A rambling pilgrim, or, Profane apostate, exposed being an answer to two persecuting books, falsly entitled, I. The pilgrim's progess from Quakerism to Christianity, II. A modest defence, with an epistle dedicatory to his bountiful benefactors / by G.W. Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723. 1700 Approx. 156 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A65884 Wing W1951 ESTC R20202 12291607 ocm 12291607 58909 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A65884) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 58909) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 930:21) A rambling pilgrim, or, Profane apostate, exposed being an answer to two persecuting books, falsly entitled, I. The pilgrim's progess from Quakerism to Christianity, II. A modest defence, with an epistle dedicatory to his bountiful benefactors / by G.W. Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723. [8], 48 p. Printed and sold by T. Sowle ..., London : 1700. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Attributed to George Whitehead. cf. NUC pre-1956. Table of contents: p. [8] Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724? -- Pilgrim's progress from Quakerism to Christianity. Bugg, Francis, 1640-1724? -- Modest defence of my book, entituled Quakerism exposed. Society of Friends -- Controversial literature. 2005-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-08 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-01 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2006-01 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Rambling Pilgrim , OR Profane APOSTATE , EXPOSED : BEING An Answer to Two Persecuting Books , Falsly Entitled , I. The Pilgrim 's Progress from Quakerism to Christianity . II. A Modest Defence . WITH An Epistle Dedicatoryto his Bountiful Benefactors . By G. W. a Servant of Christ. Let the lying Lips be made Dumb , which Cruelly , Proudly and Spitefully speak against the Righteous , Psalm 31. 18. LONDON , Printed and Sold by T. Sowle , in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street , 1700. AN Epistle Dedicatory . To those of the Clergy , and of the Two Universities , whose Kindness and Bounty Francis Bugg boasts of , in his Pilgrim's Progress , Chap. 15. WHereas the said Francis Bugg appears highly to value himself upon the Countenance of some of the Clergy , in his Contests against the People called Quakers , sounding a Trumpet of the Clergy's Kindness , and being very Bountiful to him ; and particularly of the Bishop of Norwich , upon his Request to him , giving him a Certificate in his Recommendation ( together with his Bounty , which he says was very Considerable . ) Giving also this Account of the Improvement he intended to make of the said Certificate , viz. I was minded to make Application to my Lords , the Bishops of the Church of England , the two Universities , and to some particular Clergy-Men . All which I no sooner asked , than he granted me ; and it pleased God so to open the Hearts of my Lords the Bishops , and Reverend Clergy , that I found help in time of need . These his Incouragements considered , this Epistle is therefore Dedicated to you , who are concern'd therein . Friends , Do you design to promote Christianity indeed ? You must use better Instruments for it than Fra. Bugg , the Author of the said Pilgrim's Progress , whose Progress is apparently from Christianity into Apostacy ; from Truth , and true Charity , into Falshood and Envy : As hath been evinc'd in divers Answers extant , which he could never wipe off ; and is also further manifest in the Sequel . 'T is no small Offence to God , or Injury to Men , to encourage such Agents , as can Forge , Lye , Calumniate and Asperse , under pretence of Contending for the Faith of Christ , and promoting Christianity ; Profanation of the Sacred Name of God and Christ , in idle Romance and Fiction , is no small Dishonour thereto ; I hope your Profession does not allow thereof , or of taking Liberty thereunto ; as this Agent , F. Bugg , is proved to take very largely ; and if you can either Connive at his so doing , or Indulge him therein , how will he and you answer it in the great Day of Account , before the Tribunal-Seat of Christ , the Righteous Judge of Quick and Dead ? What Account will be given for the Violation of these Two Commandments , Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless that taketh his Name in vain : And , Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour ; Both which he has notoriously violated in his forged Sermon in my Name , and many other Fictions and Forgeries : Do you allow thereof , or gratify him for the same ? Or is it his own officious , heady Act and Device only ? For what then have you been so very Bountiful to him , and Contributed such Considerable Sums of Money to him ? Is it for his just Demerits , more than others , in devising how to bring Contempt upon the People called Quakers , by Forgeries and Calumnies ; Falsly forming a Judicature , Trial , ridiculous Answers , Pillory , Cage , &c to scandalize honest Men , of good Report , as a Pack of Perjur'd Persons , ( as in his New Rome Arraigned ) for denying his Calumnies and false Accusations ? How should ever Christianity be promoted by such Mockers , who act more like Stage-Players , Merry-Andrews , Jack-Puddings , &c. than sober Christians , or Persons designing to promote Christianity ? And 't will be no Honour for you to promote or abet such Agents ; but procure you great Disgrace , if you glory in such shameful Treatment and Abuse , as this of F. Bugg's , against us . Besides , it will be an Indication of your own Weakness , to manage your Cause ( if not of the Cause it self ) for you to be beholden to such scornful Agents to manage it . What may People think of you ? Has all your Learning fail'd you , that you must needs contribute large Money to a busie Body , for his Scribbling against the Quakers ? Never complain against Illiterate and Lay-Preachers , or Mechanick Ministers , if such an one must be your Champion , who , whilst his great Pretence is to Contend for Christ and the holy Scriptures , can take Liberty to Contradict both , in Practice ; if to Lye , Misrepresent , falsly Vilifie and Reproach , be contradictory to both ; as we are sure , no Lye is of the Truth . And we are not only for Confessing with the Mouth the Lord Jesus , and sincerely Believing with the Heart , that God rais'd him from the Dead , ( Rom. 10. ) but also for a Christian Life and Conversation , agreeable to such Confession , and Believing , as is unto Righteousness ; well knowing , that to make good Confessions , to speak good Words , and live bad Lives , to confess Christ in Words , and deny him in Actions , will not commend or prove any to be true Christians . The Sincerity of our Belief in , and Confession to , the true Messiah , the very Christ of God , ( to whom all his holy Prophets gave witness ) together with the Verity and Divine Authority of the holy Scriptures , as being first given by Divine Inspiration , I say , our Sincerity herein is known to Him who searches and knows our Hearts , however we be misrepresented in these Two main Points , by some ill-affected Persons , perverting , cutting , mangling , and altering the Words , Sayings and Sense of both deceased and living Authors ; which this Agent has been and is prov'd notoriously guilty of , as a Person not Consciencious in his Writing , and frequent Repetitions of the same Refuted Calumnies , still imposing the same over and over , without making Defence thereof , by any serious Answer , Replication or Rejoynder ; his Course of Scribbling being to repeat the same Fallacies and Misrepresentations under divers Models , Titles , Forms and Shapes ; as sometime to make them in Form of a Creed ; another , in the Form of a Trial , in a Court of Júdicature ; another while , in the Form of a Dialōgue ; another while , in the Form of Queries ; another while , in the Form of History ; another while , in the Form of a Sermon : Together with his Scoff : and Jeers , Flouts , Boasts , Challenges , intermixt ; and thus he can make up numerous Books , fill'd with Repetitions of the same Stuff , in divers shapes , without taking any serious notice of Answers or Confutation : And according to his crooked perverse Manner of Writing , picking , mincing , clipping , forging and perverting Words and Sentences . Ill minded Persons may easily abuse , and make the best of Writings look ill . And now , how bitter and envious , and how full of cruel Mocking this Agent is turn'd against us , the said People called Quakers , and with what Contempt he hath writ , concerning the Light within , or in Man , and our Doctrine thereof , that his Self-Condemnation and Apostacy may therein the more appear , please to observe his own solemn Testimony , how expresly contrary it is to his present Treatment of us , the said People ( as it is in his Book , stiled , The Quakers Detected , &c. printed 1686. about Two Years after his leaving our Communion , and Conforming to the Church of England ) as 't is in his own words following , viz. The first Point under Consideration , is , how I came to be a Member of their Society , &c. ( i.e. of the Quakers ) In the beginning they taught , That all Men were enlightned , according to John 1. 