Wicklffiians Bohemians and Waldences the first reformed Protestants gave their positive Testimony against Tythes as may be found in the Marginal Histories An Estate in Tythes was as truly and justly the Right and Property of every Incombant Canonically ordained instituted and inducted Libeller p. 26. as any thing an Honest Man can call his all which the holy Apostle justifies in 1 Cor. 6.11 12 14. Have not we says he power to forbear working And if we have sown to you Spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your Carnal things Rep. What the Apostle sayes here agrees well with what Christ said when he sent forth his Disciples to Preach the Gospel Match 10. where he bid them make no Provision for their Journey freely ye have received freely give the work-man is worthy of his Meat Luke 10.7 8. Eat such things as are set before you In all this Commission here 's not one word of taking the Peoples Tythes but to eat what was set before them to this doth well agree what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 4. Have we not power to Eat He did not say he had Power to take Tythe nor justifie it as the Libeller saith he did and it s no wonder that he will belye me when he dare be so bold with the Apostle The Apostle only there informs the Corinthians what Power they had That they that plant a Vineyard may eat of the Fruit thereof or gathers a Flock may eat of the Milk of it he doth not say they had Power to eat of a Vineyard they had not Planted nor eat the Milk of a Flock they had not gathered much less take away the Tenth of their Labours nor did he say they had as much Right and Property to them as any honest man hath in any thing he hath Nay the Apostle yet further acquits himself of the Libellers charge for in the 12th and 15th Verses he saith If others be partakers of this Power are not we rather Nevertheless we have not used this Power but suffer all things lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ Again But I have used none of these things neither have I written these things that it should be done unto me for it were better for me to dye than any Man should make my glorying void Again the 18th Verse What is my reward then verily that I Preach the Gospel I make the Gospel of Christ without Charge By this any honest Man may see that my Adversary chose a wrong Pattern to take his measure by Pope Innocent the Third did far better suit his purpose for Paul did not lay any claim to Tythes neither doth he say he had any Right to them but on the contrary Heb. 7. he said The Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law To conclude this Chapter I have this to add that I have been a Sufferer in this matter of Tythes in Olivers dayes and all along ever since I have had them carried away Yearly and though he sayes all my Artillary is against them whom he sayes serves at Gods Altar and all my grumbling is against Tythes yet all this while I have not nor ever shall use any Artillary against them but my down-right Testimony that to give Tythes or take them is an Antichristian practice yet I with several Thousands of my dear Friends in England and Wales do patiently suffer when they are forceably taken away from us and it s my Faith in God and not mine only but the Faith of Thousands that God will in his due time remove this great Oppression and will daily more and more send forth faithful Labourers into his Work those who will be content with such Maintenance as Jesus Christ hath appointed for them whose glorying in him shall be that they make the Gospel of Christ without Charge CHAP. III. Of SCOLLARSHIP ABout which he vapours with such vehemency that he may be compared to Goliah of Gath who had a Helmet of Brass upon his Head and Coat of Male Sword and Spear with which he disdained the Shepherd's Boy with his Sling and Stone however since with his Latin and Greek he hath disdained me and defied the Host of the living God this day I will in the Name of the living God withstand him with my disdained Sling and smooth Stone which I have found in the Brook of God Libeller I do verily believe he knows not the meaning of Beatus qui protelabitur adding a Phrase in Greek adding more That neither I nor any Quaker living can tell the true meaning thereof Rep. Behold Reader how he vapours Goliah-like with his Latin and Greek saying No Quaker living can tell the true intent and meaning thereof Doth he not in this seek to limit the great God of Heaven and Earth Psalm 25.14 The Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him Mark this man of God makes no Respect of Persons nor doth he limit God either to Mens Wisdom or Schollarship Luke 8.10 Vnto you it is given to know the Mysteries of God's Kingdom but to others in Parables Mark the Mysteries of God's Kingdom were revealed to these poor Mechanick Men but were hid from Herod and Pilate and the Chief Priest with all their Hebrew Greek and Latin 1 Cor. 1.21 The World by Wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 2.11 For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Mark people how Christ and the holy men of God tell you that its the Spirit of God that must make you knowing in the things of God 1 Cor. 1.27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of this World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the mighty and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things that are not to bring to nought the things that are that no flesh should glory in his Presence If so why was this man so vain in his Imagination that neither I nor no Quaker living could tell the meaning of those Scripture words he mentions however if he remain in the same belief all his dayes that neither I nor no Quaker living can tell the meanâ—ng thereof I can tell him also that neither he nor any of the wisest men in the World with all their Wisdom and Schollarship can tell the meaning of them for they are the things of God and none can know them but by the Spirit of God I will subjoyn some few Testimonies for confirmation of my Judgement in this Point the first is that of Pharaoh's Dreams Gen. 41. all his Magicians Wise Men and Schollars failed and poor Mechanick Joseph by the Spirit of God made it known Dan. 4.7 You may read there how the King made a large Tryal of all the Schollars and Wise Mâ—â— of Babylon but there it failed
