CHAP. I. Of the Name Quaker: And the Subſtance of their Opinions.

ALthough they agree with the great Oppoſites to verity, in many great points, as with Simon Magus, Menander, Saturnius, Baſilides, Carpocrates, the Nicolaitans, Arrians, and Mehomitans of old, and with the Papiſts, Socinians, and Enthuſiaſtical Anabaptiſts of Germany of late, as may evidently be ſeen in the comparing of their Opinions; yet with us they are not commonly called by the name of any of thoſe, with whom they do ſo agree; but have their denomination from their ſits of the Quaking of their bodies, when they are either really or pretendedly acted by another Spirit than their own. And though now adayes it's rarely ſeen that they Quake; yet it's well known to thouſands, that the quakings and bodily tremblings of ſingle perſons, and the greateſt part of their Aſſemblies was very ordinary. And no doubt but in thoſe ſtrange fits they are ſometimes paſſive, when acted by Spirits, as was Gilpin of Kendall; See his own Relation: And ſometimes active, as when they do it of their own accord. Sutable to this is the Story that I had from one that I am ſure tells the truth: That coming once into a great Aſſembly of them at Glaſiers-Hall London (their then meeting place) he found ſome trembling, others howling, others crying out, and violently moving their bodies juſt like mad folkes, who were (to his appearance) forceably held by the more ſober, juſt as mad folkes are, and all this for many minutes together, the like carriage he affirms, he had thought had been no where on this ſide Hell: But when he dealt with their Speaker, endeavouring to prove him a Seducer, they were ſo vexed, that they left their Bedlam carriage, and like the pictures of the Witches in the Fortune-Book, fell upon him with dreadfull denunciations and impudent cenſures, untill he charged them with hypocriſie and voluntarineſs, and called upon them to howl again, and to let him alone with that Fellow their Speaker; and then they did fall to their howling again, but not ſo loud as to hinder the debate which he had with him.

And for the chief Opinions of the Quakers: That our Miniſters are not of God: Nor the Scripture his Word: That they are not our Rule: That the Goſpel-Ordinances ceaſe: That themſelves are immediately taught, and are infallible: Denying the Trinity, Chriſts Humanity, Merit and Aſcenſion. Of only ſuch as theſe I ſhall treat in this enſuing Hiſtory.

CHAP. II. Of their Antiquity.

FOr the Antiquity of the Quakers, take the very words of Mr Henry Stubbs of Chriſt Church in Oxon, in his Rebuke to Mr Richard Baxter, p. 36.

As to the Generality of their Opinions and Deportment, I DO AVOW it out of as ſure and good Records as any can be produced, that they can plead more for themſelves from the firſt two hundred ſeventy years, then Mr Baxter for the preſent Orthodox Religion laid down in the Saints Everlaſting Reſt, or the Confeſſion OF THE ASSEMBLY. I fully agree with this Learned man, that they are very Ancient; but yet I do not agree with him in one point of Circumſtance, and in another of Subſtance, as to the Subject of the Quakers. As to the Circumſtance of time, he fetches their Original but from the year two hundred and ſeventy; but I find them above two hundred years ſooner, even in St. Paul's time, as may be ſeen in my next Chapter. This Difference is not very great: But for the other point, That the Quakers can plead more for themſelves from the firſt two hundred ſeventy years, then Mr. Baxter for the preſent Orthodox Religion laid down in the Saints Reſt, or the Confeſſion of the Aſſembly, I do heartily profeſs I differ from him as much in my opinion, as he doth that loves to ſpeak truth, from him that will ſay otherwiſe for advantage, and as a Proteſtant different from a Papiſt: And in this Difference I have all Learned Proteſtants of my ſide; the Papiſts and Quakers I think are for him.

CHAP. III. The Quakers chief Predeceſſors in the ſeveral Ages of the World ſince Chriſt.

AS to the main deſign of the Spirit of Hereticks, viz. The diſgracing and oppoſing of Chriſt and his Gospel (both the Scripture, Miniſtry and Ordinances) The Quakers are the chiefeſt Inſtruments upon the earth (as will appear by their Opinions and Practices) And theſe were the chief of their Predeceſſors in the ſeveral Ages of the World, ſince Chriſt was upon the earth.