9. and that this Light , wherewith Christ had enlightned them , was sufficient , if obeyed , to lead to Salvation ; and that it was the Work of the Ministers of Christ , to turn the Peoples Minds from Darkness to Light , and from the Power of Satan to God : Affirming , That this Light was a sufficient Teacher , Leader and Guide to every Believer , without the help of outward Prescriptions , Forms , Orders and Decrees of Men : Upon these and the like Notions , I became perswaded to make Trial of their Doctrine ; and when I came to see and observe their Practice , Conversations and Deportments in the Beginning , and what Simplicity and Plainness attended their Ministry , I was still more Confirmed , that it was a Dispensation of the Love of God , sent as a Visitation to Mankind . And being thus perswaded , I was resolved to bear the Cross , and did utterly despise the Shame that attended them and their Message ; and was not behind any of my Equals , both in doing and suffering for the Testimony thereof , as some amongst them can still bear me Witness : And in this manner we went on for many Years , and loved one another with Love unfeigned ; and , doubtless , God blessed our Meetings with the Comfortable Enjoyment of his Presence , ( p. 3. ) From which solemn Confession thus made by Fra. Bugg , after he forsook our Communion , and went to the Publick ( as he saith ) it follows naturally , that he did not forsake us because of our Christian Principle or Profession of the Light , or because of our Doctrine , Conversation , Communion or Meetings , or any Dislike had thereof ; but because he deem'd us guilty of Apostacy from our first Principle and Profession ; and that ( by his own Confession ) he did not thereby make his Progress from Egypt into Canaan , appears by his applying to himself the words of Joseph , when in Egypt , viz. But ( I ) can say as Joseph did to his Brethren , Gen. 50. 20. But as for you , ye thought Evil against me , but God meant it unto Good : And Chap. 45. 5. Now therefore be not griev'd , nor angry with your selves , that you sold me hither , ( Quakers detected , p. 8. ) How came F. B. to apply these words to his State , when turn'd from us to the Publick , if he did not think himself then in Egypt , or turn'd from the true Light into Darkness ? But we sold him not thither ; he fled in Winter , when he had let in Unbelief and Fearfulness , because of Suffering and Persecution , which he had felt something of ; but fell into Impatiency and Quarreling under it ; and , having lost Sincerity and Truth , turn'd Envious Temporizer . And because he has so frequently and falsly charg'd the said People with denying Jesus of Nazareth , and Contempt of holy Scripture , I may acquaint you with One or Two Passages more , which concern himself , as recited in my Answer to his New Rome Arraigned , entitled , Innocency Triumphant over Insolency and Outrage , printed 1693. p. 25 , 26. as followeth , viz. And to his saying , The Names Jesus and Christ are given to the Mediator , &c. [ True , but what follow ? ] Therefore ( quoth F. B. ) 't is no Absurdity to say , It was not Jesus Christ for whom the Body was prepared ; it was not Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh , but the Word : John 1. 1. ( Apol. Introd . p. 3. ] And yet he has confessed , it was the Son of God , that took the Body , p. 4. What Confusion and Self-contradiction does the Man blindly run into ? And how contrary to the Apostle John's Testimony is his Doctrine herein ? See 1 John 4. 2 , 3. Every Spirit that confesseth , that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh , is of God ; and every Spirit , which confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh , is not of God ; but this is the Spirit of Anti-Christ . What Spirit is this in our Adversary , which saith , It was not Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh ? Who was it then ? It was the Word , the Son of God : As if Jesus Christ were neither the Word , nor the Son of God : O horrible Anti-Christianism ! And contrary also to that Martyr , Dr. Barnes his Confession , as cited by F. Bugg himself , p. 4. 5. viz. I believe , that without Man's Will or Power , Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost , and took Flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary . Acts and Mon. p. 610. Now , If Jesus Christ took Flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary , then it was Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh : But it was Jesus Christ that took Flesh ; Therefore 't was Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh. Consequently F. Bugg's Doctrine , That it was not Jesus Christ that came in the Flesh , is Anti-Christian , Anti-Apostolical and Contradictory to the said Martyr's Doctrine . In his Book , stiled , De Christianâ Libertate , Part 2. Chap. 1. he confesseth in the Name and Person of the People called Quakers , That we told them ( i. e. the said People ) that the Scriptures were good , and a true Declaration of those things , which were most surely believ'd by the Apostles , and by us ought to be believ'd ; yet not the only Rule , but still the Spirit of God , which was the first Principle , &c. And many more Confessions he has given to the Truth of our Principles , both with respect to Jesus Christ , his Light , and the holy Scriptures . Now I recommend you to the faithful Witness of Truth in all your Hearts , which will Judge Righteously ; and desire you seriously to peruse the following Treatise , and hear us in our Answers and Defence , as well as our Adversary in his Accusations ; remembering that common Maxim , To Condemn no Man , before he be heard . By a Servant of Jesus Christ , and real Friend to your Immortal Souls , G. Whitehead . London , the 30th of the 4th Month , 1699. The CONTENTS of this Treatise . PART I. OF Francis Bugg's Fictitious , Profane Sermon , in G. Whitehead's Name . From Page 1 , to p. 16. Of our Yearly Meeting . p. 1 , 2. Of the Scriptures . p. 2 , 3. Of one only God , the Father , Son , and Holy Spirit , and the Holy Scriptures . p. 3 , 4. Of Confession of Sin , and Prayer to God. p. 5 , 6. Of the Ten Commandments , and Moral Law. p. 7 , 8. Of his gross Fiction against the Holy Scripture , and the Light within . p. 9. Of his resembling the Mockers , Psalm 35. 21. and 40. 15. p. 9. His Forgery against , William Bingley ; and Ben. Bealing's Certificate . p. 10 , 11. His repeated Forgery about G. Fox , touching the Branch , the Star , &c. p. 12 , 13. Of his Counterfeit Court , and Condemnation . p. 13. His Forgery and Frofaneness , about our Light and Exaltation . p. 14. Of Sam. Fisher's Prophecy , and F. B.'s Malice , and injurious Construction . p. 14 , 15 , 16. PART II. Of the Light of Christ , the Spirit 's Authority , the Holy Scriptures , Ten Commandments , Silent Meetings . p. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Of F. B's offence against Light and Conviction ; and his Self-Contradiction , about the Light , Lawgiver , and Head of the Body , the Church , &c. p. 20 , 21 , 22. Of his notorious Abuse about the Ten Commandments . p. 22 , 23 , 24. How to charge F. B. if he will not behave himself , quietly . p. 24. Of his Falshood , Envy , Contradiction and Insolency against the Light , and the Ministers thereof . p. 24 , 25. Of his Calumnies , and accumulated Lyes and Perversions , against the Quakers , compaering them to Jesuits , to be distrusted in all they say . p. 26 , 27. A Certificate on G. Whitehead's behalf , against F. B's idle Detractions . p. 27 , 28. Of his Trumpeting out his Hospitality , and upbraiding our Ministers . p. 28 , 29. Of his blasphemously comparing the Pope of Rome , and the Quakers Light ; and of our Meetings , &c. p. 30 , 31. Of his Fallacy and Abuse in a Quotation out of G. Keith's Way cast up . p. 31 , 32. Of Praying for the King , and our plain Testimony against Plots and Conspiracies , &c. p. 32 , 33. Of F. B's exposing in Print , a Passage of Two Clergy-Men's , against the Liberty granted and Legally confirmed . p. 33 , 34. Of his Pillory and Cage , idle Mockery , Contempt and Folly. p. 34. Of his horrid Calumnies , about a most Damnable Plot , charg'd against our Meetings , &c. p. 35. Of his Hypocritical Asseveration , and presuming to dictate to Authority unjust Restrictions and Limitations , to prevent the Growth of Quakerism , ( as he calls it ) p. 35. 36 , 37. Of his silly and insolent Boasting and Challenging ; and of our Discourse in the presence of the Bishop of Norwich , and some Members of Parliament . p. 37 , 38. His Spirit of Envy , Falshood and Persecution still appearing in other things . p. 38 , 39. A Catalogue of my Answers ( to F. Bugg's Books ) extant in Print . p. 39 , 40. A Brief Answer to Francis Bugg's Book , falsly stiled , A Modest Defence , &c. p. 41. THE Rambling PILGRIM EXPOSED . PART I. THE principal Notice I am concerned to take of Francis Bugg's Pilgrim's Progress , from Quakerism to Christianity ( as he falsly terms it ) is , of his Chap. XIII . Entituled , The Quakers Conversion , G. Whitehead 's Sermon , explaining their ancient Testimonies ; ( of above two printed Sheets ) which G. Whitehead utterly denies , and in good Conscience solemnly testifies against , as a Sermon never preached nor owned by him ; and which Fr. Bugg also knows in his own Conscience , is a Fictitious Romance , presumptuously contriv'd and invented by himself , to ridicule , defame and scandalize both G. W. and the People called Quakers , and their Yearly Meeting , which he calls their Convocation , and The Quakers Synod ; also calling it a Sermon for G. W. to hold forth at their Convocation . He is positive in his first Title , that it is G. W's Sermon ; and as idle , self-contradicting , and false in the other , that it is For him to hold forth ; consequently not G. Whitehead's Sermon , but F. Bugg's Forgery . And as the said fictitious Sermon is compos'd of base Forgery , ridiculous Romance , foul Perversions , gross Lies , idle and sordid Stuff , with many curtail'd and abused Citations out of our Books ; besides his presumptuously Profaning the sacred Name of God and Christ , and the Light within , in his said Forgery . And that it may evidently appear such , I may recite some Passages out of it under the Title of Forgery , and shew , 1. His invented Cut of Pictures about a Table , to represent the Quakers Synod ( as he calls it ) some having their Names over their Heads , and others Deputies . And on the Table two Books Pictur'd , the one stiled , The Journal of G. Fox ; and the other , Church-Canons , on the outsides : Which is a meer Fiction of his own . And in the same Cut , or Figure ( which he entitles , The Quakers Synod ) he feigns G. Whitehead to say , Are the Doors shut ? And W. Bingley to answer , Yea , the Doors are lock'd . And he feigns W. Penn to say , Call over the List : Are none of Truth 's Enemies here ? Then over one he has set B. Bealing , the Scribe . Which are fictitious Inventions of his own . And yet I heard , this Cut has been of a considerable Charge , to ridicule us with such a piece of lying Vanity . 2. He feigns me ( G. W. ) to Preach a Sermon in the said Synod ; some Passages whereof do follow ( with brief Observations thereupon ) viz. Forgery . Beloved , You see what great Mistakes are happened to this People of England , who by following the Doctrine of their blind Guides , have taken Matthew , Mark , Luke , and John , for the Gospel ; that is , Glad-Tidings . No , no , 't is Beastly Ware ; yea , Dust , and Serpents Meat : And this I can prove by two Books , wrot by our Apostle George Fox , &c. ( p. 108 , 109. ) Observe . This is a horrid piece of Forgery ; I never preached this Doctrine in my days , nor do I own it , but abhor calling either Matthew , Mark , Luke and John , or their Gospel-Testimony , or holy Scripture , Beastly Ware , &c. nor did I ever read those Expressions in any of G. F's , or other Friends Books . And for this gross Lye and Calumny , Fra. Bugg has been several times reprehended in Print , and yet still persists in the Repetition thereof ; see my Sober Expostulation , p. 104 , 105. and p. 67 , 98 , 137. and other Answers to him , &c. Forgery . Moreover the Scriptures are so uncertain , that it is questionable , who was the first Pen-man thereof , whether Moses or Hermes ; yea , either or neither , p. 109. Observe . I deny this to be Part of any Sermon of mine , or ever so asserted by me ; There is not only Forgery against me in this , but also a Perversion and Abuse against some other Friends : The Questions were not their own , but arose from some others ; as evidently appears in their Book , entituled , The Quakers Refuge , &c. p. 17. and 't is Answer'd in my Antidote against the Venom of the Snake in the Grass , pag. 83 , 84. Forgery . I still affirm the same , and do tell you , That it is according to our ancient Testimony ; and you know , we cannot change nor alter , being as Unchangeable , as our Light within , p. 109. Obs. I utterly deny , that I did so tell them in any Sermon of mine , That we are as Unchangeable , as our Light within : This is not only a Forgery , but also a scurrilous Abuse of the Light within . Forgery . We our selves use many words not Scriptural ; as these of calling the Scriptures Death , Dust , Beastly Ware , &c. The Reason why we call them so , and translate the Words of Christ , John 5. 22. from the Son of Man , to the Light within , &c. is , because we believe there is no other Son of Man , than the Light in us , p. Ibid. Obs. Thus he falsly feigns me to Preach , and to repeat his own gross Lye over and over , of calling the Scriptures Beastly Ware , and as if we used so to call them . O Abominable Abuse ! And I positively deny , that we so translate the Words of Christ , John 5. 22. as F. B. saith , as if we believed no Son of Man without us , but only the Light within us ( which is as falsly Charg'd as the rest ) though the Son of Man , which is Christ , the Son of the Living God , be the true Light ; yea , the Light of the World , the Sower of the good Seed of Life and Light in the World. Forgery . Notwithstanding we call the Scriptures Death , Dust , Beastly Ware , &c. Obs. Note , Upon this often-repeated Falshood is grounded much of his idle and wicked Romance , which he calls George Whitehead's Sermon . Oh F. B. repeat this Lye no more ! Forgery . Now my Friends , though this Confession be as contrary to our ancient Testimony , as Light is contrary to Darkness ; as by our Books quoted you may see . [ And what Confession that is , he relates just before , viz. ] I believe with my Heart , and confess with my Mouth , the sacred Scriptures to be Divine , left us by Men inspired of God , &c. And I profess to believe in one only God , who is the Father ; and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son , very God and very Man ; and in the Holy Spirit , one and the same God with the Father and Son , blessed for evermore . Observe , How he most falsly and ridiculously feigns me to Preach this Connfession , to be as contrary to our ancient Testimony , as Light is contrary to Darkness ; and consequently to make me Preach us all guilty of gross Dissimulation and Blasphemy : What horrid , absurd Folly is this Agent guilty of ! Forgery . And therefore I exhort you this day , to stand Faithful to your ancient Testimony , which is to throw down the Scriptures , and exalt our own Books ; and so will the Work of your Light prosper in your hands , p. 113. Observe : Thus he represents me to Preach , expresly contrary to my known Principle and Testimony , for the preferring and exalting the holy Scriptures above all other Books extant in the World. So far am I from Preaching to throw down the Scriptures , and from Fathering any such Doctrine upon our Light , as I am wickedly misrepresented , in contempt against the Light also ; contrary to this Man 's former serious Testimonies for the Light. And the Preference I have ascribed to the Spirit of Truth , and its Immediate Teaching ( either in or through its Ministers ) to the Scriptures , or Chapters , was not any Preferring of our own Books thereto , as I am often misrepresented : But allowing the Spirit its due Preference to the Scripture , Letter or Chapters . For the Spirit was before Scripture ; and I never heard any assert , the Division of Chapters and Verses to be of Divine Authority ; though the holy Doctrine ( contain'd in Scripture ) be . This Point is more fully explain'd in my late Just Examination of the three Norfolk Priests , entituled , Truth and Innocency vindicated , &c. p. 16 , 17 , 19 , to 23. & p. 57 , 58. Forgery . My tender Lambs , You see first , that we are the true Church of Christ ; next , that you are to believe as the Church believes ; and there lies G. Fox ' s Journal on the Table , &c. For as our Brother Mead has express'd himself , It is the best Book in the World , for our keeping up our ancient Testimony , yea , better than the Bible , said he . And now , to conclude this Head , look into the Book of Canons , which lies before you on the Table , p. 114. Observe , Thus to ridicule me , he forges such Stuff in my Name , which I never owned , preached , or asserted ; neither did I ever hear W. Mead so express himself ; as , That G. Fox ' s Journal is the best Book in the World ; yea , better than the Bible ; but expresly the contrary , and denies that ever he said so ; but gives the Bible the Preference to all other Books . Forgery . Friends , I am now come to the last thing propos'd to speak to on this solemn Occasion , and it shall be by way of Use and Application , for your Comfort and Consolation , &c. First , respecting Confession of Sin ; shewing your Exaltation above the Patriarchs , Prophets , Apostles , Primitive Christians , Saints and Martyrs , and all the Christian Churches to this day , p. 114. — And p. 115. You being the True , Ancient , Apostolick Church of Christ , and as Quakers elected thereto , &c. have no need to make any Confession of Sin in our Prayers to God ; as our Practice for near Fifty Years does confirm , &c. Our Adversaries cannot prove from any one of our Books , wrote by my Self , G. Fox , E. B , F. H , Father Penn , S. Fisher , &c. that ever we made Confession of Sins , and asked pardon for Christ's sake , nor that ever we recommended such a Practice to our Disciples , &c. Now Friends , what Cause have we to rejoyce , and to magnifie our Light within , which hath led us to such a State of sinless Perfection ? Obs. Thus F. Bugg represents me preaching such Stuff , as I never preached in my Life , nor ever own'd any such Flattery or Deceit , as to exalt any Auditory above the Patriarchs , Prophets , Apostles , &c. or to disswade any from making Confession of Sin , or asking Pardon for Christ's sake , who have need of both , or who have not received forgiveness of Sins . And my known publick Practice , both in Ministry and Prayer , often times testifie the contrary : To the True Witness in all , who know me and my publick Exercise and Travel for the good of Souls , I do Appeal , to clear me in this Matter , against this Man's absurd and abominable Forgeries , which he terms George Whitehead's Sermon . And he goes on still with his Forgery , as my Sermon , viz. Forgery . Now Friends , what a happy thing is this , that you need not trouble your selves with any Confession of Sins , since you are not like other Men , nor like these Publicans ? And therefore I exhort you to keep to your ancient Testimony in all the parts of it ; make no Confession of Sins , nor be sure you do not recommend the Practice of it by Word or Writing ; but keep to our ancient Practice . Nor is there any need for our Hearers to follow those Christian Precepts , viz. And whatsoever you do in Word or Deed , do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus , giving Thanks to God the Father by him ( Col. 3. 17. ) Whether ye Eat or Drink , or whatever ye do , do all to the Glory of God , 1 Cor 10. 31. Matth 15. 36. Observe . Where did ever F. Bugg or any other hear me , or any of us , Preach such a Sermon as this , to exhort the Hearers to make no Confession of Sin ; or ever tell them , there is no need for them to follow those Christian Precepts cited ( as before ) out of Col. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 10. 31 ? Oh poor Francis , What will become of thee ! What will be the End of this thy Liberty and Profaness ! How wilt thou Answer the great God in the Day of Judgment for such presumptuous Forgery and Profanation of the Sacred Name of God , and Abuse of me his Servant , who have been many times sorry for thee , under a Sense of the Lamentable Desperate State ! How darest thou thus proceed to Sin against Light and Knowledge , to Invent such a Scurrilous Sermon in above two large Sheets in Print , and Call it George Whitehead's Sermon ; when thou knowest , it is a Defaming , Counterfeit Device and Romance of thy own , having also given thy self the Lie , by saying , 'T is a Sermon for G. W. How binding are God's Commands to thee , viz. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless that taketh his Name in vain ! Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour , Exod. 20. Yet thou audaciously proceedest in thy Forgery , and False-Witness-bearing against me and our Friends , and in my Name , as thus Preaching , viz. Forgery . You know that we our selves , to be seen of Men , do make a kind of Prayer to our Light within , when we are at their Tables , when Company is present ; but if alone , either at home or abroad , we seldom give Thanks for our Food , and seldomer with our Eyes towards Heaven , as Christ did , as Stephen did , or as the Martyrs did ; no , you know we are of another , yea , of a different Faith and Practice from all the ancient Patriarchs , Prophets , Apostles , Martyrs and holy Confessors , and all Christian Churches to this day , being exalted above them , for we sit in heavenly Places , singing the Songs of Sion in the Beauty of Holiness , without Sin or any Imperfection , p. 117 , 118. Obs. I challenge F. Bugg and all his Abettors , and other Adversaries in the World , to prove , when and where , ever I , or any of us , preached such a Sermon as this , importing such Dissimulation in Prayer publick , or Neglect of it in Private , or any such Self-exaltation above the ancient Patriarchs , Prophets , Apostles , Martyrs , or all Christian Churches , &c. No , I abhor such vain Ostentation , foolish and false Boasting , and Professing or Preaching up a Faith and Practice different from theirs . And 't is as notoriously false , That we pray to be seen of Men , and seldom give Thanks at home or abroad , if alone ; and that we so make Prayer to our Light within , as having our whole God within us , as safely as the Papists have their Crucifixes in their Pockets , p. 117 , 118. This also is an ignorant contemning Scoff and Flout , as well as Forgery , and a Slight also put upon the Light within ; which though God and Christ is our Light , Life and Salvation , yet we do not limit , nor confine him , as the whole God within us only ; he being an Omnipresent and All-seeing God , whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain . Forgery . My very Doctrine shew it to be the Ten Commandments , first , by telling the Priests , they might as well carry the Ten Commandments to Christ ; the Consequence of which is , that Christ had as much need to learn them as we , p. 118. Obs. Though he unjustly makes this a part of my Sermon , 't is none of my Doctrine or Preaching ; neither are the Words mine , as cited . He refers to Truth Defending the Quakers ( printed 1659. p. 18. ) but falsly quotes the Words . I did not tell the Priests , They might as well carry the Ten Commandments to Christ , much less , that Christ had as much need to learn them as we ; I disown such Blasphemy . But the Question being put , Is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments a Rule to the Christian's Life ? The Answer was , Thou might as well ask , if the Moral Law be a Rule to Christ ? For the Christians Life and Rule is Christ , who is the End of the Law for Righteousness ; who came not to destroy the Law , but to fulfil it . Therefore my Intent was not to make void ( or to break ) the Moral Law , or Ten Commandments , but to refer them to Christ , the true Christian's Life , Way and Principal Rule ; and that Christ is their Life , who live to him , is Evident ; see Col. 3. 