An anti-christian conspiracy detected, and Satan's 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 ... / by me Thomas Wynne.

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; its 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 its 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, and to be the Mouth of their Prieſts. But inſtead of ſo doing, he hath not come much ſhort of the worſt of men that ever writ againſt us, as will appear by his ſcurrillity, Perverſion of my Words, and of Scripture alſo, his many Lyes and Slanders, Detractions and unjuſt Reflections, both upon me and the whole Body of Gods People, called Quakers, in general.

Firſt, after he hath beſtowed on me and my Friends, about three or four pages of abuſive Reflection, and caſting of Dirt at us, he cul'd out two Teſtimonies out of about thirty, which I brought to prove Quaking and Trembling, not to be Novel among Gods People; and how he undertakes to confute me in thoſe two, you ſhall hear anon: But before I make my Reply, I think it convenient to acquaint my Reader how I came to joyn my ſelf to thoſe poor deſpiſed and abuſed People of God called Quakers.

I was Baptized and brought up a Proteſtant, and having learned the Articles of their Faith, and the Prayers of the Church, I thought all was well, untill I was about fifteen Years old, and then ſoon after it happened that I could not find any ſuch Church as I was baptized into; the Wolf was got among them, who tore many of them to pieces, and the reſt fled: So that go to what Church I would, I could find neither Biſhop, Doctor, Prebend, Vicar nor Curat, to look after my Soul (viz.) not one of my Proteſtant Inſtructers, they were all fled and left me to the mercy of the Wolf that had worried them; and for many Years together there were none of them ſo much as viſited me, nor ſent me ſo much as an Epiſtle or Collect, nor any comfort or hopes.

But before I was twenty Years of Age I was amazed and aſtoniſhed to ſee what was come to paſs, and began to reflect upon my ſelf, and to think what would become of my poor Soul, For thoſe who pretended to be my guides to Heaven were fled, & I knew not the way. And my Brethren the Proteſtants without any more ado, both great & ſmall, went to hear the Hirelings that were then ſet up, unleſs it were here & there one, and moſt of theſe men of low degree, ſuch as they could get nothing off; and when I ſaw it thus come to paſs, I went alſo for company, but found their great matter was to Exclaim againſt the Proteſtants, which hit me upon the Sore: but when I came to inquire ſtrictly after them, I found they did as the Proteſtants had done before them, as to that part called Intereſt, they had their Peepers into every ones Field, leſt any ſhould give them a little Sheaf for a great one, and were excellently skill'd in Arithmetick; for they could make their Pariſhoners by a Figure they then had, and the Prieſts now have: If there were but five or ſix Geeſe belonging to a Houſe, make them paſs for Ten, urging as the Libeller doth, pag. 26, 27. That it was of as much Right to them, as the other five were to the Owner: They had alſo the ſame way for the Piggs, and were as well skill'd for Eaſter-Reckonings and Midſummer-Dues, as they call them, I thought theſe did not quadrate well with thoſe, nor can it be Goſpel in the preſent ones; by this time I began to queſtion whether any were then to be found in the right or not: For my Inſtructers were fled, and the others at beſt were but miſerable Comforters; for turn to the Right hand or Left I ſaw Iniquity abound, and then I began to recollect my ſelf, and conſider what my God-Fathers and God-Mothers (ſo called) had promiſed and vowed for me in my Baptiſm, as they called it, (viz.) That I ſhould forſake the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the ſinful Luſts of the Fleſh: This indeed was to forſake all Sin; but how to perform I could not tell, for I had loſt my Guides that ſo taught: however I inquired of others, whether this might be performed or not, No, no, ſaid they, none can ever be freed from Sin in this Life. Then might I well ſay, it was unreaſonable that any ſhould be bound, and ſo ſolemnly as with a Vow to do that which neither they, nor I, nor none in the World could do. I asked then, Whether any could keep the Chriſtian Faith, and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments, and walk in them all the dayes of their Lives, No, no, ſaid they. I afterwards asked both Proteſtants and Papiſts the ſame, but found them all to agree in this point, That none could be freed from ſin in this life: then began my Sorrow to encreaſe, and to be more then I could bear; and this was the time, dear Country-men, that the Almighty God, who is no Reſpecter of Perſons, did break in upon my Soul by his Everlaſting Light, and diſcovered to me the emptineſs of all thoſe great Profeſſions; who only talked Largely and Eloquently of God and Chriſt, and of Religion, as it is at this day, which was and is verified in their Practices, the many great Pretences to Religion was and is but really a purſuing the Error of Balaam (viz.) Gifes and Rewards. And it was at this time that the Lord raiſed many Witneſſes to proclaim the Controverſie that God had both with Profeſſors and with Prophane; and the Amazing Terrors of God being upon them for ſin, made them exceedingly to Tremble and it was not for fear of the then Powers, nor for fear of Hell, nor of Puniſhment, as the Libeller wickedly inſinuates in pag. 11. for the contrary will appear by their boldneſs in bearing their Teſtimony againſt the Hirelings, and Powers then in Being, whoſe Sufferings were ſo great that much of them could could not be recorded, which will to all moderate men ſufficiently reſcue them from the Libellers falſe Inſinuations in p. 8. That their Trembling was (or is) from a ſervile Fear. But hear his Anſwer, pag. 4.

If Fear and Trembling were enough to prove a certainty of being beloved of God, The Libeller, page 4. then Balaam's Aſs, and the Demoniacks among the Tombs, Faelix the Hypocrite, and Judas that hang'd himſelf for fear of any more ſeeing his Innocent and Righteous Maſter; yea, the Devils themſelves might put in for a ſhare too; for St James expreſly ſayes, that they believe and Tremble.

Reply, Where hath this Malicious Perverter read in my Book, or in any others of the Quakers Writings, That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove a Certainty of being beloved of God? Nay, Serious Reader, if thou wilt be but juſt to both him and me, thou wilt find no ſuch Word in my Book, as, That Fear and Trembling is enough to prove any's being beloved of God.

Upon my arguing on about thirty Teſtimonies of holy Writ, of which he hath meddled with Two, which indeed were too many to Pervert as he hath done; and if thou wilt in Moderation read mine, thou wilt find me only inſer from them, That Quaking and Trembling is no New Thing among God's People; but that it was a State that all God's People paſſed through; and that all now muſt paſs through before ever they can enter God's Kingdom, according to theſe Scriptures; Sion ſhall be redeemed with Judgment, Iſa. 1.27. And they ſhall Mourn for him, as for an only Son, and be in Bitterneſs as for a firſt born, Zach. 12. and muſt know God to be as a Reſiners Fire, and as Fullers Soap, and muſt know his Word of Power to be ſharper than a two-edged Sword, to divide between the Joynts and the Marrow. Thus Judgment muſt be ſet up in the Heart for Sin, and then the Cry will be with the Apoſtle Paul, Oh Wretched Man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from this Body of Sin? And this my Adverſary muſt come to have Experience of, before he be approved of God to come with a Song, as he ſaith in pag. 4.

And this I do aſſure him, as one who hath known the Terrors of the Lord for Sin, That this Power will make him Quake and Tremble, as eaſie a matter as he now thinks it to get to Heaven.

And as for his ſaying, That Balaam's Aſs, the Demoniacks, Foelix, Judas, and the Devils might put in for a ſhare, is very Abſurd. For, Firſt, As to Balaam's Aſs, God had not accompliſhed him with an Immortal Soul to ſubſiſt after this Life; therefore not in a capacity to come in for a ſhare: and as to the reſt its alſo very Abſurd, eſpecially the laſt, (viz.) the Devils; for although they had a ſence of God's Power, and were terrified thereby, and made to Tremble, yet it was not poſſible for them to have acceptance with God, although believing and Trembling alſo are acts in his Chi • dren, which are accepted of him. And if my Adverſary do not in this Life come to witneſs Fear and Trembling to accompany his believing, he may alſo, when its too late, know the Addition of Quaking and Trembling to his Believing, and then his believing nor trembling will ſtand him in no more ſtead, than the Devil's did unto them.

And as for Judas, Faelix, and the reſt mentioned by him, in this caſe I ſay, as the Apoſtle ſaith, God's Will is that all men may know the Truth and be ſaved. God ſaid by the Mouth of the Prophet, I have no pleaſure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Evil Way and live. So Judas and Faelix, and the reſt, had a Day or Time of Viſitation from God, in which Time they might have turned to God, and have had a ſhare in his Salvation. And Judas, and all others, who have no ſhare in the Salvation of God, their Deſtruction is of themſelves, and the Lord God is clear and juſt in giving them their Portion in the Lake of Endleſs Miſery, becauſe, as he ſaith in Proverbs, Chap. 1. When I called, ye would not anſwer; when I ſtretched out my Hand, no Man regarded; they ſet at naught all my Counſel, and would have none of my Reproof, &c. And Chriſt ſaid unto the Rebellious Jews, Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life. And he ſaid to Jeruſalem, I would have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, but ye would not. And God ſaid unto the Rebellious Jews, O Iſrael, thou deſtroyeſt thy ſelf, but in me is thy Help. Chriſt lighteth every one that cometh into the World; and God doth require all men to believe and obey. Chriſt caſted Death for every man, as ſaith the Apoſtle. And the Apoſtle John ſaith He is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for our Sins only, but alſo for the Sins of the whole World. Judas partook of the Miniſtry, and by Tranſgreſſion he Fell.

In oppoſition to Trembling he goes on, quoting Luke 1.The Libeller, pag. 4. That being delivered from the hands of our Enemies, might ſerve God without fear in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs all the dayes of our Lives.

Reply, Is it not to be delivered from our Enemies to be delivered from Sin, which is a cauſe of Fear and Trembling? And if my Adverſary had been really awakened, as in his Scrullious Welch Letter he ſaith he is, he might have ſeen two States (or Conditions) couched in theſe words; Firſt, A State of Sin and Bondage: And Secondly, A State of being delivered from Sin and Bondage. And I hope he, or at leaſt, all Moderate men will grant, that the Words being delivered, are words in the Preſent Tenſe: So that Deliverance was there witneſſed, which was the cauſe of his Confidence of ſerving the Lord without fear; yet I muſt tell him; Not without fear of ſinning againſt God, but without fear of Hell, Devils, Men or Puniſhment; but this is a ſtate the Prieſts do deny, that deliverance from ſin is attainable in this Life, and then the other ſtate of ſerving God in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs cannot be expected. And let my Adverſary know, that God will not call that Righteous and Holy that is mixed with Sin; neither are any delivered from their Enemies until they be delivered from Sin; and until then, let the Libeller Fear and Dread coming before the Lords Preſence with a Song, leſt the Lord our God turn his Song into Howling, and his Gladneſs unto Sorrow and Trembling, which he now puts afar off, as his Arguments make manifeſt, yet in one of them he boggles ſtanding to his Argument. Hear him.

And though till we have mortified our Affections and Luſts, Libeller, p. 4. we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling; yet after a moſt hearty and profound Repentance, we humbly hope all our paſt Ʋnrighteouſneſs is forgiven, and our ſins covered, we may then, doubtleſs, come before his Preſence with a Song.

Reply, Behold Reader, what Confuſion and Contradiction is this! for in his laſt words of the ſame page, in oppoſition to me, and my making Quaking and Trembling to be a ſtate that all muſt paſs through before they come to be in favour with God, he tells of ſerving God without Fear. And now in Contradiction to himſelf, granting me my Argument, he ſaith, Till we have mortified our Affections and Luſts, we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling. This looks as if the man then immediately had found himſelf ſmitten of God in his own Conſcience; but how this will agree with the Prieſts Faith, That no mans ſin can be wholly mortified in this Life, I leave to the Impartial to judge. His Confuſion is, He hath left no room for ſerving God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs; for its Proteſtant Doctrine, that none can be freed from ſin in this Life. If ſo, they muſt be mortifying their Luſts during Life; and ſo by his own Argument muſt Fear and Tremble during Life, and ſo hath no place for his coming before God's Preſence with his Song.