1. The falſe Apoſtles that did ſo oppoſe the true ones, and teach Juſtification by the workes of the Law, that they occaſioned Saint Paul to write the Epiſtles to the Romans and Galatians againſt them, and charge them with ſetting up a new Gospel, which infection proceeded ſo far, that thoſe who before would have plucked out their eyes for him, did now take him for their enemy.

2. Simon Magus, a Leader of a deluded Society, and an oppoſer of the Apoſtles and the Goſpel of Chriſt, pretended himſelf to be God and Chriſt, that ſeemed to die at Jeruſalem, denied that Chriſt was really come, or did ſuffer, alſo the Reſurrection of he body, and brought in the promiſcuous uſe of Women, Jacks. Chron. 186.

3. Menander his Diſciple. And

4. Saturnius his Diſciple, who ſaid that Marriage and Generation were of Satan, many of whoſe followers would not eat of my living ſenſitive creature.

5. Baſilides taught that it was not Jeſus, but Simon of Cyrene in his ſhape that was crucified. And that ſaving Faith did not terminate in him that was crucified, but in Jeſus that came in the ſhape of a man, and was thought to have been crucified.

6. Carpocrates and the Nicolaitans; ſome of them made themſelves to be equal with Chriſt, and ſome the ſame with him; they uſed multitudes of amazing words, Inchantments; and were familiar with Devils.

The Cerinthians, Cordonites, Ebionites, Valentinians and Marcionites, who had all the general name of Gnoſticks, from their own proud pretences of the Knowledge of ſuch myſteries, as the Catholick Church was ignorant of, but were called by the names of their reſpective ſucceeding Leaders, becauſe every one added to, or altered ſomewhat from the Doctrine of the former, yet holding the ſame in the main. Theſe were as Irenaeus ſhews, Lib. 1. cap. 30. all the Diſciples of Simon Magus the Witch, and continued the ſubſtance of his Doctrine, with ſome additions though ſome of them would not own his name. All the fore, going were againſt the Chriſtian Doctrine Miniſtery and Ordinences.

The Arrians, who denied the Divinity of Jeſus Chriſt, and that he was the only begotten Sin of God, Coequall and Coeternall with the Father and the holy Spirit; and conſequently his Merit and Satisfaction, and Juſtification by the imputation thereof, and his Miniſters.

The Katharoi, who affirmed, that they being juſtified, were perfect and free of all ſin, as the glorified in Heaven, Anno 1118.

Adamites deviſed a Church, to be as a hot houſe to keep them from cold: The Service time they were all naked men and women; the Virgins preached unto the reſt; their Church they called Paradiſe, and themſelves Adam and Eve, Epiphan. haereſ. 52.

Priſcilianus a Gnoſtick ſaid, the Soul was of one Subſtance with God; mans actions were governed by the Stars; condemned the eating of fleſh; parted married Couples? aſcribed Creation of the fleſh to wicked Angels, Aug. lib. de Haereſ.

Pelagius a Monk of Bangor, he held that man without the grace of God was able to fullfill all the commands of God; that the Juſt have no ſin in this life; that Children have no original ſin, Aug. de Haereſ. See Baxters ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

All theſe Hereticks with their Hereſies and Blasphemies, were in the Church many hundred years ago; and condemned by Councils and Fathers; and many of them witneſſed againſt from Heaven by dreadfull judgements.

For the truth of my Collections, I appeal to all that have read the ancient Hiſtories of the Church, which are of as clear evidence, as the Chronicles that give us the Names and Reigns of William the Conquerour, Henry the Eight, and Queen Mary. So that it is not lawfull for any man to ſay theſe Stories are lies, untill after diligent ſearch he find them to be ſo; or untill upon his enquiry of honeſt learned men they ſay ſo, which will never be.

Mahomet growing famous for Wealth and Magick, by the advice of Sergius a Monk, called himſelf the great Prophet of God; denied the Sufficiency, Perfection, and Authority of the holy Scriptures; (but ſtole abundance of the words, names and things therein contained, to make up his Speeches and his Alchoran) alſo the Trinity. He held Community of Women; was an Enthuſiaſt, pretending to Revelations and Infallibility.

