The IMPEACHMENT.

THat George Whitehead and his Brethren, at a Convocation began at Lon­don the fifth day of May 1693. ending the eighth day of t [...]e same Month, did contrive, make, and promulgate several Constitutions [...]nd Ca­nons Ecclesiastical, containing in them divers Matters and Things contra­ry to the Fundamental Laws and Statutes of the Realm against the King's Prerogative, against the Rights of Parliaments, against the Property and Liberty of the Subject, and Matters tending to Sedition and of dangerous Consequence, as will abundantly appear by the recited Epistle, and that Epistle of 1692. a few Instances thereof, as proof, I shall recite, &c.

The IMPEACHMENT prov'd.

The Quakers yearly Epistle 1693. p. 1. And therefore that all due care be taken against the grand Oppression and Antichristian Yoke of Tithes; that our Christian Testimony born, and greatly suffer'd for, be faithfully maintain'd against them in all respects, and against Steeple-house Rates and Lays; as also against the Burden and Imposition of Oaths— That Friends at all their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings be reminded to call for the Records of the Sufferings of Friends; to see that they be duly gathered, truly entred and kept, and accordingly se [...]t up [to London] as hath been often advised, both of what Tythes, &c. are pretended to be due, and for how long a time, and the time when taken, and by, and for whom; and what Goods are taken, and the value thereof, as well as of those not exceeding, as those exceeding the Sums or Quantities [of Tithes] demanded, (it be­ing a Suffering in both for Truths sake) they being in these Particulars found de­fective and imperfect in divers Counties, which is an Obstruction to the General Record of Friends Sufferings, &c.

OBSERVATION.

Friendly Readers and Country men, I having proved my Charge and Impeachment, I cannot but observe to you, That the Ground; upon which the Quakers refuse to pay their Tithes and Church-wardens Rates, [Page 3] is not bottom'd upon Scripture proof, but the sole Authority of these their Canons Ecclesiastical, made and promulgated at their Yearly Convocati­on. And where is there a Parish in the Dominion of England but feels, more or less, the sad Effects and Consequences of these their Anti-Magi­stratical Incroachments; you also may see their great Ingratitude to the present Government, who (notwithstanding these their Affronts) have in­dulg'd them in the Exercise of their Perswasion, who at the same time call Tithes An Antichristian Yoke; yea, they will and require their Proselytes to maintain their Testimony against the Payments of Tithes in ALL respects; and that their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings fail not at their peril [...] to send up to London, a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Distresses taken for Tithes, whether no more than the value due, or whe­ther five times the value; all must be equally recorded A Suffering to Po­sterity, that after Generations may see in what perillous times the poor Quakers liv'd in, and what storms of sore Persecution there was under the Government of King William the Third. O horrible ingratitude! thus to render our Legislators so many Antichrists, so many Persecutors, nay worse. See some proofs out of their Books to corroborate and strengthen their Canons, that so their Loyal and Obedient Subjects may stoutly oppose Tithes and Church-Rates, An Antidote, &c. by Tho. Ellwood, p. 78. Truth allows no payment of Tithes at all under the New Covenant, but condemns it—They who pay Tithes do therein uphold a Legal Ceremony, abrogated by Christ; and thereby deny Christ to be come in the Flesh, which is a mark of Antichrist, &c. And to prove it he quotes 1 John. 4.3. which place of Scripture does not so much as mention Tithes. O how miserably are their poor Disciples deluded! well may it be said, The blind lead the blind. The next Book I shall mention is Burrough's Works, p. 780. Tithes (says he) as received and paid in these days —are of Antichrist. Again, read his Works p. 869. Antichrist in himself is the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, which is indeed and in truth the very De­vil. Thus Readers, I have shewed you by their Convocation Canon, that Tithes are an Antichristian Yoke, and by Burrough's Works, Antichrist is the Devil, so that 'tis the Devil's Yoke by Interpretation. See also another of their Books, stiled The Ancient Testimony, &c. p. 2. So it is no new thing that the People of the Lord call d Quakers have suffer'd so deeply for, but the ancient Testimony to the Coming, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, which they that plead for Tithes in this Gospel-day do in effect deny, &c. O horrible! this is yet higher and higher: What? Antichrists, yea, Devils that plead for Tithes. What? Absolute deniers of the Coming, Death and Resurrecti­on of Christ that plead for Tithes. What then are they that take Tithes, pay Tithes, nay that make Laws that Tithes shall be paid? Surely there never was such a censorious Brood ever hatch'd into the World before Quakerism came up.