4. For ye are dead , and your Life is hid with Christ in God ; when Christ , who is our Life shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him in Glory : Now this Divlne Life of a Christian , which is Christ , cannot be under the Law , as a Rule to him , though the Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ , that we might be justified by Faith ; but after that Faith is come , we are no longer under a School-Master , Gal. 3. 24 , 25. And if ye be led by the Spirit , ye are not under the Law , Gal. 5. 18. Therefore being in the Faith of Christ , their Life , their Lord and Master , they were grown past the State of such Children , who were under such a School-Master as the Law , being no more under the Law , but under Grace , For what the Law saith , it saith to those who are under the Law , that the wholé World may become Guilty before God , which his Children are not . Forgery . That we never recommend the Ten Commandments to our Hearers , that they should teach them to their Children , &c. This therefore may confirm you in our ancient Testimony , which hath been to lay them by as a dead Letter , Dust , Death , Serpents Food and beastly ware , &c. p. 118 , 119. Obs. This is not only a gross and repeated Forgery , as 't is made a part of my Sermon ; but also in it self containing two gross Lies : 1. That our ancient Testimony hath been To lay by the Ten Commandments . 2. As Beastly-ware , Serpents food , &c. Where did I , or we , ever give such Testimony of the Ten Commandments , as to call them either Beastly-ware , Serpents food ? &c. I utterly deny ( with abhorrence ) any such Testimony concerning the Ten Commandments , being all comprehended in that great Commandment of Love. And for me , or any of our Friends , preferring the Spirit before the Letter , the Gospel above the Law , and the Ministration of the Spirit and Life , above the Ministration of Death , and exalting it above the Letter of the Scriptures , I know no spiritual Christian will blame us for that , or for any such Doctrine ; which is so evidently agreeable to the holy Apostle Paul's Testimony and Distinction in that Case , as between the Letter and the Spirit , between the Ministration of Death written and engraven in Stones , and the Ministration of the Spirit , which was much more Glorious : As more largly he distinguishes , 2 Cor. 3. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. The Apostle using the very words , The Letter killeth , but the Spirit giveth Life ; and if the Mininistration of Death written and engraven in Stones , &c. which could neither be in Contempt of the Holy Scriptures or Ten Commandments , much less to lay them by , as Beastly-ware , &c. Now F. Bugg repeat these Lies no more ; and you of the Clergy concerned , encourage F. B. no more in 's work against us . Forgery . Beloved , I cannot but allow , that if the Scriptures were of greater Authority , than our Sayings , or that the Words of Matthew , Luke and Paul , were of greater Authority , than are our Sayings , I should be on the Christians side , &c. But Friends , in the beginning we were Convinced by G. Fox , that Matthew , Mark , Luke and John , were Death , Dust and Serpents Meat , that the Scriptures were heastly-ware , &c. [ This Passage ( by the way ) is a gross Forgery and notorious Lie still ; I never thus preached , nor ever were we convinced by G. Fox , or any other , that either the Doctrine of the holy Evangelists were Serpents Meat , Dust or Death , or the Scriptures , Beastly-ware , as 't is frequently repeated by F. B. Unto which foul Abuse he farther adds , as my Sermon , viz. ] And therefore I warn you all to take heed of Apostatising from our ancient Testimony , as you have it in my Text ; for what we were Convinced of by our Light in the beginning to be Evil , to be Death , Dust , Serpents meat , 't is so still ; to be Beastly-ware and Conjuration , 't is so still . p. 120. Obs. This is a blasphemous Fiction , not only against the Holy Scripture , but against the Light , which he calls Your Light : For neither did the Light ever so Convince us to call the Scriptures Beastly-ware ; nor did I ever Preach such blasphemous Doctrine of the Light , as here I am grosly misrepresented , but the Contrary . As no Man speaking by the Spirit can Blaspheme , or call Jesus Accursed ; so no Man speaking by his Light , can Blaspheme or Reproach his holy Scriptures , which Testifie of him . The Book Bugg quotes for his so often-repeated Lie , of calling the Scriptures Beastly-ware , is stiled , A Brief Discovery of a three-fold Estate of Anti-christ , printed 1653. Page 9. I have that Book by me , and I have searched both Book and Page , and I find no such words , as calling the Scriptures Beastly-ware , But Babylon's Merchants selling Beastly-wares for a large Price , all the Week time heaping up a Rabble of Notions into the Brain . So that the Beastly-wares intended , was their Rabble of Notions , and not the Scriptures . Obs. Again , How scurrilously F. Bugg makes me to come to a Stop in this Insolent and Presumptuous Romance , which he calls George Whitehead's Sermon , after this manner , viz. And therefore keep up your ancient Testimony , my Dear Lambs , in all the part of it ; Ha , ha , ha ; hme , hme , hme ; silent , p. 120. Thus this Scorner forges a ridiculous Tone , as my Conclusion or Stop in that place , somewhat resembling the Mockers of Old , whom the Psalmist complains of , Psalm 35. 21. Yea , they opened their Mouth wide against me , and said , Aha , aha ! And Psalm . 40. 15. Let them be desolate for a Reward of their Shame , that say unto me , Aha , aha ! And Psalm 70. 3. Let them be turned back for a Reward of their Shame , that say , Aha , aha ! And then ( after a little Silence ) he most absurdly represents William Bingley , as preaching in Confirmation of his Confused and Absurd Romance , aforesaid , which he calls George Whitehead's Sermon . In W. Bingley's Name thus , viz. Friends , Friends , I am filled , I am filled , as with new Wine ; I am ready to burst at the Joyful News I have heard to day , respecting our Ancient Testimony ; And O magnified be our Light within , which hath thus exalted us above the Prophets , above the Apostles , above the Martyrs , and above all Christians , as our dear Brother G. W. hath most excellently made it out ; first , in opening his Text , and also in the two Branches proceeding from it ; but more especially in the Use and Application , where he hath confirmed me in not making Confession of Sin , nor regarding the Ten Commandments , nor those two Ordinances of Baptism and Supper , p. 120 , 121. Obs. How shamefully he personates W. B. to asperse and abuse him , as if he were highly Elevated , and magnified our Light within , because of what F. Bugg has most falsly feigned G. W. to Preach in Contempt of Scripture , and for Exalting our selves above the Prophets , Apostles , &c. Thus he presumptuously adds Sin to Sin , Lye to Lye , Forgery upon Forgery , such sordid Stuff as we never heard W. B. preach , but he utterly disowns and testifies against the same , with Abhorrency to such Abuse of him and others . And not only so , but Bugg wickedly represents W. B. as making our Light within the Author of his foregoing Absurd Forgery and Romance in G. W's Name , against the holy Scriptures , Ten Commandments , &c. Consequently to blaspheme our Light within , which is the Light of God , and his Dear Son , as if that oppos'd its own Testimony in holy Scripture , and as if that led to Self-Exaltation above the Prophets and Apostles , &c. O wretched Man , F. B ! How wilt thou appear before the Tribunal-Seat of Christ ! What a sad Account wilt thou have for such Profanation , design'd Deceit and Wickedness ! Who further proceedest in W. Bingley's Name , viz. Forgery . But yet I have a short Testimony to bring in , touching the Priests , which I think our Friend G. W. left out unawares ; for I take it to be as necessary an ancient Testimony to be kept up , as any other , only a little more privately and prudently ; for they are as great Enemies to our design of Supplanting Christianity , as any the World affords , p. 121. Observe again : Oh shameful Folly and Falshood ! Where and when did ever W. B. thus Preach , That our Design is the supplanting Christianity ? Whenas our Design is well known to the contrary , to such as truly fear God , and to be for the