CHAP. IV. Of the Quakers of Germany in Luther and Calvins time, that oppoſed Chriſt, at his then coming to reforme the Church.

COme we now to the Quakers of Germany, though not ſo called. Theſe were ſome of the principal of them: Nicholas Stork, Tho. Muntcer, Dr. Belthazer, Hubmore Melchior Rink, John Hut, Jo. Deuter, Lodovick Hetzer, Phifer John Becold, Rotman, Harman Staxrede, Henry Rolles, Knipperdoling, Cipperbroke Creching, John Mathews, David George Conradus, Jo. Trajer, Seekler David George, Gasper Swenckfield. Baxters Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt. When Satan perceived that he could no longer keep up the Tyranny and Errors undiſturbed, but that Chriſt would ſend out ſuch a light, as ſhould diſgrace and diſpell his darkneſs; he renewed his old attempts again, and ſetteth upon Chriſt in his own Kingdome, and falls upon the Reformation in its own quarters, to diſgrace it by the diverſity of evil Doctrines and practices of thoſe, who pretended to be Reformers. They began in a ſeeming ſimplicity of harmleſneſs, as if the Reformers had not reformed enough, but they muſt carry on the work where we left it, and caſt out children from the Church, as we caſt out Superſtition and Errors. But when the ſpirit within them had once vent, and field-room for agitation, it ſoon diſcovered it ſelf to be of the great Deceiver, as will abundantly appear by the enſuing Epitomy of the Stories of ſome of them. Muntzer and his company at Mulhuze, choſe a new Senate of their Party, to ſeize upon the Miniſters and their Eſtates; drew the multitude to ſide with them; fourty thouſand of them deſiſt from their labours, take up Arms, and in Swabe and Francony, ſlew the greateſt part of the Nobility, and burnt and ſack't their aſtles, but were beaten in many encounters; fifteen hundred of them were ſlain at once by Count Mantsfield; and three hundred at the taking of Francuſe, where Muntzer being taken and reproved by the Duke of Saxony, for being the cauſe of the ruine of ſo many people, he laughed, and ſaid, the people would have it ſo; but he publickly confeſſed his fault and error, and was beheaded.