AN Antichristian Conspiracy DETECTED AND Satans Champion DEFEATED Being a Reply to an Envious Scurrilous Libel without any Name to it CALLED WORK for a COOPER Being also a Vindication of my Book entituled The Antiquity of the Quakers From the Base Insinuations False Doctrine and False Charge therein contain'd against me my Book and against God's People called QUAKERS in general By me Thomas Wynne Printed in the Year 1679. Isa 51.22 23. Thus saith the Lord the Lord and thy God that pleadeth the Cause of his people Behold I have taken out of thy hand the Cup of Trembling even the Dregs of the Cup of my Fury thou shalt no more drink it again But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee which have said to thy Soul Bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the Ground and as the Street to them that went over Micah 3.5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my People to Err that bite with their Teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their Mouthes they even prepare War against him Matth. 10.25 It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold 1 Cor. 1.27 But God hath chosen the Foolish Things of this World to confound the Wise and God hath chosen the Weak Things of the World to confound the Things that are Mighty TO THE READER Courteous Reader SInce it hath fallen to my Lot for my love to be requited with Hatred it s my satisfaction that I gave no Cause but that in Obedience to divine Requirings I put my Candle on a Candlestick and my Talent although but small to the Bank but what Reception into the World it hath had hath been such as was fore-told by my dear Lord and Master Jesus Christ who said to his Disciples They shall speak all manner of Evil against you falsly for my Names sake and it s so now truly come to pass in our day as in this particular may plainly appear in my following Reply wherein I have considered what I conceived to have any seeming weight against my Book and in general have vindicated my Book my Friends and the glorious Truth which we profess from my Adversary's false Charge who hath dealt with me as the Spanish Inquisitors did by the Protestants they clothed them in their Sambenitoes viz. Garments upon which are painted the shapes of Devils that the Dogs might the sooner fasten on them and worry them even so hath he as may be seen by the Picture he hath put to front his Libel if he excuse himself that he crown'd it with a Windmil which might stave them off yet that he was not altogether without a Patern is very evident for if we look back but until the time of our Master Christ Jesus his Appearance in the Flesh we may find how they mocked him John 19.2 you may see how they plated a Crown of Thorns and put it upon his Head and Pilate as a fit President for the Libeller said Behold the Man thus all who are moderate may see how his Tribe used our dear Lord himself therefore I may conclude he hath dealt with me but in imitation of them and hath only shewed that he hath not degenerated from the Nature of his Predecessors for in imitation of his Patrons he blazens it with a Whip and Whipping Post in it as thou mayest see in the second page of his Libel which were enough of it self to manifest him to all men to be neither a Christian nor true Protestant for Christ would not have Fire come down from Heaven to destroy Enemies much less treat his Friends with such Cruelty who in pure Love visited the Children of Men to turn them from their Evil Wayes My Adversary in this his ungodly Work doth not resemble CHRIST and his FOLLOWERS but is BONNER and GARDNER like which had he been in their time could hardly have wanted an Office And certain it is that this was not the Method of the true Protestant Reformers he might then well conceal his Name when he would concern himself in so detestable a piece of Absurdity since that most of his Matter was Lyes made at home and his Book a Bell to Ring them abroad and it will neither in this World nor that to come turn to his Credit neither to the Priests nor his other Benefactors who gathered him Money to Print it for at the great Tribunal Christ Jesus will not fear to tell them It was WORK of INIQUITY for said he Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me And whereas there is a great deal of Dirt in his Book which he chargeth on Friends as Matter of Fact which I have not in particular Replyed to they being Abominable Lyes and Slanders as in page 6. he sayes They can like the Blasphemous Muggleton fix Woes or Joyes a Blessing or a Curse Everlastingly to all Eternity And in page twelve among a great many horrid Lyes he telleth of some did endeavour to obtrude that they could foretell to a Minute the Last and Dreadful Day of Judgment and could heal more Diseases than All the World could possibly need Help for with very many more Wicked Lyes up and down his Book which neither he nor the Most Envious of our Adversaries can ever prove against any TRUE QUAKER And as for his calling my Friends Vile Wretches and Coxcombs and many more ill Names and me Charon and Ferryman of Hell and much more Ill Language I pass by knowing that God will rebuke him and plead the Cause of the Innocent therefore I have kept close to what was Matter of Doctrine in it hoping that to the meanest Capacity who will be single that I have cleared my Self my Book God's Truth and People and manifested his to be grounded on a Foundation that is Sandy and will not stand when our God shall make a full Examine of the Matter contained in it Thomas Wynne An Antichristian Conspiracy Detected and Satans Champion Defeated CHAP. I. The Introduction of Quaking and Trembling THE blessed Truth of God together with the true Love I bore to my Native Country North Wales induced me to Salute them with the Book Intituled The Antiquity of the Quakers And after its Publication for a whole Year I was often told sometimes of one Priest Answering it and sometimes of another but at last comes out one not subscribed by any called Work for a Cooper which by Gods assistance I now take in hand and w ll discover to the moderate Reader of what quality soever he be that this Man hath not done like a Man of God at all which certainly had becom'd him to do especially being he seems to make himself to personate so great a Society of People
