The Quakers shaken, or, a warning against quaking. Being I. A relation of the conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the devill. II. A vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the Quakers. III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16. IV. A relation of a horrid buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a Quaker, with a mare. V. A relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed Quaker, who hanged himself. — Quakers shaken

The Quakers shaken, or, a warning against quaking. Being I. A relation of the conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the devill. II. A vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the Quakers. III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16. IV. A relation of a horrid buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a Quaker, with a mare. V. A relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed Quaker, who hanged himself. — Quakers shaken

The Quakers shaken, or, a warning against quaking. Being I. A relation of the conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the devill. II. A vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the Quakers. III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16. IV. A relation of a horrid buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a Quaker, with a mare. V. A relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed Quaker, who hanged himself. — Quakers shaken

Table of contents

Title page

THE QUAKERS SHAKEN.

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The Prophecies and other passages of James Milner a Taylor, Novemb. the 14. 15, 16. 1652.

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THE QUAKERS SHAKEN, OR, A WARNING AGAINST QƲAKING. BEING

I. A Relation of the Conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the Devill.

II. A Vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the QUAKERS.

III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16.

IV. A Relation of a horrid Buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a QUAKER, with a Mare.

V. A Relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed QUAKER, who Hanged himself.

As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the Faith,

2 Tim. 3. 8.

LONDON, Printed by S. G. for Simon Waterson, and are to be sold at his shop at the Sign of the Globe in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1655.

THE QUAKERS SHAKEN.

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THe mind of man destitute of Gods Grace, doth (like untilled ground) luxuriate into wickednesse and vanity, being very prone to close with the suggestions of the grand adversary of his soul; yea, though he hath had some tast of the things that are excellent, yet such is his curiosity, that he will be seeking after the novelties. Old truths (like the Manna to the Israelites, after a constant and continued falling of it) become nauseous: the truth hereof hath been found in all ages by lamentable experience, but especially in these our daies, which have been as fruitfull in new opinions in matters of Religion, as Africa it self, of Monsters.

Some (though few in comparison) God is pleased to recall, who have gone astray in this kind, and to bring them to a clear sight of their folly; of which number, I (by Gods Grace towards me) am one; I desire to acknowledge him in it, and to give him the praise of it, and think my self bound in conscience, as a testimony of my thankfulness to God for my deliverance, to declare it to the world, that others may hear and fear, and take warning by my example. They who have been lately in the Northern parts of England, cannot be ignorant [Page] how prevalent the imposture of quaking hath been for these 9 or ten Moneths last past, in which snare I my self (among many poor deluded soules) was taken in May last 1653. though by Gods goodnesse towards me the snare is broken, and I am escaped; a true account whereof take as followeth.

I being desirous to associate my self with this Faction at their Meeting, and to hear some of them speak (to use their own expression) acquainted one of their own with it, viz. George Bayley of Kendall, who gave me great encouragement herein from his own experience of much advantage received by him in that way: Whereupon I went soon after to their Meeting at Richard Newby's house, where I staid about two houres (viz. from eight till ten at night) where Christopher Atkinson was Speaker, whose drift was to deny all Ministeriall teaching and Ordinances, together with all notionall knowledge formerly gained by use of such meanes, to become as though wee had never learned any thing thereby savingly, and to lay a new ground-work, viz. to be taught of God within our selves by waiting upon an inward light, which (as they assert) lies low hidden under the earth, viz. the old man, which is of the earth, earthy. Hereupon I resolved to close with them, after which time I was afraid to read any good Books, or hear any preaching Minister, or call to remembrance any thing which I had formerly learned out of Gods Word, concerning God or Christ, or mine own estate, or any other subject contained in Scripture; for I was perswaded by their teaching, that whasoever I had learned out of Gods Word, by hearing, reading, catechizing, &c. was but notionall, carnall, and hanging upon the tree of Knowledge; in which condition whilst I abode, they affirmed me to be under the Curse, applying this expression, though very impertinently, Cursed is every one that hangeth on the Tree.

After this, going a second time to one of their Meetings at Edmond Newby's, I had some conference by the way with some of themselves which went with me; amongst other blasphemies, one Robert Collison affirmed, that Christ was as man, had his failings, for he distrusted God (quoth he) upon the Crosse, when he cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? to whom I answered, that then he suffered as an evill doer, and so could not purchase redemption for us; after this comming home, he [Page] who then was Speaker, urged us to take up the Crosse daily, and to abide under it; saying, Carry the Crosse all day, and it will keep thee at night; that this would keep us low and humble, and kill, and make alive: further, he endeavoured to perswade his Auditors to harken to a voice within them, teaching, that Gods voice was a still voice; after which I resolved in my thoughts to wait for the manifestation of these things within my self.

