An ABSTRACT of the Book, entituled, The Quakers Challenge at two several Weapons, to the Baptists, Presbyters, Papists, and other professors.
The Original of which being brought me since my Answer to it (which for some Years I had not seen) I was willing to have this reprinted, partly for the sake of such who have not seen the same, and in abhorrence and detestation of that proud, exalted, Antichristian Spirit that writ it; whose Works of Wickedness, and Deeds of Darkness must not always go undetected and unpunished.
Published on the behalf of CHRIST JESƲS the Son of the Living GOD, who is not only become my alone Saviour, Sanctifier, and Redeemer, but also my great LORD and Master, to teach and instruct me in His Word, Work, Worship, and Service this day: for which I cannot but praise and magnifie His Name, who is GOD over all, blessed for ever and for evermore, Amen, saith His Servant; who is a true Lover of his Country, and a Well-wisher to the weal and good of all Mankind.
AFter S. E. had exclaim'd against several of the Baptists Teachers, saying it was their work to belie the Innocent, and fill the Peoples Ears with false Reports; that they were Enemies to the Lord, his Truth and People, &c. he proceeds to his Challenge in these words:
I do challenge any of the Teachers amongst the Baptists, or Independents, or Presbyters, or Papists, or Jesuits, high Priests and low Priests; for these are all blind Guides, and their Profession is rotten, their Church is Babylon, their Faith is unsound, and their Doctrine is false for ever. And I will maintain it by these two Weapons, viz. To fast seven days and seven nights, and not to eat nor to drink. And the next Weapon is, To wake seven days and seven nights, and not to sleep till they be faithfully performed before the Lord: and the God that answereth by Fire, shall be the true God; and he that the Lord shall carry through this fiery trial, shall be accounted a Worshipper of the true God, and shall give Him the Glory and Honour, and acknowledge His Power, who alone is worthy, who is over all, God blessed for ever. But he that tires by the way, shall be accounted a Member of a false Church, and an Heretick; whose God is his Belly, whose Glory is his Shame, whose End is Destruction.
Come Papists, &c. will you maintain that your Church is a true Church (which is establish'd by Blood) answer the Quaker. — Come Protestants, who are called by the names of Presbyters, Independents, and Baptists, Fifth-monarchy, Seventh-day Sabbath-men, and Family of Love, the Quaker denies you ALL, and is come to try you; not by the Tongue, which is your Glory, but by the Belly, for that is your chief God: For of a truth you all are
Come Papists and Protestants, Gog and Magog, will you be daunted by a Quaker? Stand up Presbyters with your hypocritical Fastings, who fast for Strife and Debate; who for matter of Persecution there's none exceeds you; you had need be ranked next the Papists, for who so cruel as you against the Truth? Come, go with me these fourteen days journey; and after this two times seven is over, we will have three times seven more. I never knew the Quakers conquer'd yet by all your cruel weapons; therefore if ever you conquer the Quakers, it must be by Fasting and Watching.
Come Thomas Vincent, I have a mind to challenge thee: but if thou dost not answer, if either Papists or Protestants, Jesuits or Priests, are willing to answer this DUEL: let them name their day and time; and for what God, and for what People, and I will answer you, or whom you can produce in the behalf of the People call'd Quakers, who are in the Truth, [and None but THEY.]
[Page]Come Jeremiah Ives, John Lucas, Robert Porter, and John Brown; I challenge you, as Elias did the false Prophets: and thou Jo. Brown, Baptist Teacher— you Blasphemers come and answer this Duel. Stand up you sleepy Professors and maintain your Assertions. Come Jeremy, I must not pass thee by, for I testifie thy Faith is false, and so is thy Doctrine, and thy Profession is rotten, and thy God is thy Belly; and thy Faith the Faith of Devils, that purifieth not the Heart, &c.
Stand up, old Thomas Lamb; come old Thomas and young Thomas, and help your Brethren, Jer. Ives, Matthew Caffin and William Burnet; for the Quaker denies your Church, and is come to the true Church, the ground and pillar of Truth, &c.
Come forth you Jesuits and Papists, Monks and Friars, Star-gazers, Monthly-Prognosticators, and Astrologers, and all the Devils Conjurers; will you not find a Man to answer the Quakers? If you find a Man, let him be known who he is, and for what God, and for what People; and let him send one to me to see me perform my Challenge, and I shall send one to him to see him perform his Answer; or we will be shut up together in one Room.
Stand up Muggleton the Sorcerer, whose mouth is full of Curses, Lies, and Blasphemies; who callest thy last Book, A Looking-Glass for George Fox, whose name thou art not worthy to take into thy mouth; who is a Prophet indeed, and hath been faithful in the Lord's business from the beginning: It was said of Christ, that 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, whom John said he was not; but thou shalt feel this Prophet one day as heavy as a Milstone upon thee: and although the World knows him not, yet he is known.
Come forth Robert Porter, thou shouldst answer this Duel, for thou hast opened the mouth of God's Enemies against the Truth and his People: But is not thy God thy Belly, as the rest of thy lying Brethrens? Come forth; it is but fourteen days: and if I fall by the way, thou mayest then say, the Lord never sent me.
Stand up all the Armies of the Beast, Papists, Jesuits, Presbyters, Baptists, and all the false Prophets of the Nation.
Come Glocester Professors, to whom I writ a Challenge once, but none would answer me; come William Shepherd the Lawyer, and Thomas Martin; come William Jordan the Presbyter, who said thou wouldst fast with me thirty nine days, and I could never get thee to fast one.
Never did any thrive that spake against the Quakers.
The aforesaid Challenge is not only published by S. E. but is also owned, or at least countenanced by the chiefest Leaders of that People: for the said Challenge is again renewed in their Book, [Judas and the Jews] in these words, viz. L. Muggleton and the Baptists have agreed with John Pennyman, to get something against S. E. to save their Bellies; and John Pennyman, as a Captain of Cowards, endeavours to strengthen the Enemies of God against me behind my back: but he should first have answered my Challenge, &c. (he speaking of Watching and Fasting, which he calls his two Weapons) pag. 72. This Book is put forth by Tho. Briggs, John Whitehead, John Crooke, Solomon Eccles, James Claypool, William Gosnel, Henry Stout, Rebecka Travers, Ellis Hooks, &c. and is owned by George Fox, George Whitehead, and several others.
Here followeth one of George Fox his Challenges (relating to Fasting only) taken out of the Title-Page of his Book, entituled, An Answer to a Paper from the Papists, &c.
If any Papist, &c. will go forth three or four weeks with a Quaker with Bread and Water, and have no more of that than the Quaker hath,—. So if you dare try this matter, then some of your side shall watch the Quaker, and some of the Quakers side shall watch you, and so we shall try if your Bellies be not your God.
LONDON, Printed the 19th day of the Month call'd February, 1680/1.