Promoting of Christianity , both in Spirit , in Faith , Life and Conversation . Forgery . Benjamin Bealing Clerk , Let us sing an Hymn of Praise and Self-Exaltation , and to the Confusion of our Adversaries ; as you will find it written in the Epistle of that Son of Thunder , Edward Burrough , prefixed to our Apostle G. Fox ' s Great Mystery , printed 1658. The Waters have I seen dry'd up , the Seat of that great Whore , Who hath made all Nations drunk with her enticing Power . Observe . Now F. B. dost not thou Glory in thy Shame , in such Invention as this ? Where did ever any in the World hear Benjamin Bealing set or sing such a Hymn as this in the end of a Meeting , or any time else ? Observe his own Testimony , viz. These are to Certifie all sober Readers , That Francis Bugg's Representing me , as calling to the Yearly Meeting , To sing an Hymn of Praise and Self-Exaltation , &c. and making some Verses ( out of Edward Burrough's Preface to G. F's Great Mystery ) to be that Hymn : 'T is all an idle false Invention and Forgery of his own ; for I never was concerned in any such thing in my Life-time ; and I am heartily sorry that this poor Man should be so given up in his old Age to serve the Father of Lyes , with whom , in the Lake , he may expect to have his Portion , without he unfeignedly Repents . Witness my Hand , Benjamin Bealing . London , the 4th of the 5th Month , called July , 1699. Oh F. B. thou appearest one of that sort , who are arrived to that ill Habit of Iniquity and Hardness , that they know no Shame ! And thy presumptuously Prophaning the sacred Name of God , and of his dear Son , and of his Light within , using the same among thy manifold Repeated and Refuted Forgeries , Lyes and Falshoods , is an ill Sign , and bespeaks an ill Omen against thee , and that thy Day hastens . Thou hast almost run thy Rope-length ; the Lord shall laugh at thee , for he seeth that thy Day is coming ; the Pride of thy Heart , and thy abominable Presumption , and wicked Designs of Contempt and Persecution against His Heritage , has reached unto Heaven ; and for thy great Iniquity and Apostacy , thou hast got a secret Wound , which is not cured ( if cureable ) but will increase to greater Anguish , under a Gnawing Worm that will never die , but Augment thy Torment , if thou persistest in thy Impenitency to defame , and make Lyes and Forgeries thy Refuge . Remember , thou hast been often warn'd in thy Life-time , and thou shalt witness me to have been thy Soul's true Friend , when thou shalt not be able to make me the Subject of thy Reproach , nor the Object of thy Malice and Fury . Forgery . You may conclude , Friends , that he ( i. e. G. Fox ) was the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness , spoken of in Scripture ; but mark , This ( Epistle ) it is only to go among Friends , p. 123. Observe again : This Forgery , ( which he now makes part of my Sermon ) has often been detected , and charg'd upon him , as it is a very foul Abuse and Calumny ; that either I , or our Friends , did so call G. Fox , the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness , or preach any such Doctrine , as here he represents me . O Abominable Forgery ! I yet challenge him , and his Abettors , to produce that Book or Epistle , of any of our Friends , which so terms G. Fox , the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness . For though I have found the words , the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness , in E. Burrough's Epistle , To the Camp of the Lord in England , ( in his Works , p. 66 , 67. ) yet not apply'd to G. Fox , nor his Name so much as mention'd in that Epistle . And Bugg knows , he has been told of this over and over in Print , and particularly in my Sober Expostulation , p. 5. & p. 54 , 55 , 56. but never had Answer or Reply from him , to clear himself in this Point ( and many other Lyes ) but a Repetition of the same Forgery over and over , like a wilful , impertinent , scornful Scribler , that will be still Imposing the same Refuted Calumnies , and odious Defamations . This is his course of writing and scribbling Books , with the same Abuses still over and over , without regarding any Answer , how plain so ever , to his Confutation : Which is a most silly , bruitish Method he has enur'd himself unto , still Idem per idem for Proof , and that with a great deal of insolent shew of Confidence . And withal , he has so much studied the Art of idle Romancing , Forgery and Detraction , Scoffing , Taunting , Flouting , Boasting , Cracking and Insulting , that he is arriv'd to a great Heighth of Impudence therein . For which I may repeat this one Instance : Twelve of our Friends in and about London , giving Certificate against four principal Calumnies and Falshoods cast upon the People called Quakers , by F. Bugg , in his New Rome Unmask'd ( as they are related in my Charitable Essay , p. 8. in 1693. ) This being one of his four said Falshoods , viz. II. That the Quakers Prophets give witness to G. Fox , instead of this Christ ; that they call him ( G. F. ) the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness , and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem : Epistle to the Bereans , and p. 81. Now , Observe further : For our denying of this , and other Calumnies , in our said Twelve Friends Certificate , the said F. Bugg counterfeits a Court of Judicature , feigns a Jury , pretends Proof out of Books perverted by him , calls the Certifiers against him into Examination ; then forges their Answers , and counterfeits the Jury , to bring them in Guilty of Perjury . Then has a Form of a Pillory , and ugly Pictures to represent the Persons Condemned standing in it , and the first Letters of their Names over their Heads , and the word Perjury over them ( as may be seen in his New Rome Arraigned , Epistle to the Bereans , printed 1693. ) to the Scandal and Defamation of the Persons thus Reproached and Staged by him . By all which it may appear , what Proficiency Francis Bugg has attain'd to , in his Invention of Forgery , to Defame , and make Men Ridiculous : But when since he met with some Check for such his Audacious Abuse and Scandal , and might have cause to fear the Issue , then he could slily excuse the Forgery and Defamation , and put it off , as only a Mock-Trial , and a Mock-Pillory ( and consequently a Mock-Sentence , and a Mock-Perjury ) as if Persons may Defame , Scandalize , Steal , Rob , Kill and Murder Men , either in their Reputations , Livelihoods or Persons , and then ( to excuse themselves from having their Demerits ) alledge , That it was all but in Jest , or in Mockery . And so F. Bugg may say of his idle and profane Romance , which he calls George Whitehead's Sermon , that 't is but a Mock-Sermon ; and consequently that he uses the Name of God and Christ , &c. therein , only in Mockery . But this will not Excuse his presumptuous Profaneness , no more than his Forgery and Defamation . Have not some of the Priests own'd this Man for their Convert , even an eminent Convert of their Church ? And do they not make use of him , gratifie and reward him , as their Agent and their Tool ? But will it redound to their Credit or Honour , or Promotion of the Christian Religion , to abet , promote and assist such a profane Scorner , to act for them in their Cause , more like a Stage-Player , a Merry-Andrew , or Jack-Pudding , than a Person of any Seriousness or Sobriety in Religion ? Forgery . Again in G. W's Name , viz. In the Application I have shewed , how our Light within hath exalted you above the Prophets , Apostles , Martyrs , holy Confessors , and all Christian Churches , to this day . — Our dear Brother W. Bingley hath well remember'd our ancient Testimony against the Hireling-Priests , &c. Benjamin Bealing hath found out a very suitable Hymn of Praise , even a melodious Song of Triumph ; setting forth our Exaltation , and the Downfal of the Christian Churches , under the Notion of the False Church , &c. p. 125 , 126. Observe . Thus he persists Forging such Stuff in my Name , and as my Sermon , like a silly Scorner , playing the Fool against me , to make me as ridiculous a Fool , as he can . What Stage-Player durst ever have adventur'd to profane Religion , and the sacred Name of God , Christ , and the Light , in their Interludes or Comedies , as this Person has done ? Who is accountable to God , for casting such Contempt upon the Light of Christ , as if it