After a while, going a third time to their meeting, as I went I was somewhat troubled in my thoughts at the remembrance of that hideous blasphemy uttered by the party before named, whereupon I spake publickly to them at their meeting concerning it; telling them, that I would not any further joyn with them if they were all of that mind, to which some of them (after much whispering) answered negatively, wishing me not to let it trouble me; for he which spake so to me was not rightly called; with which answer I was at present satisfied, and did adhere to my former resolution. Not long after I went to another meeting upon a Lords day at Robert Collisons house in Kendall, where the aforesaid Atkinson was Speaker, who beginning about 9 a clock in the forenoon, continued til three in the afternoon, in which time he spake much (according to his usuall manner) of the great experience which he had of God from the light within him, which light I not finding to be in my self, was very much troubled, apprehending my condition to be very bad, finding nothing but blindnesse and hardnesse, yet I still expected the appearance of that light within me, and earnestly desired that I might fall into quaking and trembling, apprehending that I should thereby attain to the immediate discoveries of God unto me. Upon my departure from thence, I perused a Pamphlet set forth by some of the same Faction, being in York Castle, the main scop of it was against the Ministry; immediatly after walking in my Bed-chamber, I began (as I have formerly desired) to tremble & quake so extremely, that I could not stand upon my feet, but was constrained to fall down upon my Bed, where I howled and cried (as it is usual with them) in a terrible and hideous manner, to the great astonishment of my Family: Neverthelesse I my self was not at all affected with fear, because it was satisfaction to my former desires, and I looked upon it as the beginning of the pangs of the new birth [Page] & expected that the issue of it would be good; when I had continued about half an houre in that condition, I ceased from howling and crying gradually; after which I rose up again, beginning to rejoice, thinking with my self that now I could bear witnesse against the Ministers of England as false Prophets and Priests of Baal, because I never found such effects and operations upon me by so long continuance under their Ministry. After this, going to bed, I was much troubled all that night following in my sleep, with dreams concerning my condition, & had a discovery of my sins in particular, especially of my covetousness, the Devill working strongly upon my imagination; I apprehended that all sin was about to be hewed down, & rooted up in me, and (to my apprehension) the sin of covetousness had great long roots which did visibly appear to me when it was rooted up: Afterwards lying awake, and thinking upon the dreams and visions I had formerly been troubled with, I sencibly perceived something (as I imagined) lighting upon my neck, giving me a great stroak, which caused much pain to me, and after that another which was lesse then the first, and so a third and fourth, each stroak being lesse then the former, & each stroak descending lower down, till it came to the middle of my back, and then I thought something entred into my body, which I perswaded my self (from Satans instigation) to be the Spirit of God descending upon me like a Dove, and entring into me, whereupon I heard (in my conceit) a voice within me saying, It is day; whereupon looking up and perceiving it to be light, I answered Yes; the voice replied twice over to me, and said, as certainly as it is light, so certainly shall Christ give thee light.