Yet in Cotradiction to Proteſtant Faith, and to his own, as he hath ſtated it,Libeller, p. 5. he quotes Paul and David's rejoycing, Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, &c. There is a Light ſprung up for the Righteous, and joyful gladneſs for ſuch as are true-hearted.

Reply, It had become him here to have diſtinguiſhed the Righteous and True-hearted, and have told me the place where and time when any man comes to be ſuch, ſince its the Papiſt, Doctrine, That men firſt muſt go to Purgatory before they can be ſuch: And the profeſt Presbyter, Independent and Baptiſt ſay, None can be ſuch in this Life; then ſince its our Faith, as well as theirs, that there is no ſuch place of Purgatory after this Life, my Opponent ſhould have told then poſitively the place where and time when any is Righteous.

This was the Belief of thoſe Saints who were no Quakers,Libeller p. 5. however diſguſted by thoſe Quakers who are no Saints.

Reply, Is not this to contradict himſelf again, who confeſſed Ʋntil we have mortified our Luſts, we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling? It ſeems as if it were part of his own Belief, elſe he ſaith, he ought to do that which is no p • rt of his Belief: This doth not make it appear that the Saints he ſpeaks of were no Quakers, nor the preſent Quakers no Saints. He quotes again pag. 10. Sorrow endures for a Night, Libeller, p. 10. but Joy cometh in the Morning.

Rep. Is not Sin the work of that Night the Prophet ſpeaks of there? & ſince that Sorrow muſt continue during that Night, then ſure Quaking and Trembling may be comprehended in the word Sorrow; then it ſtill maintain • my Argument: And what can be more clear then that all muſt paſs through a ſtate of Sorrow before they come to know true rejoycing? And what's that Joy which cometh in the Morning? Is it not in this Life to witneſs the Morning Star, Chriſt Jeſus, to expel all the Deeds of Darkneſs by his Bright Appearance in the Soul? and who thus come to witneſs this Bright and Morning Star to ariſe in their Hearts, ſuch come to know the Rejoycing that Paul and David were come to; and great cauſe they have, when come truly to experience God's taking the Cup of Trembling from them, and giving the Cup of Salvation unto them inſtead thereof. And that it was thus with Paul and David, that they paſſed through a great Gulf of Sorrow and Trembling will further appear by theſe following Teſtimonies of theirs. Acts 9.5, 6. And he ſaid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt, its hard for thee to kick againſt the Pricks; And he Trembling & Aſtoniſhed ſaid, Lord, What wilt thou have me to do? Rom. 7.24. Oh wretched Man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from this Body of Death? Read the Chapter thoroughout, and ſee what Exerciſes he had in the Warfare with Sin. 2 Cor. 11. Knowing therefore the Terrors of the Lord, we perſwade men: with many more Teſtimonies cited in my Book to this purpoſe.

Now here what the Prophet David ſaith to this matter, Pſal. 38.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

2. Thine Arrows ſtick faſt in me, and thy hand preſſeth me ſore

3. There is no Soundneſs in my Fleſh becauſe of thine Anger Neither is there any reſt in my Bones becauſe of my Sin.

4. For mine Iniquities is gone over my Head as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5. My VVounds ſtinck and are Corrupt becauſe of my fooliſhneſs.

6. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go Mourning all the Day long.

7. For my Loyns are filled with a loathſome Diſeaſe, and there's no ſoundneſs in my Fleſh.

8. I am feeble and ſore broken, I have roared by reaſon of the diſquietneſs of my Heart.

Now had Paul and David been in our time, and our Libeller had ſeen them in theſe Exerciſes, and heard their Cryes, their Groans, Roarings and Terrors becauſe of their Sins, thou mayſt judge by his Book how he would have treated them.

Hear David a little further, Pſal. 55. Fearfulneſs and Trembling are come upon me, and Horror hath overwhelmed me. See more of him in my Antiquity of the Quakers, Job 3.28. My Bowels boyled and reſted not, the Day of Affliction prevented me; I went Mourning without the Sun, I cryed in the Congregation, my Skin is black upon me, my Bones are burnt with heat, my Harp alſo is turned to Mourning, and my Organ unto the Voice of them that weep. I might multiply Teſtimonies to this, but theſe may evidence to all who are not given up to a Reprobate Spirit, that its yet too timely for my Adverſary to come with his Song before the Lord our God. Nay, nay, its my Teſtimony to all, of what Perſwaſion ſoever, that there's none ſhall enter God's Kingdom until firſt they have paſſed through a ſtate of Sorrow and great Mourning; yea, Quaking and Trembling becauſe of ſin; and he that gets out of this Furnis, and not purified in it of his Droſs, and purged of his Tin, he will not be currant Mettal to paſs into the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but whoſoever comes to witneſs a paſſing through this Diſpenſation of Sorrow, and come to know experimentally the cauſe of it taken away, (viz.) To be delivered from their Enemies, Luke 1 ſuch only may approach the Preſence of our God with a Song; yea, with a Song of Deliverance, even the Song of Moſes and the Lamb.

Then after he hath beſpattered us with a great deal of Lyes and Dirt in pag. 5. (as indeed little elſe is to be found in his Book, except ſome Scripture-Quotations) and to purſue him in all his Dirt, were near to tranſcribe his Book. In page 6. he begins on one of my Scripture Teſtimonies.

And this is evidenced by his 4th page, where he obſerves with a World of Wit, Libeller, p. 6. Iſaac trembled for having miſtaken Jacob for Eſau; and then preſently infers, that Iſaac was a Quaker: A ſtrong and choice way of arguing by which he makes him pay dearer for his inadvertance than ever Eſau was forced to do.

Rep. This as much ſhews him a Stranger to the two Seeds, Tipified by Jacob and Eſau, as what he hath ſaid before ſhews him a ſtranger to the two States, ſpoken of before; he could not ſee how one Miſery uſhered in another on Eſau. Firſt, He had ſold his Birth right for a meſs of Pottage; and now by Hunting had loſt the bleſſing alſo: And could Iſaac be leſs then in great Sorrow and Dread to ſee the ſad State that Eſau was come unto? And was not Eſau's Hunting a true Figure of his and other mens wandring abroad from the G • ft of God within them? and Iſaac having a true ſence of this made him Quake and Tremble; but how he paid dearer for his Inadvertance than Eſau had need to do, is yet for my Adverſary to prove; for Eſau could not find a place of Repentance, although he ſought it with Tears: By this any ſober man may (endued with heavenly Wiſdom) ſee the Unſoundneſs of this his Argument.

Then he goes on thus, Then Iſaac it ſeems was not beyond the poſſibility of a miſtake, Libeller, p. 6. which Quakers affirm they are not ſubject to.

Rep. This is an abſolute Forgery, for the Quakers do not attribute to themſelves any priviledge above others, but as they are led and guided by the Unerring Spirit and Power of God within; and becauſe we have by true experience found it to be the only thing that keeps out of Miſtakes, we commend all others to the Guidance of it.

He tells, That thoſe People mentioned in the 9th of Ezra were the Quakers Meeting. Libel. p. 7. Its well he did not ſay at Holy VVell or Cayrwis.

Reply, There's nothing in all this that doth invalid my Teſtimony with any ſober man, that will read my Quotations; but if I had ſaid it had been at Hollywell or Caerwis, then I had been like unto him: But it ſeems the Quakers Meetings there do ſeem to trouble him; but he tells nothing of other Meetings neither at Hollywell nor Caerwis (viz.) on their Sundayes at their Service time, great Meetings of Men and Women, with Fidlers, to Revel and Roar, Swear, Dance and Sing, yea, the ſame up and down the Country, and Morricedances, Waxēs, Enterludes, Foot-ball, Nine pins and Tennis, &c. And if my Adverſary be William Jones, as many ſay he is, his Practice (without wronging of him) may certainly be brought under this Character; and I would adviſe him (if he do not think it ſcorn to take it) not to think that God will be ſerved with ſuch Rejoycing.

As for his quoting the 6th Verſe of Ezra 9. it makes much for me, as any impartial Reader will find, if he examine mine and his.

Ezra does moſt evidently acquit himſelf of the Charge; for he aroſe, and made all the Chief Prieſts and Levites to ſwear, &c. Hear him further, he ſays, Libel, p. 7. That Ezra was a Quaker; yet he dares not forſooth do what that Quaker did, though but according to Law: he would perſwade us, that all Quakers are guided by the ſame Spirit; how then come they ſo much to diſagree? Ezra and all Iſrael did Swear; but our Wiſe Man of Gotham is endued with a greater Light, &c. then moſt certain it is, that theſe Iſraelites were no true Quakers, nor theſe Quakers no true Iſraelites.

Rep. This ſtill ſhews the man as ignorant of the two Diſpenſations, viz. of the Law and Goſpel; as what he ſaid before ſhewed him a Stranger to the two States and two Seeds ſpoken of already, and as ignorantly he mentions a Diſagreement between thoſe Iſraelites, who were true Quakers, that ſwore then; and theſe Iſraelites after the Spirit, who are true Quakers, but will not Swear now; for thoſe Iſraelites were under the Covenant of Circumciſion, made their Offerings with the Blood of Bulls and Goats, &c. and did it by God's Appointment, and by the Aſſiſtance of God's Spirit; but under the Goſpel-Diſpenſation Chriſt Jeſus diſannulled all theſe, & he ſaith, Swear not at all: and the true Iſrael, who are Quakers, are guided by God's Eternal Spirit now not to ſwear at all: and there's no ſuch diſagreement between us and the Iſraelites of old, as my Antogoniſt would fain inſinuate; and he might as well ſeek to bring us under all the Bondage of the firſt Prieſthood, as under that of Swearing; for Chriſt hath as ſtrictly forbidden Swearing as he did the reſt of the Shadows and Ceremonies of the Levitical Prieſthood, as may appear plainly Mat. 5. It hath been ſaid by them of old, Thou ſhalt not Forſwear thy ſelf, but ſhalt perform to the Lord thine Oaths.

This Text of it ſelf is enough to prove all Swearing to be unlawful under the Goſpel-Diſpenſation, notwithſtanding that under the Law an Oath was to end Strife, yet Chriſt in his Prohibition did as perfectly forbid this, as he did the other Points which he treated of in the ſame Chapter.

The common Objection is, That he only Prohibited Vain Oaths.

Anſw. Th • words themſelves fully import, that it was the Oaths allowed of by the Iſraelites, Patriarchs and Prophets; for they were the Men which Chriſt Jeſus quoteth, which of old ſaid, Thou ſhalt not Forſwear thy ſelf, but perform to the Lord thine Oaths. Mark, here was of old an Allowance to Swear and Perform.

But to all thoſe that ſay, That the Oaths there mentioned to be performed, were Needleſs or Vain Oaths: I anſwer.