His Party that eſcaped fled to Munſter the chief City of Weſtphalia, where they made a great Party with the Citizens for the pulling down of Popery; and afterward being headed by John Becold of Leyden, were very ſeditious; refuſed to depart the City, when commanded, pulled Mr. Wirtem a Miniſter out of the Pulpit, run up and down the City crying, Repent and be rebaptized, or, the wrath of God will fall upon you; whereupon many coming in to them for fear, they gat the upper hand of the reſt, turn'd the Diſſenters out of the City, ſeiz'd upon their Eſtates, Arms and Ammunition, commanded all that were unrebaptized to be put to death, crying, quickly depart ye wicked, if ye will not die; and ſo being in Arms, drave out all that were not of their Sect, without having reſpect to Age or Sexe, commiting ſuch outrages, that there is no act ſo fellonious, horrible, cruell, and wicked, that ever was done, which they did not commit. In the beginning they talked of nothing but the spirit and holineſs, ſaid it was not lawfull for a Chriſtian to be a Magiſtrate, or to bear Arms; but after they had brought all under their power, then it was lawfull to take the publick Arms with the Town-houſe, and to chooſe a Magiſtrate to their minde, with the rejection of him that was ordained of God, making themſelves Conſuls and Senators. At firſt if they ſaw any Matron wear ſilk, or any man of faſhion to wear a gold Ring, they cryed them down with open mouth; but now their glorious King Tailor omitteth nothing, that may ſet forth his State and pomp, as the reſt of this Narrative will ſhew They cauſed all perſons goods to be brought to a common Treaſury: Burnt all Books but the Bible, executed who they pleaſed. Knipperdolin propheſied, that all lofty things muſt be laid low, and the poor, and the mean, and the low things muſt be exalted: and immediately commanded all the Churches to be demoliſhed, which was put in execution; he aſſuring them with great gravity, that this command came from God. They fallied forth and killed four thouſand. John of Leyden dreamed three dayes together, and making ſignes for paper, he writ the names of twelve men to govern Munſter, as the heavenly Jeruſalem; taught as from God the lawfullneſs of plurality of Wives; he married three Wives, and after that twelve Wives to himſelf. John Twiſcoſcar propheſied, that John of Leyden ſhould by the will of the heavenly Father, be Emperour of all the earth; he accepts of the office; caſhiers the twelve Commanders; inveſts himſelf with princely Robes, and takes to him a pompous train and attendance; upon his Girdle was writ, The power of God is my ſtrength; his Title was the King of the New Jeruſalem, King of Righteouſneſs throughout all the world. By revelation he ſent forth twenty eight Teachers, to convert the world to his obedience: Their Anſwer to all Objections againſt all this was, That now the time was come, that the meek ſhould poſſeſs the Earth. Hilvers propheſieth that Amſterdam, Weſell, and Daventer, ſhould flow unto them with all their Riches; and thereupon Emiſſaries were ſent to ſeduce thoſe places to Quakeriſme, whoſe ſucceſs at laſt cauſed many to be put to death for Anabaptiſme, and their deſign to be fruſtrated, though not without a ſtout buſſle in Friſe, and another in Amſterdam. At laſt Munſter is brought into great ſtraits by Famine, which occaſioned one of King Johns Queens out of pity to ſay, that ſhe thought it was not the will of God, that ſo many people ſhould thus famiſh by Famine; for which the King killed her in the market place before all his other Queens, who thereupon ſung Glory to God in the higheſt. The Famine was ſo great, that Doggs, Cats, Rats, Mice, Horſes, yea dead Carkaſes were their food; yet this Fellow cheated them into patience, telling them that God tryed them, but certainly the Father would deliver them in a ſhort time, which proved a lie: For on the 21. of June, 1536. one of his own Diſciples, and fellow-Prophets, Langke-ſtroote by name (ſome dayes before pretending to fetch in relief) ſold the City for Money to the beſiegers, who upon that day entred the City by his treachery; but when they were in, there was a bloody Battle fought, wherein the King of the whole World, and many of his Confederates were taken, and ſometime after he with two of his Companions were put to death, and their bodies (being put into iron Cages) were hung upon an high Tower for a perpetual memorial.

The Doctriens which theſe Enthuſiaſts taught, were ſome of them theſe.

They preached Dreames for divine Oracles, and ſaid, they spake familiarly with God.

And becauſe there ſhould come a new world, wherein ſhould dwell Righteouſneſs, therefore they ought to exterminate all the wicked.

They called all Ʋnbelievers, that were not of their Sect.

Defamed and detracted from the Miniſtry and Magiſtracy.

Made Rebaptizing of abſolute neceſſity, to their favour and ſalvation.

Diſclaimed all interpretation of Scripture.

Muntzer taught, that whoever would be ſaved, muſt firſtly fly all manifeſt vices, Murders, Blaſphemies againſt the name of God, chaſtize and maſſerate his body by faſtings and mean apparell, hold forth an auſtere viſage, and ſpeak little.

He taught community and equallity in dignity.

That the Proteſtant Miniſters and Teachers were not ſent of God.

That the Scripture was not the Word of God, but a Teſtimony or Declaration thereof.

And that we muſt ſearch for the Word in the internal part.

That faith comes not by the Scriptures and Preaching.

One of them ſaid, That the earth never bore a more abominable Idol, then that called the Bible.

At the ſame time another ſaid, he had learned more by ſeeing a Hen or Capon killed, then ever by all the Sermons and Lectures that ever he heard.

Muntzer ſaid, he had ſeen Angels, and talked with them: Printed that the Miniſters were lyers, for ſaying, Jeſus Christ hath ſatisfied for us; and that we are juſtified by faith alone without works. That the Marriage of Pagans, Ignorants, and unbelievers, was fornication and whoredome, upon which the Wives of their Sect left their Husbands. One ſort of them called spiritual, would have nothing common with Gentiles. Theſe ſet a rule how plain their Garments muſt be, of what ſtuff, how long; forbad the uſe of coſtly Garments, Mirth, Laughter, Muſick, Banquets at Weddings.