led to such Self-Exaltation ( i. e. of our selves ) as he has scornfully related ? For such his Scorn and Contempt against the true Light , which we profess , he is Accountable to the righteous Judge of all ; and his own more serious Confession to the Light , Recited in the Epistle , will rise up in Judgment against him . Forgery again , in the said pretended Sermon in G. W's Name . I have also closed my Discourse with the Prophecy of Sam. Fisher , which you need not doubt of , but will come to pass , it may be sooner than you are aware of , &c. only for the present we must be content to stay , and patiently bear : For as yet we cannot think , we shall be made to handle the Sword. But when the time does come , I have shewed you the Testimony of two of our Prophets , and early Champions , what we shall do , how we shall kill , cut off , and destroy , and bathe our Swords in the Blood of Amaleck , and lay waste fenced Cities , and tread down the Honourable of the Earth , and spare neither Old nor Young , p. 126. Observe his evil Design , by inventing and framing this in my Name , as part of my Sermon ; as if I prophesied , that we should be made to handle the Sword , kill , cut off , and destroy , &c. and spare neither Old nor Young , &c. Which he would have understood in a literal Sense , to make me and our Friends as Obnoxious and Criminal , as he can ; which bespeaks , not only an evil Design , but premeditated Malice and Injury . And I am apt to think , the Man Sinneth knowingly against Light and Conviction , in taking up and representing such words in a literal Sense , as are in Sam. Fisher's Prophecy to O. Cromwel , in 1656. and in Fra. Howgil's and E. B's , in the same Year ; S. F. having these words : I will beautifie my Meek Ones with Salvation , and I will put my High-Praise into their Mouths , and a two-edged Sword into their Hands , and they shall execute Vengeance upon the Heathen , &c. And the other have these words , viz. Out of thee ( i. e. the North of England ) Kings , Priests and Prophets did come forth in the Name and Power of the Most-High , which uttered their Voices as Thunders , and laid their Swords on the Necks of their Enemies , &c. Gird on your Sword upon your Loyns , put on the tried Armour , &c. My beloved Brethren and Fellow-Soldiers , make all plain before you , Thresh on with a Threshing Instrument , which hath Teeth ; beat the Mountains to Dust , let the Breath of the Lord scatter it , &c. p. 124. Now that F. B. renders these , and such like Passages , in a literal Sense , observe his Notes in the Margent , i. e. Are not these Fifth-Monarchy-Men ? Retract these bloody Books , and horrid Principles . Hereupon I would ask him , and those Priests who abet him , 1. If the Psalmist meant Literally in Psalm 149. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ? Let them read it at large ; and therein Samuel Fisher's words , concerning the Saints High Praises of God in their Mouths , and a Two-edged Sword in their Hands , &c. and the Honour they have . And Isaiah 41. 15. Behold , I will make thee a new sharp Threshing Instrument , having Teeth ; thou shalt thresh the Mountains , and beat them small , and shalt make the Hills as Chaff . 2. If he really thinks , our Friends meant , that God's Prophets , in this Gospel-Day , should go forth with outward Swords of Iron and Steel , and with an outward Threshing Instrument , having Teeth of Iron or Steel , and that they were therewith to beat down and lay level the great Mountains of Stone and Earth ( some of them a Mile or Two high , as they are in the North of England , and other parts ? ) No , I cannot think that Francis Bugg believed thus Literally , either of the Prophet David , Isaiah , or of our Friends , in the places recited by him for part of my Sermon , p. 122 , 123 , 124 , 125. Therefore the more fallacious and deceiful he , to represent them in such a literal and gross Sense , to make us Obnoxious to the Government , as a People of Bloody Principles : Whereby he hath shewn , what a Bloody , Persecuting Spirit lodges in him against us . There are many more Forgeries , Lyes , and perverted Quotations , in the said Romance ( falsly stiled G. Whitehead's Sermon ) which for Brevity's sake are here pretermitted and waved . And this Point , concerning S. Fisher's Message to O. Cromwel , and other Passages relative thereto , quoted by F. B. is more fully spoken to in the Answer to the Three Norfolk-Priests , Entitled , Truth and Innocency vindicated . p. 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , and p. 62 , 63 , 64. THE Rambling PILGRIM EXPOSED . PART II. AFter F. B. has made such a large Confession to the Light of Christ within , and to the Dispensation of God to Mankind , and to the comfortable Presence of the Lord our God attending our Meetings , it is very ill-becoming him now , to speak so slightly and contemptuously of both , as he doth in his Chap. III. p. 5. where he saith : All were exhorted to adhere to the Light within , to obey the Light within , and to follow the Teachings thereof , as a Guide sufficient to lead us to Salvation ; yea , above Scriptures , above Fathers , above Councils , and above Churches : This I now confess ( quoth he ) was a Paradox , not Orthodox , but absolutely Heterodox . This Confession of his , is , since he disobeyed the Light , and turn'd his back of it ; otherwise he would still confess , that Christ , the true Light , the Head and Lawgiver to his Church , is above Scriptures , Fathers , Councils and Churches , and was before them , and is the Light of the World , which whoever follows , shall not abide in Darkness , but shall have the Light of Life . Consequently this Light of His is a Guide sufficient to lead us to Salvation , and to Understand , Believe and Practice according to Holy Scripture , and not to oppose it . It is a wicked Calumny against our Silent Meetings , to say , That they were designed to wean us off from so much as the Remembrance of all External Religion , and also to prepare us to receive the false Notions of Quakerism , p. 5. Our Externally Meeting together to wait upon God , and our living Experience of his Presence and Power , and Spiritual Ministry , to our great Comfort and Edification in those our Meetings , do testifie the contrary to F. B's Aspersions against them and us . He has unjustly quoted me , about the Authority of the Spirit and the Scriptures , p. 6. as the Three Norfolk-Priests did ; as I have shewn p. 16 , 17. of my Just Examination ( of their two Books ) Entitled , Truth and Innocency vindicated ; leaving out the very Explanatory Words , relating to the Spirits Immediate Teaching , being of greater Authority or Efficacy , than the Letter of the Scriptures , as divided into Chapters ; my Explanation being , viz. As Christ's Words were of greater Authority , when he spoke , than the Pharisees reading the Letter ; and they in whom that Spirit speaks not , are out of the Authority of the Scriptures , &c. See the Matter further explained in my said Examination referred unto . For here we own the Divine Authority and Efficacy of the Holy Scriptures , as spoken by Christ ; but the Division of Chapters and Verses , and the bare Letter thereof , not to be of the same Authority and Efficacy . I deny his Consequence , That any little Pamphlet of Our's , is of greater Authority than the Bible , or of as great ; for I never asserted , the holy Doctrine in the Bible not to be first given forth from one and the same Spirit of Truth , from which we have given forth Writings and Religious Books , which contain many Doctrines in the Bible ; and by referring thereto , they prefer the Bible , and the Divine Authority of the holy Scriptures contain'd therein . And we still prefer the Bible before all other Books extant in the World : For even the Statute-Book is of greater Authority than all the Abstracts made of it , how true so ever . And whereas he takes Occasion against me , about an Answer given to a Priest's Question , viz. Is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments a Rule to the Christians Life ? ( The Answer , is ) Thou mightest as well ask , If the Moral Law be a Rule to Christ ? For the Christians Life and Rule is Christ [ to which F. B. adds , Meaning their Light within ] And suppose I meant so , as I did mean , That Christ was and is the Christians Light and Life ( Col. 3. 