After this I continued two or three dayes waiting for further discoveries of light within me, being wrapt up into an extasie of excessive joy, and sometimes again exceedingly dejected with fears & doubts of my condition, whether it were really good, or I were under Satans delusions; yet still I waited for further manifestations, and walking into the Garden, lying down upon the ground with my face towards the earth, my right hand began extreamly to shake, so as I could not hold it still, the meaning whereof whilst I was wondering what it should be, & apprehending my self as being shaken by the hand, I was [Page] brought into another rapture of great joy, imagining it to be a figure of my spirituall Mariage and Union with Christ. Then presently I was by the power within me raised, and set upon my feet, and by the same power turned and laid upon my back, with my face towards the skie; at which time all my sins particularly were again brought into my memory, & at the remembrance of every sin, my hand was carried round about with giving a little pat upon the ground, and then I imagined I heard a voice saying, now such a sin is mortified; after which I being perswaded by it, that all my sins were mortified by it one by one; the power that I was then acted by, permitted me to arise up again of my self, saying unto me, Aske whatsoever thou wilt of the Father, and he will give it thee: I replyed, I know not what to aske; and therefore desired that power to teach me what to aske: he answered me again, and bid me aske wisdom in the first place; whereupon I desired also, that God would give me such things as were most for his glory, and the good of others; whereupon the power answered, that my request was granted, and that I should also be endewed with the gift of prophecy, and singing praises to God: wherewith being satisfied, I went to another meeting within an hour after, at William Doddings house in Kendall, which was the fifth and last meeting that I was at with them where Christopher Atkinson being Speaker, I was much more affected with what he spake then formerly, as being able more inwardly to witnesse in part to what he spoke. After he had done, & a little pause had, the Company rose up, as if they had been ready to depart; I my self was ready to go away with the first, but the Wife of the house (Isa: Dodding) took me by the hand, and wringing it very hard, bad me sit down again, which I did, & presently after one John Audland stood up, and began to speak, saying, cannot ye watch one hour? and so proceeded after the usuall manner. In the time of his speaking I was by the power within me drawn from the chair upon which I sat, and thrown upon the ground in the middest of the Company, where I lay all night; all which time, my body, and all the members of it were still in motion, I being turnned from my back to my belly, and so back again severall times, and making crosses continually with my legs one over the other; my hands were carried to and fro upon the ground [Page] by a compulsive power, as if I had been writing upon the ground; in all which actions and motions, I acted not in the least measure by a naturall power of mine own, neither did I resist, or could I resist that power which acted me, but was altogether passive; I was perswaded that it was the immediate power of Christ, and heard to my thinking a voice speaking to me, & saying, that that writing with my hand upon the ground, did signifie the writing of the Law within my heart. Having laine all night upon the ground in the manner aforesaid, the power (as before in other actions) moved my hands to my head, and laid them upon the top thereof fast closed together, whereupon I heard a voice, saying, Christ in God, and God in Christ, and Christ in thee; which words I was compelled to sing forth before the Company in a strange manner, & with such a voice as was not naturally mine own: I sung also diverse phrases of Scripture, which were given into me; after which I was raised from the ground, & set upon my fect by the power within me, which bad me be humble, and brought me down again upon my knees, and with a whispering voice said to me, stoop low, low; and having stooped near the ground with my face, it said to me, take up the Crosse, and follow me: whereupon arising, I was led out of the house (by the back door) down to the River, and back again from thence into the Town another way, where I was sensibly drawn down the street, and caused suddenly to turn aside to a door of an house (my self not knowing who lived in it) two of the said company sollowing me all the time, (viz.) William Dodding and John Audland, and seeing me to go to that door said, whither wilt thou go? this is the Fidlers house; I answered, whose house soever it be, Christ leads me hither, and hither I must go, whereupon my hand was carried to knock at the door, and commanded by a voice to say, Behold Christ stands at the door and knocks: after a while the Fidler opened, and I was led into the house, not speaking any thing unto him: where my hand was carried to a Base-violl hanging up in the house; I took it down and began to play upon it with my fingers, and was immediatly compelled a fall to dancing, which I seldome or never in all my life did before: hereupon I questioned what power it should be that carried me forth to such actions, to which the voice within me replyed, This is not [Page]because I love musick, for I hate it, but to signifie unto thee what joy there is in heaven at thy conversion; as also what spirituall melody thou shalt have hereafter: then I was led out of the house into the street, and so carried along through the Town, being moved to proclame as I went, I am the way, the truth, and the life, with other expressions to the like purpose; after which I was brought to mine own house, the foresaid Wil. Dodding going along with me, acknowledged that he had no power to leave me all this time: being come home, the same power would not suffer me to rest, but cast me upon the ground, and caused me to make circles round about the house with my hand, with many the like actions, telling me, that I was putting off the old man; my hand also was carried to take up a stone which lay upon the flore (which in my apprehension was in the form of a mans heart) the voice within me telling me, that Christ had taken that stone out of my heart, and given me an heart of flesh, and my hand was moved to hold it forth to the Spectators, and my tongue to utter this sentence, except you see signs and wonders you will not believe: and throwing the foresaid stone amongst them, I said, Loe here is my heart of stone: afterwards being cast upon the ground upon my back, the voice spake to me, saying, thou shalt have two Angels to keep thee, whereupon immediatly two Swallows descended down the Chimne [...] and sat upon a shelf over against the place where I lay: this [...] in the house besides my self beheld, and I cried to them, my Angels, my Angels, being perswaded that they were angels from heaven, and that it was a fulfilling of the promise, I held out my hand towards them, expecting they should have come to me, but they did not, but ascended up the Chimney, though both the door and the window were open.