For proof of theſe things, I refer the Reader to all bookiſh men, that have read the Hiſtories of thoſe years, wherein theſe things are ſaid to fall out; and they will tell us, that theſe things are aſſerted by ſo many credible Authors, at that time living, agreeing in the ſame, as takes away all doubt of forgery and ſlander. Or the Reader may find them in Bullinger adv. Anabaptiſt. Sleiden hiſt. Heresbachius hiſt. Anabaptiſtica. Lambertus, Hortenſius, of the ſame. Spanhem. Diatr. hiſt. de Anabap. Joannis Clopenburgius, gangrena Anabaptiſt. And alſo Mr. Robert Baily, Mr. Rutterfords Survey: And a Peece lately tranſſated by a Miniſter of New-England, and publiſhed by Mr. Hook of the Savoy; entituled, Johannis Becoldus Redivivus, will further ſatisfie the Reader.

Anno, 1528. Ludovicus Helſter, Joannis Trajer Seekler, and other Enthuſiaſts were in the matter of Oaths, Magiſtracy, &c. confuted by Hollerus, and Kolvius at Bern, and driven to ſay, The Spirit taught them otherwiſe, then the letter of the Scripture spake, Rutterfords Surv. p 7.

David George born in Delph, auſtere as any Capuchin Frier, that did often faſt three dayes together; by trade a Painter, in 1540. did vend theſe Hereſies among others.

That he was the Son of God, the true and spiritual David, born of the Spirit; whereas Jeſus Chriſt was born of the fleſh.

That the Doctrine of Moſes, the Prophets, Chriſt, and the Apoſtles, was imperfect, carnal, litteral.

That his Miniſtry was the time of perfection, when all Ordinances ſhall be uſeles.

That it was the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, to refuſe the Spirit in David George his Miniſtry, and to go back to the Prophets and Apoſtles.

Theſe ſeeds he ſowed in Germany and Tranſilvania. Rutterfords Survey.

Gasper Swenck field, in Luthers time, a great oppoſer of the Reformation, taught,

That the Doctrine contained in the Scripture, is not properly the Word of God; but improperly by a Metonimy, where the ſign is put for the thing ſignified.

That Faith and Converſion come not immediately by the Word preached, but immediately from heaven by inſpiration.

That the preachers of his time, Luther, Bucer, Calvin, Peter Martyr, Beza, Muſculus, Grynaeus, Toſſanus, Melancthon, &c. were not ſent of God; and that no man was converted, or the better for their preaching.

That no Doctrine in the Scripture CONDUCETH TO SALVATION.

That God is to be ſought in his naked Majeſty, in dreams, inspirations, and revelations of the Spirit.

That our Righteouſneſs and Juſtification is not in the imputed obedience and righteouſneſs of Christ, but in a conformity with Chriſt in glory, by the in-dwelling Spirit of Chriſt. Rutterfords Survey, out of the Germne Authors.

CHAP. V. Of the Quakers of England, ſince the Reformation.

HEnry Nicholls, the head of the Sect, called the Family of Love, here in England, wrote an Epiſtle to two Daughters of the Earl of Warwick, in King Edward the ſixth's dayes, diſſwading them from Regeneration by the Word of God, read or preached; he denied Chriſt to be God. This Epiſtle was anſwered by Henry Ainſworth; he aſcribed his blaſphemies and hereſies to the holy God, as the Author of them; ſaying of himſelf, That he was annointed with the holy Ghoſt, in the old age of the holy underſtanding of Jeſus Chriſt, Goded with God in the Spirit of his love, illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth, the true light of perfect being: That Chriſt was not God nor man, but the ſtate of perfection in believers, or annointing, or Sabbath, or the holy dispoſition, or Godlineſs: That all Ordinances, Hearing, Preaching, Scripture, Scripture-learning, Baptiſme, the Lords Supper, all confeſſion of Chriſt before men, all externals in Religion, are things of no worth, indifferent, free, trivial, laid on us by no Law of God: That our ſecond Birth, is our Saviour Christ. Rutterford. That he could no more erre in what he ſaid, then could the Prophets of God, or Apoſtles of Chriſt. His Prophet. of the Spirit, Cl, 13. See. 8. quoted by Rutterfords Surv. p. 169.