The Oaths there to be performed, were the Oaths which were to be ſworn in Truth, in Righteouſneſs and in Judgment; therefore certainly the Oaths before a Magiſtrate, and not Vain Oaths: for it would be Abſurdity to ſay, that Chriſt or the holy Ancients did impoſe vain Oaths to be performed; therefore it was the Solemn Oathes before the Magiſtrate, which is clearly proved by theſe and other Examples in that Chapter, as one which Chriſt quote • from the ſame Law. Moſes (ſaid he) becauſe of the Hardneſs of your Hearts, gave a Bill of Divercement; but I ſay unto you, that he that puts away his Wife, except for Adultery. Mark here, he make, an Exception [Except for Adultery] Now if the Oaths be • ore-mentioned, that he prohibited, had been only vain Oaths, he, fore-ſeeing what Controverſies would ariſe about them, as well as about putting away Wives, would cer • a • nly not have left his People in the dark in ſo important or weighty a Matter; but would in this Caſe, as well as in the other aboveſaid, have ſaid, Swear not at all, Except when lawfully called before a Magiſtrate. The Apoſtle is very poſitive, James 5. Above all things Swear not, neither by Heaven, Earth nor any other Oath, leſt ye fall into Condemnation. But becauſe we are thought ſingular in this Point, read the following Teſtimonies of Fathers and Proteſtants, who denyed all Oaths as well as we.

Polycarpus, who was ſaid to have been Diſciple to John, one of the Apoſtles, who at his Death was bid to Swear and Defie Chriſt, &c. he ſaid, Euſeb. Eccleſ. Hiſt. lib. 4. cap. 14. Fourſcore years have I ſerved him, yet he never offended me in any thing. Further ſaid, I am a Chriſtian.

Peter Martyr, a famous man, was of his mind, Apol. 2. pro Chriſtianis ad auten. pium. oper. pag. 63.

Chryſoſtom on Gen. Hom. 15.

He being a famous man in the Church ſaith, A Chriſtian muſt flee Oaths by all means. Further he ſaith, 'It is not lawful to Swear, neither in a Juſt nor Unjuſt Thing; for to Swear (ſaid he) is of the Devil, ſeeing Chriſt ſaid, Whatſoever is more than yea, yea, nay, nay, cometh of Evil. This Chryſoſtom was Overſeer of the Church at Conſtantinople.

Auguſtine de Sermone Domini, Serm. 28.

It is not lawful for a Chriſtian to Swear, when an Oath is required of him.

Th • antient Waldenſes, who were Proteſtants, denyed the taking any Oaths; and Biſhop Ʋſher took their part againſt Papiſts, who were Swearers. Vid. Baron. ann. 1310. Jo. Wald. adv. Wickliff & Wald de ſucceſ. l. 6.

The Plow-man's Complaint.

Lord, thou gaveſt us a Command of Truth, in bidding us ſay, Yea, yea, and Nay, nay; but, Lord, He (Pope) that calls himſelf thy Vicar on Earth, hath broken the Commandment, ſo makes a Law to compel men to Swear.

John Wickliff, our famous Country-man, in the time of Edward the 3d and Richard the 2d, Book Mart. vol. 1. p 554. to 558 was accuſed among other things for maintaining, That All Oaths made in any Bargain or Contract between man and man, are unlawful.

William Thorp, an eminent man of the Chriſtian Church, refuſed to ſwear upon a Bible, Becauſe, ſaid he, a Book is nothing elſe but divers Creatures of which it is made, Book Mart v. 1, p. 701. and ſuch Swearing is ever Unlawful.

Elizabeth Young, at her Examination in Queen Mary's days, before the Catholick Inquiſitors (ſo called, who co • manded her to Swear as followeth.

Dr. Martin, Thou ſhalt be rack't inch-meal, thou T • aiterly Whore and Heretick; but thou ſhalt Swear before a Judge before thou go.

Eliz. Young, I underſtand not what an Oath is, and therefore will take no ſuch thing.

Dr. Martin, She refuſed to Swear upon the four Evangeliſts; Book Mart. vol 3. pag. 510.911. for I my ſelf and Mr. Pluſſey have had her before us four times, but we cannot bring her to ſwear.

Then ſaid the Biſhop, Why wilt thou not ſwear before a Judge?

Eliz Young, My Lord, I will not Swear that this Hand is mine.

No, ſaid the Biſhop; and why?

Eliz. Young, Chriſt ſaith, that Whatſoever is more than Yea, Yea, or Nay, Nay, cometh of Evil.

The Chriſtian Proteſtants in the Valley of Piedmo • t, who were cruelly tortured to Death by the Papiſts about the year 1655. one Article alledged againſt them was, Marol. Hiſt. p. 217, 218. That they believed it was not lawful to Swear any thing, be it true or falſe.

Eraſmus in his Commentaries on Matth. 5. James 5. plainly forbids All Swearing.

There are ſeveral Teſtimonies of John Huſſe. Jerom of Prague, William Swinderley, Walter Brute, William Sawtry, William White, who were famous men in their time, that refuſed all Swearing.

Behold, Reader how our Proteſtant Libeller is apoſtatized from the firſt reformed Proteſtants.

I might have quoted many others of the famous Fathers, and worthy Proteſtant Reformers; who gave their Teſt • mony againſt all Oaths.

And here's a Superſtructure built upon the good Foundation Chriſt Jeſus; and its in vain for my preſent Oppoſer or any other to bring up Circumciſion, the Blood of Beaſts, or Oaths, which were allowed in the firſt Covenant, but diſannulled and prohibited in the ſecond; for no other Foundation can be laid (that will ſtand) but that which is laid, even Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe heavenly Spirit, which doth enlighten everyone that comes into the World, hath appeared in Power and great Glory, which hath brought a Remnant ſo far in Obedience to his bleſſ • d Command, that they dare not Swear at all:

Had he any Ingenuity or Senſe, he had never been ſo ſilly as to think, that Quaking and Trembling were enough to denominate a juſt or good man by, Libeller, pag 9▪ yet is ſo fond of the Conceit, as if there were no other way poſſible to get to Heaven but this; and might as well have affirmed, that to be Surly and Churliſh, Ignorant and Singular, Envious and Ʋnmannerly, Diſſembling and Hypocritical, had been the only way to pleaſe God, and the certain Character to know the Inſpired and Heavenly-minded by.

Rep. Reader, I ſhewed thee before how he had charged me in p. 4. of his Book with this Falſity of thinking that Quaking and Trembling was enough to prove a man's being beloved of God▪ and now he renews the Charge, though it be a Lye, and accounts me ſilly for thinking that which I never did think, nor had he ground to think I ever did: he farther ſays, I am ſo fond of the Conceit, as if there were no other way poſſible to get to Heaven. By this it ſeems he thinks to get ſome other way to Heaven, which indeed is a Contradiction to his own Confeſſion, pag. 4. for he ſaith there, That till he had mortified his Affections and Luſts, he ought to work out his Salvation with Fear and Trembling [A groſs Contradiction.] Nay, to contradict himſelf more groſly, he adds, That I might have as well affirmed, that to be Surly and Churliſh, Ignorant and Singular, Envious and Ʋnmannerly, Diſſembling and Hypocritical, &c. were the Way to Heaven.

What can be expected from ſuch a wicked man as this, who one while ſayes, That till he hath mortified his Affections and Luſts, he ought to Fear and Tremble: yet ſoon after, in contradiction, ſayes, It were as well for me to affirm Diſſembling and Hypocriſie to be the way to Heaven, and the certain Character to know the Heavenly-Minded and Inſpired by. Oh Impious and Wilful Man!

But before I cloſe up this Chapter concerning Quaking and Trembling, with tenders of pure Love I offer, for further clearing of the Point; theſe following Teſtimonies, beſides what I have hinted already.

Job 21.6. When I remember, I am affraid, and Trembling takes hold on my Fleſh.

Pſalm 2.11. Serve the Lord with Fear, rejoyce with Trembling.

Pſalm 55.5. Fearfulneſs and Trembling are come upon me, and Horrour hath overwhelmed me.

Pſalm 99.1. The Lord Reigns, let the People Tremble.

Pſalm 119.20. My Fleſh Trembles for fear of thee, and I am affraid of thy Judgments.

Jer. 5.22. Fear ye not me, ſaith the Lord? will ye not Tremble at my Preſence?

Ezek. 12.18. Son of Man, eat thy Bread with Quaking, and drink thy Drink with Trembling.

Theſe, with many more, I quoted in my Book, called, The Antiquity of the Quakers, which in particular he meddled not with, yet in the general contradicts them, and ſays, pag. 6. They are clearly for other Purpoſes, and quite of other Meanings, than I intend them for: But if all were true that he hath ſaid then I had miſſed it indeed; but its his only ſaying ſo, for he hath yet not proved either other Purpoſes or Meanings they have.

Now if Quaking and Trembling were not to be known in the way to Heaven, as he wickedly inſinuates, and that I might as well affirm Diſſimulation and Hypocriſie to be the way; then in vain was all the Quaking and Trembling of theſe • oly Ancients; and what hath he done leſs than Blaſpheme in this his Aſſertion?

And let him and all his Adherents know, that ſince mans unhappy fall, Edens Garden is beſet with a flaming Sword, which guards the Tree of Life that none can come at it, but through Death; and this was the Sword which pierced the Bowels of all the holy Ancients, and divided between the Joynts and the Ma • row; this was it that made Job to cry out, His Bowels burned, and his Bones were dryed up with Heat; this was it that made David cry and roar untill his Skin was parched upon him, yea, untill he was become like a Kettle in the Smoke; this was it that made Jeremiah to lay his Mouth in the Duſt, to ſee if there were hopes; this was it the holy Prophets and Apoſtles could ſpeak experimentally of; and this is the narrow Way and ſtrait Gate, &c. this was it that pricked Paul to the Heart, and made him cry out, Oh wretched man that I am, &c. and this was it which did overtake in an acceptable time theſe poor deſpiſed People, called Quakers in our Age: And whereas the Libeller in his 11. and 12. pages, ſcurrilouſly tells of their Trances & Diſtortions, Quaking and Trembling, comparing them to Conjurers and Bell-Founders, &c.

Rep. That the Holy Ancients paſſed through ſuch a State, I have proved before; and when in our day and time the Lord appeared unto us, he appeared in the way of his Judgment for Sin, and the powerful eternal Word of the Lord (which is the Sword of the Spirit) pricked many to their Hearts, and I being one among them, can do no leſs then give in my Teſtimony concerning the Operation or Working of the Heavenly Power, it wounded as a Sword, it ſmote like a Hammer at the whole Body of Sin, & in my Bowels it burned like Fire, yea, ſo dreadfully it burned, that it made by Bowels boyl, it pierced as a Sword, it broke as a Hammer: And then the Pangs of Death I felt in my Members which did make me to roar, yea, and to Quake and Tremble: for this Fire, when it burned, it gave Light, as its the Nature of Fire to do, and it diſcovered to me and theſe poor deſpiſed People the great body of Sin and Death, which was indeed terrible to behold; and not only ſo, but it diſcovered the narrowneſs of the Gate, and that there was no going in thereat, but by firſt having all that combuſtable Body of Sin and Death deſtroyed and burnt up, at this time did great Terror and Amazement fall upon many; and this my Oppoſer muſt come experimentally to know and witneſs in this Life, or elſe his latter End will be miſerable.

And as for his telling of a great Change within this 12. or 14. Years; I ſay there is a Change, Glory to God for the fame, for many are paſſed from Death to Life, and do witneſ • the work of Regeneration in them, and can ſing the Song of Sion, even the Song of Moſes and the Lamb, to whom by them, and all the Hoſt of Heaven, be ſung Halelujahs for evermore. So here's great alteration indeed, Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Goſpel, them who were dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes are quickened and made alive; they who were Alians and Strangers to God, made Fellow-Citizens of the New Jeruſalem; and the Prodigal Son, who had been feeding among the Swine on Husks, brought home into the Father's Houſe, where there's living Bread enough, yea, and Wine alſo well refined; and he ſaith, Ea • Oh Friends, yea, drink abundantly Oh Beloved.