I was also by the same power carried out of doors upon my hands & knees into the street, which my Wife & others seeing, endeavoured to hinder me, but I told them, I would not be hindered, but leave Wife, Children, and all to follow Christ: in this manner I went up the street, thinking that I bore a Crosse upon my neck, & continued in this motion till some pulled me out of the mire and dirt, and by force carried me into the house again; whereupon I was moved to point to one of them which brought me in, and to say to her, Christ points at thee, thou [Page]art a wicked woman, and hast hindered the work of the Lord; then the voice asked me where my Crosse was, telling me I had scattered it, whereupon I was moved to make a Cross with my finger upon the flore, and forced to set my head upon it, playing topsie turvy, or bull necks, thinking then I had retaken up my Crosse. In these actions I was kept a long while, having many Scripture-expressions given in, to the admiration of all that heard me; sometimes I was forced to leap and dance, this expression being given in to me, now I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do, thinking my Redemption then fully accomplished; but my joy continued not, for I was cast down again, and the voice told me, I had offended God in attributing that to my self which was proper to Christ; whereupon I was cast upon the ground, and lying upon my belly, I was forced to lick the dust, and my hand carried to strike extraordinarily upon my head, having a voice given me, that no sin must go unpunished; so creeping up and down the house, I heard a voice saying, where is thy Crosse? upon which looking aside, I thought I saw a visible Crosse hanging in a threed, which with my hand I put behind my neck; I was kept in these postures all that day till evening, when many Quakers came in to me, who spake nothing but thus, Be lowly, mind thy condition, and harken to the voice within; [...]ing any words of comfort or reproof, or putting up any [...]tion at all for me, but departed, leaving me in this condition. My strength being almost spent, and my body much consumed by continuall restlesnesse; Two of them offered to watch with me that night, but I refused, telling them I was well, whereupon they departed. After this my Wife & Family being gon to bed, I being alone in the house, began to recollect my self, and to question whether that power by which I had been so strangly acted, were Divine or Diabolicall? whereupon I was immediatly struck with a pannick fear, and my hand was carried to take up a Knife which lay upon the Table, which being done, my hand was carried with it towards my throat, and the voice said to me, open a hole there, and I will give thee the words of eternall life; whereupon I answered, what, with a Knife? and so threw the Knife away, being confident it was a temptation, from which I desire God to deliver me. My wife being in bed in the next room, & hearing me speak [Page] when none was with me, came out, and desired me to go to bed, which I did at her entreaty: all the night following I was fully resolved that it was the Devils power that had acted me all along formerly, and was perswaded that I was really possest with a Devill, which must be ejected; and in the morning I verily thought that a Devill went out of me, at which instant I roared very hidiously, crying, now is the Devill gone out of me, at which instant I & my Family heard it thunder, (though none in the Town besides heard it) which made me think it was the Devill, he being the Prince of the power of the air; soon after the same power came under another notion and told me, that it was Satan that had possest and led me heretofore, but now Christ was come, and he by his power had cast out Satan, and couvinced me, that what ever I had done the day before was in obedience to Satan, and that as I had served the Devill all the time before in my Clothes, so that day I must undo all that I had formerly done, only in my spirit in obedience to Christ; which immediatly I endeavoured, rising out of my bed, and going into the street with my shirt, only; but my Wife and others soon laid hold upon me, & stopt me, whereupon the power within me told me, that I must be carried into the house with four women, as I had been the day before, or else I should perpetually stand their like a pillar of Salt, as Lots wife did. So I was born in by 4. women, who carried me again into my bed, which being done, I told them, I had been doing the Devills work the day before, but to day I must do the work of Christ, & pointing at a woman whom I had pointed at the day before, said these words, the Devill told me yesterday that you were a wicked woman, but now Christ tells me that you are Gods Servant: the woman being departed, I fell to acting in my shirt only upon the bed, as I had done formerly upon the house flore, playing topsie turvy from one bed to another, whereby I might have undon my self; but the power which acted me, bid me not fear, for I wil give thee strength. After this the power told me, that the Devill had the other day commanded me to bear the Crosse, but now Christ commands me to lay aside thy Crosse; for Christ takes no pleasure in Crosses, nor will he have me worship them as yesterday I had done: Further, the power said to me, the Devill made thee yesterday to lie all day upon the ground, but now I have provided a bed for thee, giving in this Scripture to me, my yoak is easie; promising also, to [Page]give me bread of life to eat, & water of life to drink, & that out of my belly should flow rivers of living water: whereupon my teeth were caused to move as if I had been eating; and I thought I felt in my belly a flowing up and down, as of Waters: I was also perswaded, that yesterday the Devils angels had waited on me, but now Christs Angels should guard me; whereupon I saw two Butterflies in the window, to which my hand was carried, and having taken one of them in my hand, I was moved by the power within me to put it into my mouth, and did swallow it down into my body, which having done, I took the other in my hand, and was moved to put it to my throat, the power telling me, it should enter in there, saying, nothing is impossible to them that believe. After this I was caused to make circles upon the bed, as I had done formerly upon the ground: whereupon I began to think, that this was not of God, and so began to resist the power by which I was acted, and thereupon fell into great fear and doubting, crying out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to to do? but the power told me, that it was too late to cry unto God, for sentence was already pronounced against me: whereupon I lay down in my bed, much despairing, and was then convict, that it was the Devill which had again deluded me: in which condition having lain a short space, I was again assaulted by a power the third time, which told me, that it was a white Devill that had deceived me the latter time, but now Christ was come indeed, and he would cast him out; whereupon I apprehended that Devill also to be eiected: after which, as I lay in my bed, all the members of my body fell a working, as if the pangs of Death had been upon me, the power telling me, that it was the pangs of the new birth, and that Christ was new born in me; with which I was somewhat satisfied, lying in that condition a whole day; in which time the power perswaded me, that I should work wonders, and cast out Devills in his name; soon after two Quakers came to me, viz. Geo. Bailey, and J. Braban, whom I told that I had two Devills cast out of me, but now Christ was in me for a truth; then the power (pretending to be Christ) said these words, I was crowned with a crown of thorns, but I will crown thee with a crown of glory, and bad me (as a figure thereof) to set my fist upon my head, and it should appear to the standers by as a glorious crown, though I saw nothing by my self, which having done I spake to the standers [Page] by, saying, what do you see? whereunto they gave me no answer, (being Quakers) but turned their eyes another way, the power telling me, that they saw the crown upon my head, but were so strucken with admiration, that they could not expresse what they saw; immediatly the power bad me tell one of the Quakers then present that he had a devill in him, and that I should have power to cast him out; whereupon I said unto