you may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou Faithful unto Death I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 As concerning the Wicked the Apostâ—e saith There is NO FEAR of God before their Eyes Rom. 3.18 Psalm 36.1 Again And unâ—o Man he said Behold the FEAR of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Vnderstanding Job 28 28. Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Psal 111.10 Again The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction Prov. 1.7 Again speaking of the Wicked he saith They hated Knowledge and did NOT chuse the FEAR of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they would none of my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own Way and be filled with their own Devices for the turning away of the Simple or Ignorant shall slay them and the prosperity of Fools shall destroy them but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil verse the 29th to the end Here God speaking by Solomon saith The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge vers 7. and in vers 29. he complaineth of the wicked saying They hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord. Therefore Misery and Destruction came upon them but saith God Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of Evil. So those who chuse Gods Fear and take his Counsel are kept by his mighty Power in that which is well pleasing to him and such are not terrified with the fear of Evil for they know God to be their Keeper who keeps them out of the Evil that is in the World and from the wrath and punishment which he will bring upon the Wicked who chuse not his sear nor take his counsel who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy Here God distinguisheth betwixt Godly Fear which the Godly do stedfastly abide in and the fear of Evil which brings Torment upon the Ungodly Again The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life to depart out of the Snares of Death Prov. 14.27 Again By the Fear of the Lord men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Again Better is a little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Chap. 15.16 The Apostle Peter exhorted the Saints saying Fear God 1 Pet. 2.17 Again the Angel that preached the everlasting Gospel saith Fear God and give Glory to him Rev. 14.7 Many more Scripture-Testimonies might be brought to confirm this great Truth viz. that Godly Fear is to be continued in by Godly Men and Women unto the end of their dayes upon Earth but what I have already written doth sufficiently confute the Ranting Doctrines and Notions of this prophane Scribler And though I dearly own the Testimony of the holy Scriptures and therefore bring them for the confirmation of this great Truth yet that in which my greatest assurance lies is the living experience that I have had through many Years exercise of the excellency and preciousness of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God my Heart and Soul is deeply affected therewith because of the preciousness and excellency thereof therefore I commend it unto all People as that which is indispensably needful to be come into and kept in without which no Man or Woman can come to Peace and Rest with God And I tenderly exhort and warn the Sons and Daughters of men to chuse the Fear of the Lord God in whose hand their Life is and to flee from all Ranting Atheistical Books Doctrines Principles and Practices which would keep them out of or lead them out of Godly Fear or the holy Fear of God and every one apply your Hearts to the Spirit of Truth which God hath sent which shews you what is good and what is evil believe in that and attend upon it and be careful to keep out of that which you know to be Evil and let your care be to obey God in what you know to be your duty and as you are obedient to him in what he has made known unto you to be your duty that which is further needful for you to know which you yet know not God will freely make it known unto you That which is and hath been the hurt of many is their hunting after the Knowledge of the Secrets and Mysteries of God in their SELF-WILL while they have neglected to obey God in that they already knew and by this means many have hunted themselves into Ranterism and Atheism which is lamentable to behold at this Day Others there are who desire not to know any thing but the following the foolish fleshly Lusts and vile Affections which War against their Souls who giving up themselves thereto and pursuing the same with a greedy Appetite become swallowed up therein and drowned in Perdition or Destruction thereby as the holy Apostles have testified see 1 Tim. 6.9 and 1 Pet. 2.11 The Apostle saith The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the Vnjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished but chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government presumptuous are they SELF-WILLED c. Such speak Evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly Perish in their own Corruption having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin beguling unstable Souls an Heart they have exercised with Covetous Practices cursed Children which have for saken the right Way these are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever For when they speak great swelling Words of Vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were CLEAN ESCAPED from them who live in Error while they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption c. see 2 Pet. 2. verse 9 10 12 13 14 15. to the end read the Chapter through Again the Apostle saith This second Epistle Beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the Words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the COMMANDMENT of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes Scoffers walking after their own Lust c. Chap. 3. Verse 1 2 3. Again Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the Will of God abideth forever 1 John 2.15 16 17. Jude the Servant of