From all which note, That the Quakers hold a Government within the Government; and not only so, but which is still worse, against the Go­vernment; which is bold with a witness, and that from plain Matter of Fact: For whereas 'tis enacted by the King, Lords and Commons in Par­liament, That the Subjects of this Nation shall pay their Tenths to such Persons, and for such Uses as the Law directs. And by Virtue of this Law and Civil Sanction, the Clergy and Improprietors receive them as a Civil Right. But in opposition hereunto, the Quakers Summons two or more of their most eminent Elders, belonging to each Quarterly Meet­ing in England and Wales, if not the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, who, together with their Teachers from all parts of the English Nation, be­sides Forreign Parts beyond the Seas, sit in Council by way of Convoca­tion, and Ordain and Enact, That Tithes are an Antichristian Yoke, a Grand Oppression, and as such ought to be withstood, testified against, and that in all Respects. And the like may be said touching their prohibiting the Payment of Church Rates and Lays, carrying Guns, which the Quakers by their Edict repeal, so far as their Power reaches, in their Convocation, the Laws and Statutes made by King and Parliament, which sute not their Inclination; and Absolve the King's Subjects from their Active Obedi­ence to the Laws of the Land, and cause them to adhere to a new Juris­diction lately erected by a few Usurpers, who hold a Convention Annu­ally at London by way of Convocation, to make Laws and Ordinances contrary and repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, which tend to subvert the Government, and if not timely prevented, may be of dangerous consequence; to say nothing of divers other of their Laws and Canons Ecclesiastical in other of their Yearly Epistles, as spreading [...]heir Books up and down the Nation unlicenced, &c. Read 25 H. 8. c. 19, 21. 27 H. 8. c. 15. 3 Ed. 6. c. 10, 11. 1 Eliz. c. 2. 13 Eliz. c. 12. Magna Charta c. 29. Peti­tion of Right. 5 Eliz c. 1. 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. 37 H. 8. c. 17. 8 Eliz. c. 1.

And to warrant my Impeachment, not only from plain Matter of Fact, shewing that the Quakers proceeding, particularly in the Instance of Tithes, as well as in twenty things more that might be mentioned, is a­gainst the known Laws of the Land, but also against the declared sence of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament. I shall recite the Votes of the House of Commons in the Year of our Lord 1640. upon the Bishops, for some certain Incroachments, being impeach'd by Serjeant Wild, though not the tenth part so bad, nor of such dangerous conse­quence as the proceedings of the Quakers, who have not the least co­lour of Authority for what they do; for the Bishops had not only a share in the Legislative Power, but the King's Majesties Licence to confirm what they did, &c.

The VOTES concerning the Bishops late Book of Canons in the House of Commons.

That the Clergy of England convented in any Convocation or Synod, or otherwise, have no Power to make any Consti­tutions or Canons, or Act whatsoever, in matter of Doctrine, or otherwise, to bind the Clergy or Laity of this Land, with­out the common consent in Parliament.

That the several Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, treated upon by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and York, Presi­dents of the Convocation for their respective Provinces, and agreed upon by the King's Majesties Licence in their respective Synods, began at London and York 1640. do not bind the Cler­gy or Laity of this Land, or either of them.