him, O, thou hast a devill in thee; the power told me he should quake and tremble, which immediatly he did; the power bad me speak to him to fall flat upon the ground, which he did, & after a little space rose again, and I asked him whether the devill were gon out of him (having been before perswaded by the power that I should cast him out,) to which he gave me no answer, but the power told me that the devill was ejected. I was told also by the same power, who (of those that came to see me) had devils, and who not; and that my wife and my mother had devils in them, but I had power given me to cast them out. After this, beginning again to question whether this were Christ or not, I fell into a great fear and doubting, as formerly; whereupon the devil discovered himself to be the devill, & told me, that all this while I had been serving him, and blaspheming God; and that it was now too late to repent, whereupon I was brought into despair for a time, thinking every thing which I either heard or saw, to be the devil come to fetch me away: one while I thought that I should be taken away in a flame of fire, or else that the earth would swallow me up quick; whereupon I called my Wife, and desired her to bring up my Children in the fear of God, for the devil would fetch me away, my self still thinking that he was drawing me out of the bed; thus I apprehended my self wholy under the power of the devil, and had no power to recover my self out of that sad condition. At last I began (having bin so long deluded) to desist from harkning to the voyce within me, and apply my self unto God, in and through Christ, for deliverance from the power of Satan, knowing, that God was able to deliver me, though I were so far involved in the snare of the devill; thereupon my faith was in some measure raised to believe that God would deliver me: whereupon I was presently in a great agony, and did sweat extreamly, in which condition I continued all night, but was somwhat more cheerfull in the morning, esteeming my self in some measure rescued [Page] from the power of the devil: yet having not resolved as yet finally to desert that way, I was soon again assaulted by the same, power, telling me, that now the devil was finally cast out of me, & that the room within me must not be left empty, but that Christ must come & have the whole & sole possession, or else Satan would return & re-enter with 7. other devils worse then himself, telling me withall, that he was Christ, and solliciting me to entertain and imbrace him as I had done formerly: I resisted the suggestions of this power for a time, having been so often deluded; whereupon as a motive to perswade me to entertain it, he represented to my memorie all, or most of the remarkable passages of my life, both in England and Scotland, told me how long I should live, viz. ten years, and where I should die, viz. at London, & that I had a weak body, but he would strengthen it, and thereupon caused me to rub my body all over with my hands, at which instant I conceived my body to receive strength, & the members thereof to be more in substance then before; with divers other passages, promising me prosperity in the world, and speaking these words to me, Joh. 4. 29. Behold a man that hath told thee all things that ever thou didst, is not this Christ? whereupon I was at last perswaded to imbrace this power, thinking that it was Christ indeed; whereupon I was presently sensible of a working throughout my whole body, which soon ceased, and then I thought that my condition was good, and Christ to be really in me: afterwards this power told me, that I had highly offended God in all my former passages, in giving way to Satan, and that I was guilty of all sins, except that against the Holy Ghost; but told me, that I did it ignorantly, and therefore he had pitty on me; I was further perswaded by the same power, that I should lie (seemingly dead,) which I did, not daring to stir, till the power moved me. Lying thus a while, the power began first to move one of my legs, and then the other; after that my hands, & then my head, & at last my whole body; causing me to sit up in my bed, & telling me that thus should my body be quickened & raised up again at the last day: then the power told me, that I must pull off my shirt and my cap, and the napkin which I had about my neck, saying, that whatsoever was about me was polluted, and that he bated the Garments spotted with the flesh; whereupon I pull'd them off, and threw them on the ground, uttering these same words, [Page] that I bated the Garment spotted with the flesh, the power also told me, that all my bonds were broken, & my cords loosened, & that Christ had set me free; whereupon calling for a clean shirt, and other linnen, I arose, concluding my self to be in a good condition; yet finding my self being up, no better, nor my body more strengthened, but rather weakned, I began to see that I had been deluded in this last busines as formerly; whereupon I was strucken with fear, & walking into the Garden, I thought one while that the Devil would pull me into the earth, and another while that he would pull me into the air, so that I was afraid to continue abroad, and came again into the house, and suspected every thing that I heard to be the Devil waiting to fetch me away; being in this perplexity of soul, I began to consider how grievously I had offended God in rejecting the use of all externall means: as reading, hearing, prayer, &c. in the use whereof God hath commanded us to wait upon him, and therefore that it was most just with him to leave me to my self, and to give me over to strong delusion, that I should believe lies, which was my condition for a time, by the just judgement of God upon me, as for other provocations, so especially for reiecting the revealed will of God in his word, and hearkning only to a voyce within me; because what was spoken by it, was seconded by lying wonders, of which God hath given notice in his word, that so his people might not give credit to them, nor be deluded by them. I hope the Reader will so far give heed to what I have related concerning my self, as to le [...]rn thereby to take heed of being imposed upon by the devil, though he doth transform himself into an Angell of light; which advantage if any reap by it, I have my end: it hath been no small burthen to my conscience (since Gods gracious deliverance of me from this snare) that I should so far gratifie the grand Adversary, as not only to listen to his suggestions, & imbrace his voice for the voice of Christ, but also wholy to neglect those means, in the constant & conscientious use whereof God hath promised to reveal himself unto his people, & to give in comfort to them, which because I found not (though through my own default) I did in effect say, why should I wait on the Lord any longer? and so turned unto lying vanities. O! that all who affect novelties, would seriously consider of it, & take warning [Page] by it; for, Turpi [...] withstand the Devil at his first assault, than to expect him being once admitted. Many besides my self, have been, and are in the like condition, but few or none to whom the Lord hath manifested his grace in such a manner as to my self. I had before this made this known to the world, had I had tranquillity of conscience, and composure of Spirit, which blessing the Lord having in his Grace restored to me, I desire the Christian Reader to joyn with me in returning praises unto the Lord for his goodnesse towards me. I rest fully perswaded, and I think it doth evidently appear (by what is mentioned in this Relation) to persons unpreiudiced, that my quaking and trembling was of the Devil, that I was acted wholy and solely by him, whilst in this condition; and I do really believe, that others in the like condition which I was then in, would be of the same mind with me, upon serious tryall of their condition by the principles of Christian Religion▪ and sanctified Reason. Lest the strangeness of some passages in this Relation, should put the faith of any one upon the rack, or make them question the truth thereof, I have not only given testimony my self of it, by subscribing my name; but also procured severall persons of known fidelity, living in, or neere Kendall, ( [...]hose names are under written) to testifie the probabilitie (if not the certainty) of the truth of it, by what they have seen and heard.