CHAP. II. of TYTHES.

THe Tythes, Li • eller, pag 24. the chief Cauſe of all his grumbling, are but a Portion which God himſelf out of his own Word hath given ſuch as miniſter about holy things.

Reply, We do not read either in the Old or New Teſtament, that God perpetuated the Levitical Prieſthood to be in force in Goſpel Times; and its my Faith in God, That they who take Tythes, or give Tythes, in Goſpel Times, deny Chriſt come in the Fleſh, and ſo are of Antichriſt; my Reaſons are as followeth:

Firſt, That the Levitical Prieſthood was by it ſelf a diſtinct Prieſthood, which Chriſt Jeſus, by offering up himſelf once for all, hath ended.

Secondly, That under that Prieſthood the Prieſts were to have but a Part of the Tythes; for the Poor, the Stranger, the Fatherleſs and Widows were to be maintained out of it.

Deut. 14.28. And at the end of three years thou ſhalt bring forth all the Tythe of thine Increaſe the ſame year, and ſhalt lay it up within thy Gates; and the Levite, becauſe he hath no Inheritance with thee, and the Stranger, and the Fatherleſs and Widows, which are within thy Gates, ſhall come and eat and be ſatisfied; that the Lord thy God may bleſs thee in all the Works of thy Hands, which thou doſt.

Mark Reader, the Uſe of Tythes in their firſt Inſtitution were for the Stranger, the Fatherleſs and Widows, they we • e to eat and be ſati • fied of them; (a very pious Uſe under that D • ſpenſation) and the Prieſts had only a ſhare with them.

Deut. 18. verſ. 1, 2, 3. The Prieſts, the Levites, and all thè Tribe of Levi, ſhall have no Inheritance with Iſrael; they ſhall eat the Offerings of the Lord made by Fire, and his Inheritance.

2. Therefore they ſhall have no Inheritance among their Brethren; the Lord is their Inheritance, as he hath ſaid unto them.

3. And this ſhall be the Prieſts due from the People, for them that offer a Sacrifice, whether it be Ox or Sheep, they ſhall give unto the Prieſt the Sholder, the two Cheeks and the Maw.

Now if theſe Prieſts will have it (in theſe Goſpel Dayes) as it was ordered by the Levitical Law to the Prieſts, then this Clauſe of the Law doth tell them what is their Due, Share or Portion; and what was their Due of the other Encreaſe, is expreſt in the afore-going Text; the Poor, the Fatherleſs, Strangers and Widow were to eat and to be ſatisfied, and then the Prieſts were to have their Due or Portion, as is read in Gen. 47.22. and that Portion was Pharaoh's free Gift, there was no Law to enforce treble Damage, if not paid.

Behold the Zeal of the Libeller for Tythes, which were only due under the Levitical Prieſthood! One would think that ſo zealous a Son of the Church ſhould be prefer'd unto a Benefice, if he have none, as ſome ſay he hath not; for he hath ſtood up for Tythes as ſtoutly as the Presbyterians did in Oliver's dayes, who had then a Law to enforce them with treble Damage: but although he and the Prieſts hold up Levi's Prieſthood, they have changed the courſe of it; for in Levi's time it was to be ſtored up for the Poor, the Stranger, the Fatherleſs and Widow, and the Prieſts were only to have a ſhare of it, and their ſhare or due was, of an Ox or Sheep they were to have one Sholder, the two Cheeks and the Maw; but now they have altered their courſe, they have taken all the Tythes (they could get) to themſelves, and have turned the Poor, the Stranger, the Fatherleſs and Widow to beg, not ſo much as giving them any ſhare; it had been Charity for them to have allowed them ſomething, if it had been but the Sholder or two Cheeks, it had been better than nothing: and ſince its by Levi's Prieſthood the Prieſts now claim their Tythes, may not the Poor, the Fatherleſs and Widows by it lay as good a Claim to it? if not, let the Prieſts or this Libeller their Agent ſhew us by the Scriptures of Truth, when and where they were excluded; if they cannot, all people may ſee how far the Piety and Charity of Levi's Prieſts, in his day and time, did exceed theſe Prieſts of our time; for then the Poor, the Stranger, the Fatherleſs and Widow were ſatisfied of the Tythes; but now the Prieſts, who pretend their Authority for taking Tythes from Levi, do allow the Poor no ſhare, though they ſee them in great Want, they are every day begging at our Doors. But the Libeller goeth on in the Prieſts Vindication of having the Tythes.

Remember that our Lord Jeſus was both a Biſhop and a Prieſt, and is ſaid by the Author to the Hebrews,Libeller, to be a Prieſt forever after the Order of Melchizedek.

Rep. Its true what the Author to the Hebrews ſaid there; but he doth acquit himſelf of the Libeller's Charge; for he doth not in that Epiſtle, nor in any other ſay, that its lawful for Goſpel Miniſters to take Tythes; but in the ſame Chapter, viz. Hebr. 7.12. in Contradiction to the Libeller, he ſaid, The Priesthood being changed, (who had command from God to take Tythes) there is made alſo a Neceſſity of the Change of the Law.

But it ſeems my Opponent hath found another Law ſince then, which grants a Right to the Prieſts for Tythes, made in the 9th of Hen. 3. I confeſs that we read of that, but for my part, I do not believe he had Power to repeal the Law of God, which ſaid, The Prieſthood was changed, and there was made of Neceſſity a Change of the Law. And for his inſiſting on Chriſt's being a Biſhop and a Prieſt; this makes nothing for him (nor them) for Chriſt did not ſet up Tythes, but ended them, neither were his Apoſtles inducted to any Benefices, one, two or three apiece; but on the contrary he ſaid, Matth. 8.20. The Foxes have Holes, and the Birds have Neſts, but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head. And when he ſent forth his Diſciples, he did not ſay to them, that whatſoever City or Town they entered into, they ſhould ſettle there, and be Incombent of that Place, and take their Tythes of them; and if they would not receive them, then ſue them at Law, and take treble Damage: But on the contrary, ſaid, Freely ye have received, freely give; and eat what's ſet before you; and if they will not receive you, ſhake off the Duſt of your Feet for a Teſtimony againſt them. Surely the Libeller miſſed chuſing a Pattern for taking Tythes; for Chriſt, although he was a Biſhop and Prieſt, he took no Tythes, nor his Diſciples neither took none, but wrought with their Hands, and miniſtred to their own Neceſſity, and the Neceſſity of o hers. But after the Apoſtles days there was a great Apoſtacy among the Profeſſed Chriſtians; for ſome turned to be Wolv • s (which Chriſt ſaid would come) and Tore and Devoured them that kept the Teſtimony of Jeſus, and great ſtriv • ng was among them about their Prieſts Maintenance, and for ſetting up of TYTHES, as the Reader may read at large in Frarcis Howgil's Book, called, THE CREAT CASE OF TYTHES; and there may be ſeen how in the ſeveral Ages ſince Chriſt was put to Death, according to the Fleſh, God had a People that bore their Teſtimony againſt TYTHES.

Soon after the Year 600. Grego • y the fi • ſt, who was the firſt Pope of Rome, ſoon after ſent Auguſtine the Monk to England, • ad. Lib. 26. who, as its ſaid, Converted E helbert King of Kent; but it was but to Popery; and he and his Clergy for a long time after followed the Example of t • e Apoſtolical Primitive Church, living in common upon the Free-Offerings of their Converts.

And from that time, until Henry the 3 d no Tythes, as Tythes were generally paid, but only a Decree made,Ex. in Bad. 663, &c. that for every twenty Shillings Rent, a Farding a Sunday was to be paid, and this was given by way of Offering.

From this time until the Year 1200. all that the Prieſts could do, brought the People no farther than to pay their Tythes at their own pleaſures, which made Pope Innocent the third ſend his Decretal Letters to the Biſhop of Canterbury, commanding him to enjoyn every man to pay his Temporal Goods to thoſe that miniſtred ſpiritual Things to them; which was enforced by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſure: And this was the firſt beginning of general parochial Tythes in England; this the Popes Decertal Epiſtle was admitted and enjoyned by the Law of the Nation, King and People being then Papiſts. The Decree of the Pope receiving all poſſible Aſſiſtance from the Biſhops and Prieſts, on whoſe behalf it was made, did not only in a ſhort time take away the Peoples right to give their Tythes to thoſe that beſt deſerved them, but did alſo ſo much corrupt the Clergy, that in the time of Richard the ſecond,Book Mart. John Wickliff, our famous Reformer did make a heavy Complaint to the Parliament in the words following:

Ah Lord God! where this be reaſon to conſtrain the poor People to find a Worldly Prieſt, ſome time unable both of Life, and cunning in Pompe and Pride, Gluttony and Drunkenneſs, and Letchery, in Symony and Hereſie, with fat Horſe, and Jolly and Gay Saddles and Bridles, Ringing by the way, and himſelf in coſtly Cloaths, and Pleaſures, and ſuffer their poor Wives and Children, and poor Neighbours periſh for Hunger, Thurſt and Cold, and other Miſchiefs of the World. Ah Lord Jeſus Chriſt! s;ith within few Years men paid their Tythes and Offerings at their own free will to Good Men, and able to great Worſhip of God, to pr • fit and fairneſs of holy Church, fighting on Earth: Why were it lawful that a Worldly Prieſt ſhould deſtroy this holy and approved Cuſtom, conſtraining men to leave this Freedom, turning Tythes and Offerings unto Wicked Uſes? Again, hear him.

That Tythes were and are a Free Gift, as among Chriſtians, and only pure Alms; and the Pariſhioner may for the Offence of their • urate detain & keep them back, Acts, Men. p. 69. and b • ſtow them upon others at their own will and pleaſures.

This was alſo maintained by J. Hus, who was burnt for his Teſtimony at Conſtance; take his own words:

That the Clergy are not Lords and Profeſſors of Tythes and other Eccleſiaſtical Goods, which are freely given, but only Stewards;Acts & Mon. pag. 605. and after the neceſſity of the Clergy is once ſatisfied, they ought to be tranſported to the poor; and if the Clergy do abuſe the ſame, they are Thieves and Robbers, and Sacriledgious perſons; & except they do Repent by the Judgment of God they are to be condemned.

Will Thorp, an Eminent Proteſtant gave a large Teſtimony againſt Tythes, ſaying, That thoſe Prieſts that took Tythes,Book Mart. deny Chriſt come in the Fleſh; for the Prieſthood was changed that gave them. At which the Biſhop ſaid, God's Curſe have you, and mine for thus teaching. Jerom of Prague, William Swinderby, Walter Brute, Rueas Silvi in his Bohem. Hiſtory. the 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 its 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 its 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. Ʋnto 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 mean • 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 M •• of Babylon, but there it failed alſo. Dan. 5 you may read of the Hand-Writing that appeared at Belſhazer's impious Feaſt, who beholding it, his Countenance was changed, and he cryed out for the Aſtrologers, Magicians and Wiſe Men, here it failed alſo. When Chriſt Jeſus was born of Mary, the Scribes, the Phariſees, the High Prieſts, with all their Schollarſhips, could not find out that he was the Saviour, but took him for a moſt wicked Impoſtor: How • ame it then that they could not find it out, ſeeing that they had the Scriptures, that fore-told his coming? nay, inſtead of knowing him by their Hebrew, Greek and Latin, they perſecuted him, and put him to the moſt ſhameful Death; however, many poor illiterate Mechanicks had him revealed unto them. I might bring many Scripture-Teſtimonies more to my Defence, but at preſent do content my ſelf with theſe, not doubting but ſuch Hoops as theſe will make my Veſſel hold Water; theſe following may be uſed alſo if need be.

