered cold hunger was smote with the palms of their hands c. since they cannot call him Christ I say if they have the same Spirit the same Treasure in them which raised up Jesus Christ and are thereby equal with GOD as they say they are What hinders but that we may have as many Christs as Quakers at least as many as the Quakers have Preachers For some of their Hearers I do believe are more modest than to entertain these Luciferian thoughts tho' indeed they do not know how far they are Baptized into this erroneous and pernicious Principle c. And as I have by the 2d Chapter proved That they deny Christ and undervalue his Death and Suffering so have I in the beginning of this Chapter proved That they account the Name Christ do's belong to every believing Quaker then by magnifying themselves under pretence of Christ being in them in that degree they pretend to that they claim Equality with Oh Dreadful In the next place I am come to shew how they extol their own Writings and how they have thrown Contempt upon the Scriptures and that also out of their own Books which is a Consequence of the forementioned Errors First They say they have a Spirit given to them beyond all the Forefathers and they know who are Saints who are Devils and who are Apostates See their first Principle the Mother of the rest c. without speaking ever a word c. which none but GOD and such as are equal to HIM can do c. Secondly None need to give them Discerning or Judgment they being by Christ always and at all times and on all occasions therewith infallibly furnished Thirdly (a) Saul's Errand pag. 8. He that hath the same Spirit which raised up Jesus CHRIST is equal with GOD. Fourthly The (b) G Fox to the King and Parliament pag. 18. Quakers knew their Election before the World began Fifthly We say the Quakers are elected to Salvation we have the Witness in us Praises be to the glorious LORD GOD for ever Truth 's Defence p. 92. who hath elected and chosen us before the foundation of the World Quakers Challenge p. 3. The Quakers are in the Truth and none but they You might as well have condemned the Scriptures to the Fire Truth 's Defence pag. 2 104. as our Books and Queries for our giving forth Papers and printed Books it is from the immediate eternal Spirit of GOD. A brief Discovery of the threefold Estate of Antichrist p. 15. All teaching by Christ is to bring to perfection even to the measure stature and fulness of Christ this the Scripture witnesses and I witness this Scripture fulfilled in me G. F. The aforesaid Assertions Positions and Tenents being so erronious blasphemous and pernicious to the Christian Religion I think them so obvious that they need not any further
to be passed over with silence yea and such a thing as I do hereby challenge G. W. to give me one Instance in all the Religious Controversies extant amongst all that profess Christianity the Papists and Quakers only excepted that ever a Man 's own Wives Testimony was brought against him publickly in Print That the Quakers do practise it I grant when it is for Holy Church or as they term it for the Truth 's sake For let this be noted where the Papists say they act for the Church and for Holy Church c. There the Quakers frequently say for Truth 's sake for the Honour of Truth And that if any own them they own Truth if any write against them they then are reputed or write against Truth And on this foot and bottom what ever is said or done in favour or against this People 't is construed to be done for or against Truth And upon this foot doubtless do they in their blind zeal follow the steps of the Jesuits whose great business is to divide Families Kingdoms and Nations to set Wise against her Husband and Husband against the Wife c. which in the Passage before cited must be their design or else they would never publish my Wives Testimony in Print against me for my writing against them c. which as it is their Practice so it harmonizes ONLY with the Practice of the Papists so on the other hand it is against express Scriptures the Practice of the Primitive Christians and Blessed Martyrs as anon I shall GOD permitting make appear First That it is their Practice I prove from the Practice of John Feild c. who published Mr. Crisp's Wives Testimony against her Marriage with her Husband by a Public Minister according to Law about 18 Years after they had been so married See the 5th Part of Babels Builders unmaskt p. 9 10 c. John Feild * One of the Preachers of the FOXONIAN PARTY goes on says T. C. Inquisitor like and asks Why did thy Wife condemn your Marriage But may not those that pretend to sell Pardons and pray Souls out of Purgatory your Brethren say That if their Prayers and Pardons be not effectual why have and do so many give so much money for them If a Woman gives all she hath to have her Husband out of Purgatory an effectual proof of the worth of the Popes Pardons But to answer this busie Inquisitor John Field Take a View if your Brethren all the wicked Crew of Confessors that belong to your ELDER SISTER ROME and see how many of them to whom Confession is made that will so many Years after divulge it