JOHN GILPIN.

I believe this Relation to be true.

Edward Turner Maior of Kendall.

By what I have heard of the carriage of John Gilpin, and his actings, J do believe this Relation to be true.

Jo. Archer

J saw him when he went through the Town, declaring himself the way, truth, and life.

Ja. Cock.

We believe this Relation to be true.

T. Walker, Pastor of Kendall

J. Myriell, Master of the Free-Schoole there.

Rich. Prissoe.

Thomas Sands.

Allan Gilpin.

John Washington.

Robert Fisher.

§

§

[Page] FOr the prevention of any suspition of the truth of what this contained in this Relation, the Reader is desired to take notice, not only of the fidelity of those witnesses, who have subscribed their names to it, (who dare not give testimony to any thing, of the truth whereof they have not some grounded certainty) but also of a tacit confession of the adversaries themselves; or in a Pamphlet set forth by Christopher Atkinson of Kendall (wherein he pretendeth to answer what is contained in it) there is no denial of the matter of fact, but only a multitude of most unchristian expressions, cast out against the person of this standing Monument of Gods mercy: but those who are acquainted with this Generation, will not much wonder at this, seeing it is their usual dialect towards all, not of their own faction. In the conclusion of that Pamphlet before mentioned, John Gilpin is charged with drunkenness, and returning again to his former filthinesse, which is such a notorious falshood, that such as have had any knowledge of the said John Gilpin, since that time, cannot but admire how any should arrive to such an height of impudence, as to fasten such a calumny upon him. 'Tis true, there was information given in against him for drunkenness, by a Quaker,Anthony Pearson. to a Justice of Peace, (but not upon oath) but he being one of their own faction, (and desiring to have it so) immediatly sent forth a Warrant against him; but the said John Gilpin (being altogether ignorant of it) was absent upon a necessary occasion, being called to serve the Common-wealth, in the Garison of the City of Carlisle; but did not fly for fear of the Warrant, as that lying Pamphlet doth scandalously report. Some of his friends in his absence, knowing the Warrant to have issued out upon misinformation, took occasion to examine the matter further, and told those that were his accusers, that it was a grosse forgery, to which some of them answered, that it was not, for he was drunk with sin; & this was all the charge that any of his adversaries would undertake to justifie against him. See whether these persons be not acted with a Jesuitical Spirit, who can so grosly equivocate; but for the wiping off of this and all other aspersions cast upon John Gilpin, by these Instruments of the Prince of darkness, the Reader is desired to take notice of these two following Testimonies, signed by men of unquestioned integrity, who by their acquaintance with him, [Page] since the time of his deliverance from that grand delusion, have fully known his manner of life.