Biſhop Jewel, in his Book againſt Papiſts, writ about a hundred years ago, ſaid thus; The Spirit of God is bound neither to Sharpneſs of Wit,Biſhop • ewel againſt Hard. p. 532.534. nor to abundance of Learning; oft-times the Unlearned ſee that which the Learned cannot ſee; therefore Epiphanius ſaith, Only to the Children of the Holy Ghoſt all the Scriptures are plain and clear; Fleſh and Blood is not able to underſtand the Holy Will of God, without ſpecial Revelation, without the ſpecial Help and Prompting of God's holy Spirit, the Word of God is to the Reader, be he never ſo wiſe and learned, but as the Viſion of a fealed Book.

William Dell, It is only the INSPIRATION of GOD that enables a Man to know the Things of God; William Dell confut Simſ. p. 114, 115, 116, 117. and not man's Study and human Learning.

Dr. Barns Martyr, Burnt for his Faith in King Henry the eighth's dayes, ſaith, That Man's Will, Reaſon, Wiſdom, Heart, Soul, or Whatſoever thing is in man, without the Spirit of God, is but the Wiſdom of the Fleſh.

Zwinglius, The Scriptures are not to be underſtood, but by that very ſame Spirit by which they were writ.Tom 3. fol. 160.

Peter Martyr, that famous Italian Proteſtant, teacheth us, That the Spirit is the Abettor, by which we muſt aſſure our ſelves for the underſtanding of the Scriptures; Peter Mart. ch. 6. and that thereby we muſt diſcern between the Words of Chriſt and the Words of a Stranger.

Eraſmus, What's ſet forth by man's Device, may be received by Man's Wit; Eraſ. on 1 Pet. 1.19 ibid. or 1 Cor. 2. but the Thing that's ſet forth by the Inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt, requireth an Interpreter inſpired with the like Spirit.

Thus, Reader, thou may'ſt ſee who abuſes the firſt Reformers, my Adverſary or I; yet he calls himſelf a Proteſtant, but if he be, he is very much apoſtatized from the firſt reformed ones: and for my part, I am a Proteſtant in this Caſe with the afore-ſaid good men.

And whereas in my Book I did give my Teſtimony, That none could underſtand the Myſteries of God's Kingdom by Human Learning, Arts or Sciences; and he hath ſaid nothing to invalid my Aſſertion; yet I did not ſay there, nor was it ever in my Heart, that Schollarſhip was not good in its place, (viz.) to tranſlate any Hiſtory out of one Language to another, as Hebrew to Greek, Greek to Latin, Latin to Engliſh, Engliſh to Welch, or Welch to Engliſh, &c. in theſe, and in Commerce with men by them that travel into ſtrange Countries, and for trading with them, its of excellent uſe: But let a man be Maſter of never ſo many Languages, he cannot by them know the true Meaning of the Parable which Chriſt ſpoke, The Kingdom of God may be compared to a Muſtard ſeed; and whoever ſay they can, they are in their own Eyes wiſe; but when they come to the Tryal, they will find it deceitful, as well as Pilate, and the Jews, and many others did. And John in his Revelations gives in his Judgment in this Caſe; he ſays, The Whore ſits upon the Waters; and he ſays, The Waters are Tongues, Languages and Peoples.

But may ſome ſay, Who is that Whore he there ſpeaks of?

Its plain that a Whore is one that is Adulterated from her Husband; and Chriſt Jeſus is the Husband of the true Spouſe, his Church: but many who have laid Claim to him for their Husband have adulterated from him in their Lives and Converſations; and this is that Whore which would make People believe ſhe is an Honeſt Wife; ſhe gets the Tongues, and Languages, and Peoples, and upon theſe (as John ſaith) ſhe ſits (as a Queen) and the Cry now is to all, Come out of her, my People; partake not of her Sins, leſt ye partake of her Plagues.

Pilate and the Jews, who put Chriſt to Death, had Hebrew, Greek and Latin; for Pilat wrote a Superſcription in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and ſet over Chriſt's Head when he was Crucified, and the Jews read it, and yet by theſe Tongues they knew not Chriſt.

CHAP. IV. Of his Reflection on me, calling me COOPER, &c.

IN this he ſpits his Malice at me as much as in any; and indeed, his Book ſavours of little elſe; and in this he thought to Character to Diſgrace, by Reflecting upon my ſmall Original: but I am quite of another mind; for if this would be ſo to me, it would certainly be of much more to very many that I could name, were it not leſt any ſhould think I did reflect on them, who are now Perſons of known Repute and Honour in the World, who had ſmaller Beginnings than my ſelf: I could bring the Libeller under this Odium alſo, if he thinks it be any, if he be the Man he is ſaid to be; but Revenge is none of my Way, therefore will at preſent reply to him of this Matter.

He's fitter to Plant Tobacco, or at b • ſt to mind hi • Ax and Saw, Libeller, pag. 20. the Joynter and the Adz, alias, Nedd • , the Criſte and the Head-Knife, &c.

Rep. Its known to many now living, in this my Native Country wherein I live, (and it being alſo near the place where I was Born) that my genious from a Child did lead me to Surgery, inſomuch that before I was Ten Years old, I ſeveral times overran my School and Home when I heard of any ones being wounded or hurt, & uſed all my endeavours, then to ſee Fractures and Diſlocations reduc'd, and Wounds dreſſed, and have been ſo long miſſing, that my Parents thought they had loſt me, for which I underwent ſevere Correction, and the troubleſome Times being then, my Parents ſuſtained great Plunder, and my Father dyed before I was Eleaven Years old, and my Mother not being then able to produce ſo great a Sum of Money as to ſet me to Chyrurgery, I betook my ſelf to this honeſt & neceſſary Calling he upbraids me with, with ſeveral other things that in thoſe dayes pleaſed my mind; yet during all this time, I loſt no opportunity to inform my ſelf in the Practice of Chyrurgery, and continued thus untill I became acquainted with an honeſt Friend, and good Artiſt in Chyrurgery, whoſe Name was Richard Moore of Salop, who ſeeing my forwardneſs to Chyrurgery, did further me in it, and brought me to Defections in Salop; the Anotomiſts being men of known worth in that Practice, whoſe Names are Dr. Needham and Dr. Hollins, who at this day are doubtleſs of deſerved Repute in their Profeſſions (in England) and I being then expert in Drils, and Handy in Knife and Lancet, & other Inſt • uments for that purpoſe, I ſet on making a Skell ton of a mans Bones, which I on • y with the aſſiſtance of Richard Moore performed to their content, at which time they thought me fit to be Licenſed the practice of Chyrurgery, and this is near 20. Years ago, and ſoon after •• b • ing taken Priſoner to Denbigh, where I remained a Priſoner near ſix Years for the Teſtimony of Jeſus, I then betook my ſelf wholly to the Practice of Chyrurgery, and God was with me in my undertakings, to him be the Glory forever; and why then did not my envious Adverſary to the aboveſaid Inſtr • ments, have added tho Plaiſter Box and Salvatory, the Trafine and the Head Saw, the Amputation Saw, and the Catling, the Cauterv S • rring and Catheter, with many more which with Gods aſſiſtance I have uſed with good ſucceſs, for the ſpace of near 20. years laſt paſt (which was near thrice as long as I uſed thoſe he ſpeaks of 〈◊〉 to the gr • at comfort of many who had ſome of them, their Limbs gangrened others Fractured, others Diſlocated, others deſperately Wounded by Gun ſhots, others pierced thorow with Rapiers, others with Ulcers and Fiſtula's, and Cancers, which I exterpated, & by Gods aſſiſtance Cured, yea, many Scores are living Monuments of Gods Mercy to this day, who were Spectacles of great miſery in theſe reſpects; And as touching his R • flection and Detraction, enviouſly ſeeking to l • ſſen my Reputation in my preſent Calling of Chyrurgery, is no more to me then the barking of a Dog; and though Dogs yelp at the Moon, yet they can not hinder her Light.

I bel • e • e he is Ignorant in his very Trade of quack Chyrurgery, Li • eller, pag. 2 • . and cannot ſo much as Enlighten his credulous and very adventerous Patients with the meaning of the Hip • & Epigaſto • a, the Medulla, Spinolis, and Piloras, &c.

Rep. Its poſſible that for all his malign Detraction, that to any whom it may concern I ſhall be able to give them ſuch ſatisfaction, as becomes a Practitioner in Chyrurgery to do, having for at leaſt 20. Years of great Induſtry informed my ſelf in Anatomy, eſpecially that part of it that belongs to a Chyrurgeon (viz.) of knowing the Structure and Scituation of mans Body, and not only ſo, but have with painful endeavours inform'd my ſ • lf of the beſt Authors with the Nature of the Humours, Spi • its and Ferments, and of their Co-opperation in the Bodies of men, neither have I reſted here, but have acquainted my ſelf with both antient and modern Inſtitutions, and the Aphoriſms (& Obſervation) of worthy men; but what my attainments are in theſe particulars, I think not fit to be mentioned here, nor was it ever in my Heart to have ſaid thus much, had it not been a force put upon me; however this I hope I alwayes ſhall be ready, while God enab • es me (as I have been hitherto) when called upon to ſerve my Country, according to my ability, not only in ſaying, but doing alſo, and there is no mark of diſgrace which my Adverſary would Characterize me by, to diſgrace me with but I would as freely ſerve my Country now therein as ever, were I not able to ſerve them in a better capacity. I could, if it were needful, bring many Teſtimonies of famous men in the practiſe of Chyrurgery, who were firſt bred up Mechanicks, as Pereas, Fellix, Worteus, Carranus, Fellopius, Spigellius, Hilldanus and Aquepandente; nay, Leonard Phycrebeate, a very famous Man, ſayes, Its neceſſary for Youth to be ſo bred up, his Reaſon is, • t will make them more handy and dexterous in the manuel Opperations of Chyrurgery.

Libeller, in pag. 27. calls me Lay-Preacher, and bids me call my ſelf a Lyar and Fool, for when, ſaid he, did any true Miniſter of the Church of England make any fawning Addreſſes to Richard Cromwell, or bemone the Death of Oliver.

Rep. What I ſaid there concerning the Prieſts is certainly true; for I ſaid ſome of the Prieſts bemoned the Death of Oliver, and in their Addreſſes to Richard, compared Oliver to Moſes, and Richard to Joſhuah, &c. it therefore had become him to read the Prieſts Addreſſes, before he had charged me with Lyar and Fool, and did it not at this time look too like Revenge, which is none of my way. I have a Sheet in readineſs that I could have produced to my defence, which if a force be put upon me may come forth, which will ſhew them in their Colours, and further clear the point; and for my part I heartily wiſh we may hear no more of this, except we hear it and ſee it in the Penetential Confeſſion of the Offenders.