in Print For if any such Monsters be amongst the Romish Priests they be accounted very abominable And so much higher as your Pretentions be beyond theirs the greater is the aggravation of your baseness And I fear the wicked ONE was so great with you to instigate you to the publication of this in hopes thereby to make a DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VS viz. my Wife and me that so you might have your desires on us some of George Fox's Reformado's having said None thrive or prosper that speak against him But I bless GOD I fear not G. Fox's whole Black Guard of Lyers J. Feild R. Richardson Chr. Taylor c. Reader here I have shewed that it is their Practice And this is enough together with my Case to shew that they follow the steps of the Jesuits T. Crisps's Case is full and plain against them I shall next proceed to shew that this their Practice is contrary to the Scriptures for it is said Numb 30.13 Numb 30 13 14. But if her Husband disallowed them the same day that he heard them nothing that proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her bonds shall stand in effect for her Husband hath disallowed them and the Lord will forgive her See ver 14. So every vow and every oath or bond made to humble the Soul her Husband may establish it or her Husband may break it c. By which 't is apparent that GOD hath placed the headship in Man and given him the Dominion over his Wife And yet contrary to Scripture * For they know that I did disallow of her Testimony the day I heard it and contrary to the Practice of the Primitive Christians and Protestant Martyrs you have exposed her Testimony against her Head and Husband which admits of no other Construction but to make a difference between Man and Wife as Mr. Crisp well understood you in his Case Secondly I shall shew that it is against the Practice of the Protestant Martyrs See William Tindall's Book intituled The Obedience of a Christian Man p. 108. After that Eve was deceived of the Serpent God said unto her Gen. 3. thy Appetite shall pertain unto thy Husband and he shall rule thee or raign over thee GOD which created the Woman knows what is in that weak Vessel W. Tindall's Works p. 108. as Peter calleth her and hath therefore put her under the obedience of her Husband 1 Pet. 3. Wives to be in subjection to their Husbands he exhorteth Wives to be in subjection unto their Husbands after the Example of Holy Women in old time which trusted in GOD And as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord which Sarah before she married was Abraham's Sister and equal with him but as soon as she was married was in subjection and became without comparison inferior for so is the Nature of Wedlock by the Ordinance of God Paul saith Ephes 5. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the LORD for the Husband is the Wives Head even as Christ is the HEAD of the Congregation therefore as the Congregation is in subjection to Christ likewise let the Wives be in subjection to their Husbands in all things let the Woman therefore fear her Husband as Paul saith in the said place c. Thus I have shew'd both by Moses's Writings and the Apostles Writings and by the Judgment of William Tindall that worthy Protestant Martyr that as Women should be in subjection so are their Sayings concluded by the Authority which GOD hath given their Husbands over them Now hear his Opinion of the Practice and Principles of the Papists and their Politics * The Jesuits and Quakers practice agree in one who had laid by reading the Scriptures in their Churches as the Quakers have done pretend to be infallible in their Councels as the Quakers do Pray hear the Martyr what he says farther viz. On the other side I have saith William Tindall †Pag. 180. also uttered the Wickedness of the Spirituality the Falseness of the Bishops and Jugling of the Pope And how they have disguised themselves borrowing some of their Pomp of the Jews and some of the Gentiles and have with subtle Wiles turned the obedience that should be given to God's Ordinance Marriage unto themselves * So do the Quakers who
that they would not let them come within their Houses * * They were the wiser for they and their Offspring do more hurt than good commonly If the Maid be a wise Woman and of Age to dispose of herself she will not let any of our Preachers meddle with her Concerns of choosing a Husband for her that is none of their business * * That is very true but they will have a Hand in it for the most part and if they be not pleased or any other self Interest sway them they will as certainly break it and do mischief as ever the Jesuits did this many are witnesses of S. B. for one and Jonathan Lamball another cum multis aliis They should ONLY meddle with their own business and let honest Friends make their choice themselves We have no Law nor Custom among us for such as defame 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. Thus Reader you see that there hath been Testimony after Testimony both publick and private against these PVRSMONGERS and COMMON BANCKERS their DAGON and great Idol against their Reckoning such the best