Whereas several persons called Quakers, men of corrupt mindes, and reprobate concerning the faith, have aspersed John Gilpin as guilty of drunkenness, and other licencious practises, since the time of Gods great goodness extended to him in delivering of him from the grand impostures of the Quakers; These are to certifie all persons whomsoever, that we whose names are under-written, have since that time taken special and peculiar cognisance of his conversation during the time of his abode amongst us, and have found it to be not only civil, but also religious, and suitable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that it hath not been otherwise since his departure from us to Carlisle, is very evident to us, from the following Testimony of eminent Christians there, whose names are thereunto subscribed.

Kendall Jan. 27. 1654.

The truth of this Testimony is attested by us

Thomas Walker Minister at Kendall.

John Myriel, Master of the Free School there.

James Troughton.

§

§

We believe that Mr. Thomas Walker, Mr. John Myriel, and James Troughton, would not certifie any thing but what they know to be true.

Thomas Sandes.

William Jeninges junior.

John Fisher.

John VVashington.

Robert Jackson.

VVilliam Sill.

§

§

[Page]

WHereas our well beloved Friend and Brother▪ John Gilpin, is traduced by some who are enemies of all righteousness, to be a man loose and scandalous in life and conversation, and tainted with drunkenness, and other like lusts, These are to certifie all those, who desire to (and do so) sanctifie the Lord God in their hearts and lives, the contrary of our said well beloved Friend and Brother; And that he is to our knowledge, one that walks soberly, humbly, piously, and without reproof, being not in the least guilty of these wickednesses, which we hear maliciously and slanderously, by some reported of him, since his abode amongst us, which hath been now above this twelvemoneth. Nor did we ever hear otherwise by him, from any with whom he hath conversed heretofore, but that he hath ever walked so as becomes the Gospel; that he hath been indeed, a man (as they will witnesse that knew him formerly) not only vertuously inclined, but also of a very tender Conscience: in so much, that than to affirm the contrary, We assure you, as those who dare not plead for iniquity, there can nothing be more false, whereunto we have set our hands at the City of Carlisle, this third of February, 1654.

Thomas Craister.

Cuth: Scudholme.

Thomas Turner, Master of the Free School.

§

§

[Page]

The Reader may haply, and not without cause, admire how the mouthes of any should be open, to speak evil of one whose life appeareth, by the aforesaid written Testimonies, to have been so blameless; and unreproveable; but let them consider how exceedingly the Devil is inraged, as against all mankind in general, so especially against those that are rescued from his snares; and then he will not much wonder, that these his Children do, as in other things, so in this imitate their Father.

The Prophecies and other passages of James Milner a Taylor, Novemb. the 14. 15, 16. 1652.

1. HE told the people (I mean the gadding Tribe) who flocked to his house those three dayes, that he had fasted fourteen dayes and nights, and that he was to fast two dayes more for the saving of two souls, which (he said) were Dorothy Barwick, and the Wife of Brian Fell of Ʋlverston.

2. That he must suffer as Christ did; and setting a drie and empty Bason in the midst of his house, he went many times about it, Thomas Hutton holding a knife over his head all the time; at last he asked the standers by, whether they saw not drops of water and blood? Hutton answered, yes, and then (as Milner himself said) he gave up the Ghost as Christ did.

3. That the fifteenrh day must be the day of judgement, and the last day of the old Creation, and that Thursday the sixteenth must be the first day of the new Creation.

[Page] That there must come down from heaven a four-cornerd she [...] with a sheep in the sixteenth day, for confirmation (as was conceived) of his prophecies, but the event not being answerable to his prediction, and the Quakers expectation, he told them, they were faln amongst the wicked, and so a Company of them (about twelve) were sent with a Constable to search the house of John Goads in the night time, for a stolne sheep, but found none.

4. He said there must be a Silver Myne in his Garden, a Mynt-house in his fold, and James Barwick must be the Coyner; and trampling a long time upon a part of his Garden, he asked the people if they saw not Silver arise out of the earth: but they gave no answer. I know none shall see it (saith Milver) but the Prophet▪ Hutton and my Wife, whereupon she said she saw Silver bubble up like pin-heads.

5. He told them there must be a Coal-pit in Sheep Park, and he paced out the ground where it should be.

6. That a Mill must be built, and the water that should make it go, must come out of a Well near his Garden, which (though it hath seldome water in it) he said should be a Well for ever.

7. That there should be the eighteenth day a great draught of Fishes which he himself with Zebedee must draw, which (as tis reported) proved to be but a Codling.