And although I be a Lay-man, as he calls me, yet I have a Teſtimony to bear for God in this day and time; and ſince he would exclude ſuch, what makes him believe the antient Quakers, who were Lay-men, Exod. 3.1. Moſes was a Keeper of Sheep; and was it not this Lay-man and Quaker that gave record how God created Man in the Beginning, and the World, and all therein? and did not this Lay-man give Teſtimony of the Flood deſtroying the old World, and of Noah's being ſaved in the Ark, with much more of the Work of God for the D • liverance of his People, both Patriarchs and Prophets, &c. as may at large be read in his books? And was not David a Keeper of Sheep, 2 Sam. 7.8. I took thee from the Sheep-coats, 1 Sam. 24.3. Saul came to the Sheep-coats after David, 1 Kings 19.19. Eliſha was a Plow-man. Amos 3.4. Amos was a Herds-man. Mat. 4.18. Simon Peter, and Andrew his Brother were Fiſhers. John 21. Simon Peter ſaid, I go a Fiſhing; they that were with him, ſaid, We go with thee. John • 1.3. He expreſſe • himſelf after the ſame manner.

Now you may ſee how theſe Preache •• , after they had been preaching to the Nations, Mat. 10, they fell to their Nets again; and I hope the Libeller dare not ſay, but that they were rightly ordained to their Miniſtry; yet we ſee that their way of Livelihood was thei • Fiſhing-trade, and not to uſurp Authority over the people; nor were they Incombants to any Places nor inducted to any Benefice with Right to Tythes of One hundred, or Two Hundred, or Three Hundred a Year, more or leſs. Now if Peter or John ſhould have come in their Fiſhers Coats to preach the Goſpel in our days, would not the Libeller abuſe them, think ye, and bid them mind their Nets and their Fiſhing-trade, and call them Lay-Preachers, and ſcoff at their Fiſher's Coats, eſpecially knowing them to be illiterate men? & did not the great Schollars, (who had the Hebrew, Greek and Latin in thoſe days) in Deriſion call Chriſt a Carpenter's Son, and Blaſphemer, and Devil? thus their Tongues and Languages deceived them; for they knew him not with all theſe Tongues, Acts 18.3. Were not Paul, and Pricilla and Aquilla Tent makers? and were not theſe true Preachers? ſure they were. So all people that are ſpiritually awakened may ſee, how that God in the time of the Prophets and Apoſtles made choice of Lay-men (as my Adverſary hi • ſtile is) to be his Miniſt • rs: but it may be the Libeller thinks that now the Caſe is alter'd, and that God hath changed his mind from Lay-men to Schollars only; if not, why are Lay-men excluded now adays? is no • thi • to limit the Holy One of Iſrael? who will not be limitted, but is now riſen in his Power in a poor and deſpiſed Remnant, to whom he hath made known a heavenly Principle, w •• ch is the Spirit and Light of Chriſt Jeſus, God's Anointed, the Second Adam, who is made a Quickening Spirit (as ſaith the Apoſtle) in man; and thi • was it I bore Teſtimony to in my Book, and its not fe lo de ſe to deny all outward Teaching, (in the days of the Goſpel) that ſprings not from Chriſt Jeſus, the Anointed of God, who is enjoyed within by the true Chriſtians in this Age, as was by ſuch in former Ages. Glory to the Lord God for the ſame. Chriſt ſaith, God is a Spirit, and they who VVorſhip him, they muſt worſhip him in the Spirit and in the Truth.

And this spirit is the true Teacher, which we have believed in, & this is he whom God hath anointed to preach good Tidings to the Poor, even Chriſt Jeſus in his Children; this is he whom God has ſent to bind up the broken-hearted, and to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Priſon to thoſe that are bound, and to proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord, and the Day of the Vengeance of our God to all that oppoſe the Appearance of his Son; yea, and to comfort all that truly mourn for Sin; yea, and to appoint to all that mourn in Sion, to give to them Beauty for Aſhes, and the Oyl of Joy for mourning, and the Garment of Praiſe for the Spirit of Heavineſs, that they may be called Trees of Righteouſneſs, the planting of the Lord.

The Concluſion to the Welch.

Y cymry anwyl cynor yr apoſtol oedd at bawb yddynt brofi • pob peth a glynu wrth y peth ſydda, ag nid wgf yn diſyfy dim yngwaneg genych: agos gwnei di velly yn dy gydwybod a cymo anwyl a cei di wir far no ba wreiddin y doeth lythur ar atebwr.

T. W.

An Epiſtle to my dear Friends, the People in Deriſion called Quakers.

MY Everl • ſtingly Endeared and Beloved Friends, my Soul in a deep ſenſe of the great Love of God, and of the Mercy of the meek and lowly Jeſus, doth dearly ſalute you all, heartily deſiring, that both you and I may ſpend all the little remainder of our time with bowed down Souls, in holy Obedience to the holy Precep • s of the Immaculate Lamb who lives forever, who is now riſen in Power and great Glory, and hath revealed his own everlaſting Arm of Power to lead us out of Captivity and Bondage, and hath given every one of us in meaſure of his bleſſed eternal Spirit to be our Guide and Conducter to that bleſſed Inheritance prepared for us before the World began. Therefore, my dear Friends, wait diligently, and give Obedience to the pure and holy Motions of the divine Light, Life, Power & Spirit of God and Chriſt in you, for the Teſtimony of Jeſus is upon record, Rom. 8.14. that they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the Children of God. And I deſire all the Young-convinced, who have not yet known what it is to wade through the many Tribul • tions, Not to be daunted with the Vapours of any Goliah, or Envious Enemy; and let none in the leaſt think much at this kind of Treatment, which I and my dear Brethren have met with from this and many other Angry Adverſaries; but keep your Eye to Chriſt Jeſus, who is our Patern, who ſaid, Learn of me, for I am meek & lowly in Heart: And forever bleſſed be his Name, I can in truth bear this Teſtimony, That I have learnt to forgive Enemies, to bleſs them that curſe me, and to pray for them that deſpightfully uſe me and perſecute me. And although the Libeller hath employed his learning, his wit and parts moſt horridly and deſpightfully to abuſe you above moſt that ever I read, yet do I from my Heart deſire the Lord, if it be his Will, to forgive him; and though I have reſented his ill behaviour to me and you, and the bleſſed Truch with juſt Rebuke, and muſt do yet again (if the Lord will) if Cauſe be given; yet it is in the Love of God, and in the innocent Nature of his Son.

And dear Friends, Its the deſire of my Soul, that every one of you may be true Witneſſes that this Love of God do always predominate in your hearts towards your Enemies; for nothing hath happened to us, but what hath abundantly more happened to our Lord himſelf; For his Viſage was marred more than any man's, and his Form more than the Sons of men; he hath no Form nor Comlineſs in him; he was deſpiſed and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief: ſurely he hath born our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows; he was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions; he was bruiſed for our Iniquities; the Chaſtizement of our Peace was upon him, and by his Stripes were we healed: all we, like Sheep, have gone aſtray, we have turned every one to his own Way, and the Lord laid on him the Iniquity of us all; he was oppreſſed, he was afflicted, yet he opened not his Mouth; he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter, and as a Sheep before the Shearer, dumb, ſo he opened not his Mouth; he was taken from Priſon and from Judgment; who ſhall declare his Generation! he was cut off out of the Land of the Living, and for our Tranſgreſſion was he ſtricken. Oh! dear Friends, how can we but be overcome with ſuch Love as this! for it hath none to compare to it: Oh, that it may be imprinted in every one of our Hearts with ſo large a Character, that our great Enemies may be perſwaded that the Love of God dwells abundantly in our Hearts, both towards Prieſts and People, Profeſſors and Prophane; and that which we deſire for them is, that they alſo may partake of the ſame Love of God, which Love will deſtroy Enmity and Diſcord, and take away the ground of war and ſtrife, yea the very ground of all plotting & contriving hurt to any, either high or low: and this, dear Friends, I know you have receiv'd, and it is the moſt bleſſed Treaſure; for as every one holds it faſt, they ſhall know it to be a Bond of Peace, even the Peace of God, which by his Son Chriſt Jeſus is given unto us, which as we abide faithful in his bleſſed Truth, ſhall never be taken away from us. So in a living Sence of this undefiled Love of God do I dearly ſalute you all, where this may come, who am your Brother in the Fellowſhip of the Goſpel of Peace, who am known to the World by the Name

Thomas Wynne. Caerwis, the 1ſt Day of the 11th Moneth, 1678.

Poſtſcript.

THis infamous Libeller in page 2, and 3. layes down his Charge againſt the ſaid Thomas Wynne thus:

Libeller. 1ſt, He ſayes, That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures, and all the Saints of God mentioned there, were Quakers, page 11, & 14.

Secondly, That the preſent Quakers have got the Key of David, with which they (and they only) can unlock all Myſteries, p. 11.

Thirdly, That all Schollars (eſpecially the Prieſts) having quite loſt this Key, cannot tell the Meaning of the Scriptures; and that their Hearers have not ſo much Diſcretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar bad, p. 12.

Fourthly, That the Miniſters of God, the Prieſts of this Church, and thoſe that hear them, are all running Head-long to Deſtruction, p. 14. He further adds thus, viz.

Theſe are the main Pillars our Quaker ſuperſtructs all his Foolary upon, and moſt juſtly deſerves for his Pains to be rewarded with a Whipping-poſt, that by taking a lawful Dance about that, he might aſſay alſo to prove the Antiquity of a Lancaſhire Horn Pipe.

Reply, In all theſe four Particulars, this Libeller doth falſly charge the ſaid T. W. as may be ſeen in thoſe pages of his Book, which the Libeller quotes. In p. 14. T.W. ſaith thu • , Oh! you Prieſts of all ſorts, I beſeech you for Chriſt's ſake, do not run thus headlong to Deſtruction, and draw the poor blind People after you. Reader, ſeriouſly conſider how falſly and wickedly this Libeller hath dealt with T. W. For T. W. doth not ſay, That the Miniſters of God, the Prieſts of this Church, and thoſe that hear them are all running headlong to Deſtruction; and therefore this Author hath groſly belyed T. W. in this matter. But more fully to prove that this Libeller hath groſly belyed the ſaid T. W. take T. W. his own words as followeth, p. 21, 22. who writing againſt the Papiſts, Proteſtants, Presbyterians, Independants and Anabaptiſts, I know (ſaith he) there are ſome particular perſons of each of you who are come ſo far to be led & guided by the holy Principle in them that they dare not ſcoff nor jear any, but are troubled to ſee any others do ſo, who have ſhewed their Moderation ſo much, as they themſelves have not eſcaped being Sharers in the Reproach of the Quakers. Theſe I diſtinguiſh from the reſt, and what I charge the afore-mentioned with; and I heartily deſire that they may witneſs a growth in the heavenly Principle, which will further them in holy living, and make them able to diſcern who they are that fear God, and who fear him not. Thus far T. W. word for word. Thus the Libeller is plainly proved to be a Forger of Lyes, and his Pamphlet to be made up of Lyes and Scoffing, writ in a Spirit of Envy, and therefore to be abhorred by all people who come to a ſight or knowledge thereof.

Secondly, The ſaid Libeller chargeth the ſaid T. VV. with ſaying, That all Schollars, eſpecially the Prieſts, have quite loſt this Key, cannot tell the Meaning of the Scripture: And that their Hearers have not ſo much diſcretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar had.

Rep. This is another forged Lye, or rather two Lyes; f •• firſt T. W. believes and certainly knows that there are Schollars who have the Key, and know the meanings of the Scriptures, and he alſo knows that there are ſome who hear the Prieſts, who have as much diſcretion as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar had, and this he ſhews in what is ſaid before in pag. 21, 22. of his Book.

Secondly, This Libeller chargeth the ſaid T. W. with ſaying, That the preſent Quakers have got the Key of David, with which they (and they ONLY) can unlock all Myſteries.

Rep. The ſaid Libeller hath forged and told a Lye in this charge againſt T. W. for though T. W. doth ſay, that The Quakers at this day have the Key of David, which doth unlock all the Myſteries of all his Brethrens Writings: Yet T. W. doth not ſay, that the Quakers only have this Key.