Christians who brought in most MONEY into their BANCK against this private way of their maintaining their Ministers Their Cabinet counsel is disclosed whilst they exclaim against the publick Ministry as Hirelings c. as well as against their Jesuitical practice of medling with Marriages wherewithal they as this Letter very well observes have nothing to do nor seldom do any thing but mischief as also against their Popish Practice of publishing in print the Testimony of Wives against their Husbands whom GOD hath set Head over them and by whose Authority their sayings ought to be concluded Thus do they walk hand in hand with their Elder Sister having received a Spirit contrary to Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles Saints and Martyrs and by it are leed into these errours And that it may more evidently appear that there hath been Publick Testimony against their Common Banks and Private Pursemongers their Dagon as the Letter rightly calls it I may transcribe a few of W. Rogers his Lines in his Poem intituled A second Scourge for G. Whitehead an Apostate Quaker c. viz. Where Pride seems no Disgrace 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 Woe For thus she whirls but God knows where 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 empty'd she Crav'd MONEY * This Dagon will fall for to serve the MINISTRY At length her Papers like to Briefs did cry For MONEY MONEY for the MINISTRY And when that Practice was dislik'd by some †Viz. The Author of the recited Letter and some others who hated their Hypocrisy in crying out against others as Hirelings when they had their Banks and Pursemongers privately c. She seem'd like one whose Downfall's near to come This Church will fall her Load will be her Guile If you oh Flock keep Purse strings fast a while When that Spring fails by her you 'l not be priz'd Usurpers then o're you you 'l 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 steers the Course Till both was scorn'd and they grew worse and worse Thus the Reader may perceive how plainly these hypocritical practices have been made appear and how their Hypocrisy hath from time to time been discovered both privately by some of their own People and still eminent amongst them only they abhor the Deceit and Falshood amongst their Teachers and Preachers and some who are justly separated from them upon a sight of their grand Errors and deep Hypocrisies amongst which was W. Rogers who hath wrote divers books against them intituled The Christian Quaker distinguished from the Apostate and Innovator c. in 5 parts bound together very eminent and serviceable in the discovery of their Intreagues to which I refer the Reader * And surely I may as wel as G. W. refers to Tho. Elwoods Antidote c. And his Brother Robert Sandilands Pamphlet and with a great deal of more Reason See his Judgment fix d p. 260. as well as to his 6th 7th and 8th parts of the Christ Quaker disting c. published singly and also to his Poem stiled A second Scourge for G. Whitehead an Apostate Quaker c. Out of which I took the foregoing Verses which did so perplex this Well-Favoured Harlot that G. W. being not able to return an Answer to it out came Thomas Elwood to his Relief and to rescue his Brother Whiteheads decaying Reputation puts forth a Book stiled Rogero Mastix c. by which instead of helping them by hiding them he told more Truth tho poor man he could not well help it things are so plain than forty of them would do See my book Bat. Rams p. 13 14 15. saying Amen to great part of what William Rogers charged them with And therfore good Reader mark well what this Tho. Elwood set forth in his book which is licensed and came forth by the Consent and Approbation of their Church and is kept in their Library viz. But that Christs Ministers should be supply'd a Here is a Confession that their Ministers are supplyed then it seems they do not go at warefare at their own Charge as you have pretended With Necessaries by the Church His Bride Is such a known and certain Truth as none Perhaps has e're oppos'd but thou alone b Yes you have frequently denyed that Ministers should have Money to supply their Necessities c. That 't is the Church's duty to supply The needful wants of all her Ministry And Truth it is too plain to be deny'd Christs Church should for Christs Ministers provide What carps thou at then William would thy Muse Plead that St. Paul did not this Priviledge use (c) No St. Paul did use that Priviledge 't is you that pretend not to use it nor that no such reward should be found amongst you for said you FREELY we have receiv'd and FREELY we give That what was lacking to him privately The Macedonian Brethren did supply Thus it appear'd the Apostle did partake Of that Provision which the Church did make Christs Ministers to furnish and their need Supply when they want MONEY to proceed (d) Then it seems you do supply them with Money to proceed then that 's enough there is no body charges you with taking Tythe if you have Money for preaching is it not as good as Tyths What Reason is there then for you to exclaim against others who do the same thing