8. He said he was Abraham, and Adam, and his Wife was Eve, that Beakeley, (the town where he lived) must be called Z [...]r, and Gleast [...]n, another Town not far off must be called Ninive.

9. That George Foxe was John the Baptist, and he it was that was to come after, whose shoo-latchet Foxe was unworto unloose.

10. That he must live four hundred years upon earth, the cloaths on his back must never be worn, nor he ever greater or lesser.

11. That Richard Myars, the younger, must go and prophesie into other Countries, and Thomas Hutton must prophesie in his own Country.

12. That there must be no more Judges at Lancaster, neither any more Rents, or Tythe paid.

[Page] This pretended Prophet lives at Beakely in Lane ashire, where he delivered these lying Oracles, whereof there were many, both eye, and ear witnesses, and amongst others John Kilner, and George Fell (called Zebedee by the said Milner) who are ready to attest what is here related, if called unto it: They were both before that time bewitched with the delusions of the Quakers, But afterwards never followed them more, blesling God, that he had open'd their eyes to see the delusions of Sathan, and those manifold snares, wherein they had been entangled.

Reader, these following relations may at first view seem incredible to thee, by reason of the abominable nature of the matters of fact contained in them: But however I shall not conceal from thee what is notoriously known and certainly beleeved, in those parts where it was acted, that so thou maist have a further testimony of their grosse and palpable blindnesse, who a [...]e so great pretenders of the light.

In the year 1653. In Summer time Hugh Bisbr [...]wne living at, or near Beethom, was seen by two severall persons, committing the detestable sin of Buggery with a Mare, but being discovered in the very act, and knowing the penalty due thereunto to be death, he soon after (upon information given in against him) betook himself to his heeles, and hath not since that time been seen publickly in the Country: This horrid fact was committed upon a Common in the Parish of Warton near Silver-dale: the Parties who saw it were, Ʋnica Ba [...]ke, and the Wife of Rich. Clarke, both of Beethom, who offer'd to depose before a Justice of the Peace, that they saw them carnally conjoyn'd: The Quakers since that time deny him to have been one of their Sect, being ashamed of him by reason of his béastly wickednesse, but the evidence thereof is very clear from the testimony of the Neighbours thereabouts, who do affirme with one consent, that for a long space before, he never attended upon the publick Ministery, but was frequently present at the mettings of the▪ Quakers, refused to use any Civill Salutation, and in all things else whatsoever symbolized with them: & had he not been acted by that power (spoken of in I. G. his relation) he had never been carried out to such abominable filthinesse; Nor would the beast in all probability have stood so quietly without the [Page] least motion (as the witnesses affirmed she did, whilst he was doing that vild act) had not the same power by his means been very prevalent in her.

Somewhat before the time above written, one Cotten Crosland of Ackworth (neer Pontefract in York-shire) a professed Quaker, pretending that he knew far more, and higher things than ever any Minister did, or could discover to him, hang'd himself, and lies buried in a Crosse-way upon Ackworth Moor, with a Stake driven thorow him, which may be as a standing mark to warn Passengers to take heed of quaking, seeing that Spirit which is the cause of it, leads men into such fearful miscarriages. Let the unprejudiced Reader judge whether the light that leads men to such practices, be not gross darkness. Let it be the prayer of every Christian Reade [...] that he who commanded light to shine out of darkness, would illuminate their understandings, who for the present lie in it.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The Quakers shaken, or, a warning against quaking. Being I. A relation of the conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the devill. II. A vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the Quakers. III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16. IV. A relation of a horrid buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a Quaker, with a mare. V. A relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed Quaker, who hanged himself.Quakers shaken

Gilpin, John, 17th cent.

Edition statement

1655

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86014

ID [STC]

Wing G771

ID [STC]

Thomason E831_25

ID [STC]

ESTC R207504

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99866549

ID [PROQUEST]

99866549

ID [VID]

118825

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86014)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 118825)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 126:E831[25])

Source

— The Quakers shaken, or, a warning against quaking. Being I. A relation of the conversion and recovery of John Gilpin, of Kendall in Westmorland, who was not only deluded, but possessed with the devill. II. A vindication of the said John Gilpin, from the aspersions of the Quakers. III. Twelve lying blasphemous prophecies of James Milner of Beakly in Lancashire; delivered by him Novemb. 14, 15, 16. IV. A relation of a horrid buggery committed by Hugh Bisbrown, a Quaker, with a mare. V. A relation of one Cotton Crosland of Ackworth in York-shire, a professed Quaker, who hanged himself., Quakers shaken, Gilpin, John, 17th cent..

Extent

[2], 21, [1] p.

Printed by S.G. for Simon Waterson, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Globe in Saint Pauls Church-yard.,. London, :: 1655.. (Page 14 signed: John Gilpin.) (Another edition of: The Quakers shaken, or, A fire-brand snatch'd out of the fire.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "2:d impression", Aprill. 12.".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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