Thus we see the sence of the then House of Commons, who would suffer no Competitors, nor no Laws nor Ordinances made to bind the People, under any pretence whatsoever (notwithstanding the Bishops Power, and the King's Majesties Licence) but what was made by com­mon Consent in Parliament; what then can the Quakers say for them­selves, if a sight of all their yearly Epistles, which contain their Laws and Ordinances, for 20 years past should be demanded? wherein, and where­by they have absolved his Majesties Subjects from their Active Obedience to divers Laws of the Land, as in this Instance of Tithes.

Object. Possibly some may say, Were it not better to have Friendly Conferences, that so where any thing hath been done or said, either in things Religious or Civil, that cannot be justified, might be Retracted and Condemned, rather than thus to expose each other.

Answ. I grant it so; and from time to time I have proffer'd to meet George Whitehead on those terms, but he would never assent to it, and un­less he would ingage a Retractation, if need were, or leave Matters of Fact to the Judgment and Decision of disinterested Persons, I always refused to discourse him. Indeed, in his pretended Vindication, &c. in answer to my Sheet delivered to the Parliament Decemb. 1693. he made this seem­ing fair offer, p. 4. viz. I George Whitehead freely offer, and am willing to make it plainly appear before any six, ten, or twelve competent Witnesses, who are moderate men of Sense and common Reason, That Francis Bugg has grosly and wickedly abused and perverted Truth, and wronged the People called Quakers, both in Charge, Citation, and Observation.

Now in answer to this, I came up to London the February following (as I remember) and accepted his offer, and offer'd to leave it to any six, [Page 6] ten, or twelve Persons by us equally chosen out of the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independants or Baptists, to judge whether I had so wrong­ed them: But he refused so to do; manifesting thereby, that he could not find six, ten, or twelve moderate men of common Sense amongst them all; or else that the Quakers Principles were so erronious, as that I did not wrong them, either in Charge, Citation, or Observation: For other­wise, since I left him so much Field-room to choose his six, ten, or [...]welve moderate men of common Sense and Reason, as there is in the recited four Christian Societies, and he refused to comply therewith, surely it must be either because he hath not Charity to think there is six, ten, or [...]welve moderate men to be chosen out of them all: or else that he was consci­ous to himself, that the Quakers Principles are so erroneous, their Books so blasphemous, as that I had not wronged them, either in Charge Cita­tion, or Observation. See Quakerism Withering and Christianity Reviving, p. 1. to 12.

And since I came to London this present May 1695. I presented their Yearly Meeting with certain Accusations against George Whitehead; the Substance of which is as follows: viz.

1. That G.W. is a continual contentious Scribler, guilty of giving base and skurrilous names, as Beasts, Dogs, Wolves, Devils Incarnate, &c.

2. That George Whitehead is guilty of vindicating his own and h [...]s Bre­threns Books, which teach to deny Jesus of Nazareth to be Christ, and the efficient Cause of Man's Salvation; To deny the Scriptures by speak­ing contemptuously of them, calling them Death, Dust, and Serpents Meat; That to Preach out of them is Conjuration; That it is doubtful whether Moses or Hermes was the first Penman of the Holy Scriptures; or whether either or neither; preferring their own Books and Epistles before the Scriptures; To slight, neglect, and despise the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, as Baptism and the Lord's Supper; To under value the Death and Suffer­ings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, exalting their own Sufferings as greater and more unjust.

3. That G. Whitehead is a publick Defamer, a wicked Forger, a wilful Lyer, a gross Perverter, a false Glosser, a great Deceiver of the People, a Counterfeit Christian, a Scandal to Christianity.