Fourthly, The ſaid Libeller charges the ſaid T. W. with ſaying (in pag. 11, and 14. of his Book) That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures, and all the Saints of God mentioned there, were Quakers.

Rep. T.W. doth not ſay in the aforeſaid pages, That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures, and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers; therefore this Libeller hath belyed him in this matter: But if T. W. had ſaid, That all the Writers of the holy Scriptures, and all the Saints of God mentioned there were Quakers, yet thoſe ſayings may be true for any thing this Libeller knows, or for any thing he hath offered in this his Pamphlet to prove the contrary: The Apoſtle ſaid, God hath concluded all under Sin, that he might have Mercy upon all. Again, the Apoſtle ſaid, We have all ſinned, and come ſhort of the Glory of God. Again, We have all been gone aſtray as Sheep without a Shepherd, but now we are returned to the Captain of our Salvation, and Biſhop of our souls. And the Apoſtle exhorted, ſaying, VVork out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling; for it is God that worketh in us to will and to do of his own good pleaſure, as ſaith the Apoſtle. This Libeller in page 4. of his Pamphlet ſaith, We ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Now ſeeing all have ſinned as the Apoſtle ſaid and ſeeing the Apoſtle exhorts People to work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling: If they take the Apoſtles counſel then they muſt work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling; and if 〈◊〉 do ſo, then they do Quake or Tremble, and ſo in a ſence may be called Quakers or Tremblers, the words Quaking and Trembling being of one and the ſame Signification. The holy Prophet ſaid, Serve the Lord with Fear, and rejoyce in him with Trembling, &c. And the Lord God ſaid, To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and Tremblesh at my VVord. Again, the Lord ſaith, Hear the VVord of the Lord, ye that Tremble at his Word; your Brethren that hated you, that caſt you out for my Names ſake, ſaid, Let the Lord be glorified; but he ſhall appear to your Joy, and they ſhall be aſhamed, Iſa. 66.2, 5.

Reader, Take notice, that though we own Quaking and Trembling, as the People of God did both before the Law and under the Law, and alſo in the dayes of the Goſpel, yet we have not given our ſelves that Name Quaker or Quakers, but our Perſecutors and Enemies gave us that Name in Scorn and Envy: But the Names which God and Chriſt gives (unto thoſe who truly believe and continue in obedience) are, Saints, and Servants, Children of God, and Children of the Light, and Diſciples of Chriſt; and the Apoſtle called the Believers in Chriſt, Chriſtians; the Apoſtle ſaith, If ye be Reproached for the Name of Chriſt happy, are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God reſteth upon you: but let none of you ſuffer as a Murtherer, or as a Thief, or as an Evil-doer, or as a buſie Body in other mens matters: yet if any Man ſuffer as a Chriſtian, let him not be aſhamed, but let him gloriſie God on this behalf, 1 Pet. 4.15, 16.

Reader, Here note, firſt, that thoſe who believe in and ſuffer for Chriſt, the Apoſtle calls them Chriſtians; and this Name we own as proper to us, more proper then the Name Quaker or Trembler: yet as we have and do Tremble at the Word of the Lord, as the Prophets and Apoſtles, and People of God formerly did; if any in reverence, honour and love to the Power of God, at which we Tremble, do call us Quakers or Tremblers, this we own; but the Name Quakers, as given us in envy and ſcorn by this Libeller and many others, we deny and reject. Secondly, obſerve that ſuch who ſuffer for Murther, Theft, &c. do not ſuffer as Chriſtians; for Murtherers and Thieves are no true Chriſtians, but are in the Nature of Heathens.

Theſe four particular Charges this Libeller makes the Foundation of his ſcoffing Atheiſtical Pamphlet, called, Work for a Cooper; and herein they are all proved Falſe, Lying and Slanderous, and therefore the Devil is the Author of his ſaid Pamphlet; For he is the Author and Father of all Lyes and Lyars, as Chriſt ſaid.

The ſaid Libeller quotes Rev. 21. where it is ſaid, A • l Lyars ſhall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimſtone.

Here this Libeller may read his Portion, and what will be the reward of his Work, if he do not unfeignedly Repent: but it is his unfeigned Repentance and Salvation that T.W. and the People in ſcorn by him called Quakers unfeignedly deſire.

Concerning FEAR.

The aforeſaid Libeller, who Scoffs at Fear and Trembling, ſaith, pag. 10. The worſt of men have commonly the greateſt ſhare of Fear.

Rep. If this Libeller had been in that holy Fear of God which is the beginning of Wiſdom, which is as a Fountain of Life, which preſerves from the Snares of Death, and which keeps the Heart clean, as ſaith the Prophet, then he would have diſtinguiſhed betwixt Fear and Fear, as Chriſt and his Apoſtles have done: Chriſt ſaid, I ſay unto you, my Friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the Body, and after that have no more that they can do; but I will fore-warn you whom you ſhall fear, Fear him which after he hath killed, hath Power to caſt into Hell; Yea, I ſay unto you, fear him, Luke 12.4, 5. Mat. 10.28. The Author to the Hebrews ſaith of Chriſt, That in the days of his Fleſh, when he had offered up Prayer and Supplication, with ſtrong Crying and Tears, unto him that was able to ſave him from Death, and was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5.7. Take notice of this, that the Man Chriſt Jeſus, who was made of a VVoman under the Law, as the Apoſtle ſaith, in the days of his Fleſh, when ho • prayed unto the Father, he was heard in that he feared: Thus the Apoſtle ſhews that even the man Chriſt Jeſus, who ſinned not, was not without holy Fear and Reverence towards the Father. Again, the ſame Author exhorted the Saints, ſaying, Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have Grace whereby we may ſerve God acceptably with Reverence and GODLY FEAR, Heb. 12.28. Again, But as he who hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of Converſation, becauſe it is written, Be ye Holy for I am holy; and if you call on the Father, who without reſpect of Perſons judgeth according to every mans work, paſs the time of your ſojourning here with FEAR, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16, 17. Again, he exhorted, ſaying, If ye ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake happy are je; and be not afraid of their Terror, neither be Troubled, but Sanctifie the Lord God in your Hearts, and be ready alwayes to give anſwer to every man that asketh you a Reaſon of the Hope that is in you with Meekneſs and FEAR, Chap. 3.14, 15. Here the Apoſtle diſtinguiſheth betwixt the Fear of God and the Fear of Wicked Men; he exhorts them to the holy Fear of God, but forbids them to Fear wicked Men: And thus the Apoſtle agrees concerning Fear, with the Command of Chriſt, who ſaith, Fear not them which kill the Body, &c. but are not able to kill the Soul, but Fear him who is able to deſtroy both Soul and Body in Hell, Mat. 10.28. Here the Apoſtle exhorts thoſe that call on the Name of the Father, to paſs the time of their ſojourning here with Fear; ſo that they who call upon the Name of the Father with acceptance, muſt not caſt off the holy Fear of God, but muſt keep and abide in it all the dayes they live upon Earth, according to the holy Saying of the Man of God, who ſaid, Bleſſed is the Man that Fears at All Times.

In pag. 4. this Libeller ſaith, Till we have Mortified our ſinful Affections and Luſts, we ought to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling.

Rep. It appears by his Envy, Scoffing and Lying, that he hath not yet mortified his ſinful Affections and Luſts, and therefore according to his own Principle he ought to Fear and Tremble before the Lord. But as a Plea for caſting off the holy Fear of God, he quotes the words of Zacharias, which he ſpake concerning the Promiſe of God, that he would grant unto us, That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies might ſerve him without Fear in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, &c. Luke 1.74.75.

Rep. His Lyes and Scoffing doth ſhew that he is not yet redeemed from under the Power of his Soul's Enemy; he doth not ſerve God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs: and he wickedly wreſts and perverts Zacharias's words before-cited, for thoſe who did receive the Promiſe of God, who were delivered out of the hands of their Enemies, they ſerved God in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, without the Fear of their Enemies, but Not without the Fear of God. For any man to ſay, That he ſerves God in Holineſs, &c. but doth not Fear God; this man is No True Chriſtian, but a RANTER. Again, this prophane Scribler, as a Plea for caſting off the holy Fear of God, quotes Paul's words to Timothy (thus) For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear, but of Power, of Love and of a Sound Mind: Thus far he quotes the Apoſtle's words, but like a Treacherous man leaves out the next following words, which ſhews what fear it was that they were out of; the following words are theſe, viz. Be not thou therefore aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord, nor of me his Priſoner; but be thou partaker of the Afflictions of the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.7, 8. Here the Apoſtle ſhews that it was not the fear of God that they were out of, but the fear of wicked men, their Perſecutors, under whoſe wicked Power Paul then was a Priſoner. Again, this prophane man, as a Plea for caſting off godly Fear, he quotes the Apoſtle John's words, who ſaith, Perfect love caſteth out Fear: But Treacherouſly or Ignorantly leaves out the very next Verſe to thoſe words he cites, which verſe hath only theſe following words in it, which words ſhew what fear it was that perfe •• love caſt out, viz. Herein is our Love made perfect, that we may have boldneſs in the day of Judgment, becauſe as he is, ſo are we in this world, 1 Joh. 4.17, 18. Here the Apoſtle ſhews that their Eſtabliſhment in the Truth, yea, in the God of all Truth, gave them dominion over the Devil, and over the fear of him, and over Fear of torment and puniſhment with him; but yet they retain a godly fear, according to the Command of Chriſt, who ſaid, I will teach you whom ye ſhall fear, Fear not him who killeth the Body, but cannot kill the Soul, but fear him who can caſt Soul & Body into Hell. And the Man Chriſt Jeſus himſelf, in the days of his fleſh, had a fear and reverence towards the Father, as the Apoſtle ſhews, and as I have ſhewed before: And the Apoſtles and Prophets lived in Godly fear, and exhorted others unto it, and to continue in it; and they that do, and teach the contrary, which this vain Scribler doth, they are ungodly men, ſuch as the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, who do deſpight unto the spirit of Grace, who live want only and prophanely upon the Earth, ſuch are Sons of Belial, who live without God and Chriſt's Yoke, who are like the wild Bullock unaccuſtomed to the Yoke, and like the wild Aſſes Colt in the Wilderneſs: And VVo unto ſuch if they Repent not; and if they do not forſake their Ʋngodly ways, they muſt have their portion with the Devil and his Angels in the Lake of Endleſs miſery, where the worm never dyes, neither is the fire ever quenched. Chriſt ſaith, Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you reſt; come, take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me; for my Yoke is eaſie, and my burthen is light. They who are heavy laden with their ſins, and weary of their ſins, they are invited by him to come unto him; and they that come unto him, muſt believe in that spiritual and divine Light, wherewith he hath enlightened them, who lights every man that cometh into the VVorld, according to Joh. 1.9. & Joh. 8.12. & 12.46. Luke 2. & 32. Act. 13. & 47. Joh. 3.19, 20. and ſee the •• ſt Epiſt. of Iohn 5.7. where the Apoſtle ſaith, God is Light, and in him is no Darkneſs at all. If we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, then have we fellowſhip one with an other, and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. And they who believe in the Light, where-with Chriſt hath enlightened them, this will let them ſee their ſins, and lead them to Repent of their ſins which are paſt; ſo God will forgive them their ſins which are paſt, and will ſtrengthen them to reſiſt ſin in time to come; ſuch who ſo do, are the real Diſciples of Chriſt, who ſaid, he that will be my Diſciple muſt deny himſelf, he muſt take up his Croſs daily & follow me. And ſuch come to be baptized by Chriſt, by his holy spirit and fire, which burns up and conſumes all filthineſs of fleſh and spirit; and ſuch come to anſwer the holy Exhortation of the Apoſtle, who exhorted the Saints ſaying, Having therefore theſe Promiſes dearly Beloved) let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit, perfecting Holineſs in the FEAR of God, 2 Cor. 7.1. Take notice here, that the Apoſtle exhorted theſe believing Corinthians to Perfect Holineſs in the fear of God, ſo then they were not to caſt off godly fear, when they were come to Holineſs, even Perfect Holineſs. God ſaith by the Prophet David, O ye Sons of Men! how long will ye turn my Glory into ſhame? How long will ye love Vanity and ſeek after Leaſing? Selah. But know, that the Lord hath ſet apart him that is godly for himſelf; stand in awe and ſin not, &c. Pſal. 4.2, 3, 4. So all thoſe who deſire to be kept out of ſin muſt keep in the Fear or Awe of God continually; for as I have ſhewed before, The Fear of the Lord God is as a Fountain of Life, which preſerves from the Snares of Death, &c.