Of this Tribe were Hacket, Coppinger, and Arthington, and that great number called Grundletenians, from a Village in York-ſhire, where they met in Queen Elizabeths and King James his dayes; concerning whom Mr. Richard Baxter affirms, in his Treatiſe of the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, p. 149. I had an old godly Friend that lived near them, and went once among them, and they breathed on him, as to give him the holy Ghoſt, and his Family for three dayes after, perceived him as a man of another ſpirit, as half in an extaſie; but coming to himſelf, he came near them no more. The hanging of Hacket in Cheapſide, 1591. who died blaſpheming, did much marre their matters; and Arthingtons Recantation, in a Book called His ſeduction, did ſtay many.

CHAP. VI. Of the Quakers of New-England.

BEcauſe ſome Enthuſiaſtis agreeing in many heretical and blaſphemous Opinions with the Quakers, did ſail to New-England, in the Reign of King Charles, among thoſe godly Miniſters and people that went thither to free themſelves from Prelatical Monarchy; let's follow them, and take a view of them.

Mrs. Hutcheſon and her Diſciples taught,

That Love in the Saints is the very holy Ghoſt.

As Chriſt was God manifeſted in the fleſh; ſo is he incarnate, and made fleſh in every Saint.

The new creature, or new man, love, or the Armour of God, Eph. 6. is not meant of grace, but of Chriſt himſelf.

The Faith that juſtifieth, hath not any actual being out of Chriſt, it is Chriſt believing in us.

The ſearch and knowledge of the Scriptures, is not a ſafe way of ſearching and finding Chriſt.

A Chriſtian is not bound to the Law, as a rule of his Chriſtian walking.

In the Saints there is no inherent grace, but Chriſt is all.

Frequency and length of holy duties, argues the Party to be under a Covenant of works.

All Doctrines, Revelations, and Spirits, muſt be tryed by Chriſt, rather then by the Word.

The ſoul need not go out to Chriſt for freſh ſupply, but is acted by the inhabiting Spirit.

In the Saints, Chriſt loves, prayes, believes, praiſes formally in them, and they are wholly Chriſted and Godded.

A Chriſtian is not bound to pray, nor to any spiritual acts, but when the Spirit exciteth and moveth him thereunto.

He that hath the Seal of the Spirit, can infallibly judge of another, whether he be elected or not.

No Miniſter can convey to another, more then he hath experience of in his own ſoul.

The Law is no rule of life to a Chriſtian.

Mrs. Hutcheſon ſaid, Her own Revelations about future events, are as infallible as Scripture; the holy Ghoſt is Author of both: That ſhe is obliged with certainty of Faith, to believe the one as well as the other. Rutterfords Surv. out of Welds Narrative.

Almoſt every one of theſe Errors and Blaſphemies, are the ſame for Subſtance, with what the preſent Quakers hold, as may be ſeen by comparing.

The Errors and Blasphemies of the Gortinians, from Sam. Gorten, baniſhed out of New-England, about the year, 1646.

That the Miniſters and Churches of New-England, that are not of their way, are Antichriſts, Idolizers, falſe Teachers, Ʋngodly, &c.

That the riſing of their Sect, is the Meſſenger of the Covenant, Chriſt coming to his Temple.

That whatever it is the Saints utter in point of Religion, muſt be the voice of the Son of God.

That Chriſts death and ſuffering, is nothing elſe but the dying and ſuffering of the Saints.

He denied there being three Perſons in one God.

That Chriſt was a ſingle man, true man, and died for us.

The Reſurrection. And affirmed,

That Chriſt reveals his will by no voice, but the voice of the Spirit in the Saints.

That ſwearing at all, though before a Judge, is unlawfull.

That thoſe that ſtudy for their Sermons, are Idol Shepheards of Rome. Simplicityes defence againſt ſeven headed policy, quoted by Rutterfords Surv.

I my ſelf did hear this Gorten affirm, about the year, 1647. in a Sermon in Coleman-ſtreet; that whatever ſhall have an end, was a carnal Ordinance, and from the Devil; for he made them convertible terms, and inſtanced in Baptiſme, Lords, Chaplains, Ruling Elders, &c.

The Reader may ſee what plain Quakeriſme theſe things are, by comparing them with the following Catalogue.