These things I have, and now again I offer to make good against him before any six, ten, or twelve moderate men of Sense and common Rea­son equally chosen by us both, out of the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independants and Baptists, or out of any one of those four Societ es, al­ways excepting against Quakers and Muggletonians; and do desire that you may bring him forth, and put him to Answer like the wise Woman of Abel [...]: Not that I would have you throw his Head over the Wal [...]: No; but either let him acknowledge his Wickedness, Retract the Errours in his [Page 7] own and his Brethrens Books which he hath vindicated, or else let 24 of the chief amongst you come forth, and Condemn the same under your Hands, upon proof thereof made to you; if not, I shall take it for grant­ed, that you stand by him, and justifie him in his Abominations; and thereupon I shall Impeach your Yearly Meeting, and maintain your Pro­ceedings to be against the Fundamental Laws of the Land.

Object. But grant they will not come forth, and meet you upon these reasonable terms, nor suffer their Brother Whitehead, in regard they fore­see their Books are erroneous, their Principles dangerous, tending to sub­ve [...]t the Christian Faith; and that the natural consequence of such a Meeting would necessitate a Retractation, which would be the utter ruin of Quakerism; yet for Peace sake is it not better to let them alone, who in time will fall of themselves, for what is not of God cannot stand long.

Answ. I have not room in this sheet fully to answer the Obj [...]ction: But it sufficeth that we have the Example of the Apostles and Martyrs, as a Cloud of Witnesses, who did not assent, nor tamely suffer that Wo­man Jezabel to teach and seduce the Nations, but as Instruments in God's hand, witnessed against all kind of Heresies in their day; and many of them sealed their Testimony with their Blood. And what He­reticks ever held greater Errors than the Quakers? and prevail'd more with the People to suck them in, even whilst the Wise and the I earned take little notice of their growth, and the danger of it. I grant the A­ri [...]n Heresie continued long, even 300 years, before it dwindled and wi­thered away; and lamentable were the consequences of it; yet they were witnessed against by divers Bishops and Learned Men. The Pope and his Superstitions, have not gone on without many Testimonies against the dangerous consequences of his Errours, and that with good Success too. Our famous John Wickliff, an Oxford Scholar, as History saith, wrote more than 200 Volumes against the Pope and his Religious Orders; yet none but Papists accounted him a contentious Apostate. No: he was an eminent Instrument in the hand of God; and I hope we have some such Scholars still in that, and the other famous University, who, as they become sensible of the dangerous Errours of our Quicksilver Tribe, I mean NEW ROME, and know where to fix upon them and their invisible Tenets, which at present they mask under disguise, pretending to own in Words, being examined, what by their Books they deny. And indeed their Books are of two sorts, and carry two faces; the one to the World, the other to be read only amongst their Friends, as I else­where have largely manifested, insomuch that 'tis hard to know a Quaker; who, as Irenaeus of old said in his third Book against Hereticks, viz. Whilst Hereticks speak like the faithful, they not only mean otherwise than they say, but [Page 8] clean contrary; and by their Tenets full of Blasphemy, they destroy the Souls of those, who with their fair words, suck in the Poison of their foul Opinions, &c. Insomuch that what the Learned Dr. Stillingfleet, now Bishop of Worcester, said in his Discourse of Idolatry, &c. p. 282. is more than probable; vi [...]. Yet any one who compares them, (i. e. Quakers and Jesuits) would imagin the Life of Ignatius had been their great Exemplar: I know not (said the Dr.) whether any of that Innocent and Religious Order of the Jesuits had any hand in forming this new Society amongst us, as hath been frequently suggested: but if one may guess the Father by the Child's likeness, Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Jesu­its, was at least the Grandfather of the Quakers, &c. Of which more here­after, if need be.

However our famous Wickliff pav'd the way for great Luther in Germany, who was wonderfully carried on, even as upon Angels wings, who both by word and writing testified against the Pope and his holy Cheats, which made the Papists rave and roar, fret and fume, calling him Apostate, Self-condemn'd Apostate, insomuch that all mens minds stood (as it were) up­on their Tiptoes, to see the Issue of Pope Leo's rage, and brave Luther's courage, who went on undauntedly, writing many Books, and by verbal Disputations, until he finished both his Days and Testimony; of whom Be­za said,