God hath promiſed unto his People, ſaying, I will give them one Heart and one Way, that they may FEAR me FOREVER for the good of them and their Children after them —I will put my FEAR in their Hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me, Jer. 32.39, 40. Here God who cannot Lye hath promiſed, that he will put his Fear in his Peoples Hearts, and that they ſhall fear him forever; then they muſt NOT caſt off Gods fear, or Godly Fear, which the prophane and debauched Ranters and Atheiſts do, and as this ungodly Scribler doth in his ſcoffing, lying and malicious Pamphlet, as doth largely appear. God hath promiſed by the Mouth of the Prophet M • lachi, ſaying, Ʋnto you that fear my Name ſhall the Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſe with healing under his Wings, and ye ſhall go forth and grow as Calves in the Stall, Mal. 4.

This Libeller ſaith, page the 10th, That the worſt of Men have commonly the greateſt ſhare of Fear.

Rep. That ſhare of Fear which the worſt of Men have, is not the Holy Fear of God, or not Godly fear, but their Fear is of the ſame kind which the Devils fear is, of which Fear the Apoſtle James makes mention of in his Epiſtle, whoſe Words this Libeller quotes, and wickedly wreſt to embo • den and encourage People to caſt off Godly Fear, in which all that are Godly do ſtedfaſtly abide, and in their ſo abiding do enjoy the pure Power and Wiſdom of God, by which they a • e preſerved out of Sin, which is the Devils work. God ſaith by the Mouth of the Prophet Iſaiah to his People, Say ye not a confederacy to them to whom this People ſhall ſay a Confederacy, neither fear ye their Fear, nor be afraid; ſanctifie the Lord of Hoſt himſelf, and let him be your FEAR, and let him be your Dread, Iſa. 8.12, 13. Chriſt Jeſus, who is Firſt & Laſt, which was dead & is alive, & lives fo • evermore, ſaid unto the Church in Smirna, Fear none of theſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer; behold the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into Priſon, that 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 Apoſt • e ſaith, There is NO FEAR of God before their Eyes, Rom. 3.18. & Pſalm 36.1. Again, And un • o Man he ſaid, Behold, the FEAR of the Lord, that is Wiſdom; and to depart from Evil, is Ʋnderſtanding, 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 Ʋnjuſt unto the day of Judgment to be puniſhed; but chiefly them that walk after the Fleſh, in the Luſt of Ʋncleanneſs, 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 Jeſus Chriſt, writing againſt the falſe Teachers and rebellious Apoſtates, ſaid, They walk after their own Luſts, &c. but ſaid unto the Believers, Beloved, remember ye the Words which were ſpoken before of the Apoſ • les of our Lord Jeſus, how that they told you, there ſhould be Mockers in the laſt Times, who ſhould walk after their own ungodly Luſts, Jude 16.17, 18.

Oh Reader! ſeriouſly read and ponder theſe weighty and holy Sayings of the Apoſtles of Chriſt; and flee from thoſe fleſhly and ungodly Luſts, which War againſt the Soul, and drown thoſe in Deſtruction who do not unfeignedly Repent thereof, and turn therefrom while God gives them a Time of Viſitation, while he viſits them by his holy Spirit of Grace, Life and Strength, to lead them thereby to unfeigned Repentance, and to redeem them thereby out of all ſinful and ungodly Luſt: O bleſſed are all they who turn unto him, while he ſtrives with them to gather them unto himſelf: but moſt miſerable are thoſe who turn not unto him, but go on after their own ungodly Luſts, who ſet at nought all Gods Counſel, both that which is immediately given them by his Spirit inwardly, and alſo that which is given by him through his Inſtruments, his Prophets, Apoſtles, and his faithful Servants, which is witneſſed unto by the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, wherewith every man that cometh into the World is lighted, according to John 1.9. as is ſhewed before. Of this evil Generation the Prophet complains, they ſay unto God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the Knowledge of thy Wayes: What is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him? and what profit ſhould we have if we Pray unto him? Job 21.14, 15. and 22.17. The Holy Prophet ſaid, I ſought the Lord, and he heard me, &c. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O! taſte and ſee that the Lord is good; bleſſed is the Man that truſteth in him. O, fear the Lord, ye his Saints; for there is no want to them that fear him: The young Lyons do lack, and ſuffer Hunger; but they that ſeek the Lord ſhall not want any good thing. Come ye Children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the Fear of the Lord. What man is he that deſireth Life, loveth Dayes, that he may ſee good? Keep thy Tongue from Evil, and thy Lips from ſpeaking Guile. Depart from Evil, and do Good; ſeek Peace and purſue it. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and his Ears are open unto their Cry. The Face of the Lord is againſt them that do Evil, to cut off the remembrance of them; &c. The Righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their Troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart, and ſaveth ſuch as be of a contrite Spirit. Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all, Pſalm 38.4. to the 19th.

Thus Reader the Pſalmiſt declares of the Mercies and Judgments of the Lord, as he had ſeen and experienced them.

The Author of the Scoffing Book, called, Work for a Cooper, would no doubt be eſteemed a Religious man: The Apoſtle ſaith, If any man among you ſeem to be Religious, and bridleth not his Tongue — this man's Religion is Vain. Pure Religion and Ʋndefiled before God and the Father, is this, to viſit the Fatherleſs and Widows in their Affliction, and to keep himſelf unſpotted from the World, James 1.26, 27. That this man hath not a Bridle to his Tongue, and that his Religion is Vain; take his own Book for proof, which is plentifully furniſhed with Lyes, Scoffing and Railing, a little of which I may here Collect.

Thomas VVynne is known amongſt his Neighbours to be a Sober Honeſt Man; I have known him for above Twenty Years laſt paſt, and I never knew nor heard other of him, till this prophane Scoffers Pamphlet appeared againſt him: Theſe are the Names he gives him, viz. Our ſecond Tom of Bedlam, pag. 6. Our Cinque and Cater, pag. 7. Note here, this vain man ſpeaks here more like a prophane Player at Dice, then a ſober Religious man. Again, Our wiſe man of Gotham▪ pag. 8. Again, ſpeaking of T.W. and his Friends, ſaith, Their Hocuſpocus Tricks are now much laid aſide, pag. 13. Again, ſpeaking of the ſaid People, ſaith, That they are the moſt Formal Coxcombs produceable in this Age, pag. 15. Again, pag. 1 • . he renders T.W. A beaſtly Quaker. Again, ſcoffing at T.W. ſaith, He knoweth not what Conſanguinity there is betwe • n the Porpos and the VVhale, or the Craw-Fiſh and the Lobſter, pag. 21. Again, he call him A Robber upon Gods High Way, pag. 23. Again, he calls him Wicked Ferry-man of Hell, pag. 24.

Thus I have collected a few of his bad Words and ill Names he has given to an Honeſt Man; by which the Reader may ſee that his Tongue is not bridled as it ought to be; and that his Religion is vain.

Now I ſhall collect a few of his Lyes. He ſayes, The Quakers would endeavour to obtrude that they had been with God, &c. and have received the Spirit of Prophecy, with the Gift of Miracles, and all other that God had or could beſtow, pag. 12.

Anſw. He names no perſons on whom he faſtens this his charge, but throws it at the Quakers in General: I ſay, it is a Horrid Slander, proceeding from the Father of Lyes; for though we do own that God hath given the Manifeſtion of his Spirit to profit withal; and ſome amongſt us do prophecy and teſtifie of Chriſt and of God in the Spirit, which he hath given; yet we never ſaid, That we had received all other that God had or could beſtow; This is an Abominable Slander; their is none that will believe him herein, but thoſe who are given up to believe Lyes.

Again, That they could to a minute fore-tell the Laſt and Dreadful Day of Judgment.

Anſw. This Charge is general againſt the Quakers, he names no Perſon or Perſons that ſaid ſo. I return it as a Lye forged againſt the People of God, and I exhort him to Repent of that and the reſt of his Wickedneſs.

Again thus, And heal more Diſeaſes then all the World could poſſibly need help for.

Anſw. This is another horrid Slander that the Wicked One has in Envy led him to caſt upon us; the Lord Rebuke thee, thou Prophane Man.

Again thus, That they and they only were thoſe of whom it was ſaid, They ſhould lay their hands upon the Sick, and they ſhould recover.

Anſw. This is another horrid Slander, proceeding from the Father of Lyes, for which God will bring thee to Judgment.

Again thus, And that God meant them only, when he ſaid, I will pour my Spirit upon all Fleſh.

Anſw. This is another horrid Lye; for we believe that he poured forth his Spirit upon his Prophets and Apoſtles, his Sons and Daughters and Hand-maids, according to his Promiſe, in former time; and he is pouring it ſorth in this Day, and we believe he will pour it ſorth, according to his Promiſe, upon all Fleſh; but we do not believe that the People called Quakers are only intended to be that All Fleſh.

Mark, In the compaſs of nine Lines he has told five Lyes in pag. 12. there being five in ſo little compaſs, Reader, thou mayſt conclude there is a great many more in the whole Book: Theſe few here may ſuffice to give thee a taſte and ſence of the Wickedneſs of the man, and to ſhew thee how Wickedly he deals with the People called Quakers. It is our deſire that he may Repent of theſe things, and do ſo no more, that ſo he may know forgiveneſs of the ſame, and may come to Peace and Reſt with God in his Latter-end. God ſpeaking of his People, ſaid, Surely they are my People, Children that will not Lye; ſo he was their Saviour, Iſa. 63.8. A Faithful Witneſs will not Lye; but a Falſe VVitneſs will utter Lyes, Prov. 14.5. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Luſts of your Father you will do; he was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth; when he speaketh a Lye, he speaketh of his own, for he is a Lyar, and the Father of it, John 8.44. A Falſe Witneſs ſhall not be Ʋnpuniſhed, and he that ſpeaketh Lyes ſhall not eſcape, Prov. 19.5. They bend their Tongues like Bows for Lyes, but they are not valiant for the Truth, Jer. 9.3.

In this POSTSCRIPT I have ſhewed the Falſeneſs and Wickedneſs of this Scornful man, and have rebuked him in the Love and Fear of God; and I unfeignedly deſire his Repentance and Salvation, who am a Lover of Truth and Righteouſneſs, who deſires the Eternal good of all People, but I Hate Lying, Envy, and all Wickedneſs.

William Gibſon. London, the 25th of the 8th Moneth, 1679. THE END.