3 , 4. ) 't is not Christians Lives and Conversations in the Question , but Christian's Life , in the Singular ; to which the Answer was adapted , that the Christian's Life is Christ ; when Christ , who is our Life , shall appear , ( Col. 3. 4. ) Can we suppose , this Life or Light to be under the Law , ( which was added because of Transgression , till the Seed came ) or under those Prohibitions in the Ten Words or Commandments ? Or is it meet or proper , to apply them thereunto , and say to Christ , or his Light in Christians , Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain : Thou shalt not bear false Witness ? &c. Or is it good Doctrine to suppose , True Christians in Christ to be literally under the Law of those Prohibitions , and thereby only restrained from Idolatry , from taking the Name of God in vain , from Killing , from committing Adultery , from Stealing , and bearing false Witness against their Neighbours ? Or are they not rather redeem'd by Christ , from that Depravity and corrupt Inclination , from whence those Evils proceed ; and consequently under a higher Restraint ( from those gross Inormities prohibited ) even by his Light and Grace dwelling in their Hearts , than only the Letter of the Law , as outwardly written ? The Substance whereof God first writ in Man's Heart , and after writ it in the Two Tables , Exod. 31. 18. Deut. 9. 10. Exod. 34. 1. before Moses writ the Law. And Christ , the true Light and Lawgiver , writes his Laws of the New Covenant in Men's Hearts ; and he it is , who came not to destroy the Law , but fulfils the Righteousness of the Law in them , that walk not after the Flesh , but after the Spirit , Rom. 8. Christ being also the End of the Law for Righteousness ( not for Transgression ) to them that believe : This Point is spoken to before , though here farther Explain'd . And further , F. B. bitterly inveighs against our Silent Meetings , which in Derision he calls Silent Universities , tending only to empty the Mind of all true and solid Notions of the Christian Religion , and only to prepare them to the wild Notions of Quakerism ; and this he affirms from an Experimental Knowledge , ( he saith ) p. 7. and calls them Schools of Ignorance , and that they had strange Effects upon us , and how we thereby became not only levened into a Temper to throw off all Instituted Religion , but to a degree higher , even to throw Contempt both upon the Scriptures , Ordinances and Ministers , and all things Sacred , p. 8. And by their Silent Meetings , weaned and drawn off from the Principles and Practices of the Christian Churches in all Ages , p. 10. Answer . Whither art thou now run F. B ? Thy own Confessions condemns thee , and shall rise up in Judgment against these Envious , Evil Reports of thine against those Meetings of our's ; for which thou hast confessed ( even since thou left them ) That God blessed our Meetings with the comfortable Enjoyment of his Presence : Which could not tend to any such ill Effects , as before rehearsed ; as either To Empty our Minds of the Knowledge of the Christians Religion , or To make our said Meetings , Schools of Ignorance , or To Throw Contempt upon the Scriptures , or To draw us off from the Principles and Practices of true Christian Churches : How hast thou herein blasphemed against the true Light , against the comfortable Presence of God , wherewith he blessed our Meetings ? And how hast thou Given thy self the Lye , and bely'd thy own Conscience , in thus contradicting thy own solid Confessions , made to our Doctrine of the true Light , Ministry , Dispensation of God's Love , our Sufferings , Love unfeigned , blessed Meetings ? &c. As also that We told People , That the Scriptures were Good , and a true Declaration of those things which were most surely believed by the Apostles , and by us ought to be believed ; yet not the only Rule , but still the Spirit of God , which was the first Principle , &c. As more largely thou hast confessed in thy Book , De Christianâ Libertate : Or , Liberty of Conscience upon its true and proper Grounds , asserted and vindicated , printed 1682. Part 2. Chap. 1. And thy Offence against Light , Conviction and Conscience , and thy Self-contradiction and Condemnation , may farther also appear . 1st , From thy own Account and Consideration , How thou camest to be a Member of our Society : The Reasons thereof thou hast given in thy Quakers Detected , printed 1686. ( two Years after thou left us , and Conformed ) wherein thou hast given solemn Confession to the Truth of our Principle , the Light , and the Sufficiency thereof , our Ministry , Conversation , Love , Society , blessed Meetings , &c. 2. And then placing the Cause of thy being Weary of our Society , and turning to the Church of England , upon the Quakers Apostacy ( as thou judgedst ) i. e. from our first Principles of Union ; see thy Quakers Detected , p. 3 , 4. 3. Now to go round again , Thy Great Work is , to Expose our ancient first Principles and Testimony , to as much Derision and Contempt , as thy loose Invention can Produce : Witness thy idle Romance , and false Fiction ( which thou falsly termest , George Whitehead's Sermon ) detected ; but especially thy profane Contempt against our Testimony of the Light within , or in Man , which now instead of owning it to be that True Light , testified of , in John 1. 9. wherewith Christ hath Enlightened Men ; the Treatment and Characters this Light meets withal from thee , is , That 't was a Parodox , not Orthodox , but absolutely Heterodox , to exhort to the Light within , to obey the Light within , and to follow the Teachings thereof , as a Guide sufficient to lead us to Salvation , &c. ( Pilgrim's Progress , p. 5. ) opposing their ( i. e. the Quakers ) Light within to the Christians Life ( which is Christ ) p. 6. to the Man Christ , as if Christ being Man without us , hindered him from being our Light as he is the Word in us ; which were Ignorantly to suppose him divided . And F. Bugg perverting Josiah Cole's words on John 5. 22. All Judgment is committed unto the Son , ( i. e. the Light ) ( J. C's Works , p. 93. ) This ( say'st thou ) Is a bold Attempt , this is most Horrible , if not Blasphemy , thus to subvert the Gospel , to serve their Corrupt Ends. How wary then had People need be of receiving the Quakers Doctrine ? Is it so , that People being thus caught in a Snare , and brought over to their silent Meetings , &c. ( thus thou p. 10. ) Thus contrary to thy former solid Confession to the Light , hast thou appeared against it ; instead of Christ the Light , or the Light of Christ , the true Light , which enlightens Men , now ( with thee ) 't is Their Light , the Quaker-Light , p. 46 , 48. Thus and much more in Contempt of the Light , like that profane Great Lying Libel , The Snake in the Grass , whose Pupil thou F. B. appearest to be , in this thy Dark Enmity against the Light , and the Children of the Light , as also in thy high Commendation of the Author of that Snake , as having been , and still is , a Gentleman , a Man of Great Learning and Piety , cloathed with Zeal as with a Garment , for the Christian Religion , and well accomplished every way , &c. p. 31. but thy Contempt and Profaness ( like his ) against the Light , as well as thy gross and horrid Ignorance and Scorn in this Point , is plainly detected , and justly reprehended by Edmund Elys ( though one of the Church of England ) in his late half Sheet in Print , entituled , Some Reflections upon Francis Bugg 's Book entituled , The Pilgrims Progress , &c. F. Bugg his opposing the Light in the Body , to the Light in the Particular ( p. 12. ) is such a blind Contradiction , as well as Contradistinction , as is neither Scriptural , nor ever allowed by us ; the Light ( Christ ) being but one pure Indivisible Light in himself , and in every Member , and in his whole Body ; nor do we know of any Council held in London , either in the Month of May , 1666. or any Time else ( of our Friends ) who decided , That the Body should govern , and the Light in the particular should submit to the Body , as F. B. falsly relates : But Mendacem oportet esse memorem ; A Lyar hath need of a good Memory ; which this seems to want . For in Contradiction to himself herein , he other-whiles accuses us with saying , All Power in Heaven and Earth is committed to our Light , p. 10 and That the Light in every Man is the higher Power , to whom all must submit and obey ; and that this Light is one in the Male and in the Female ( p , 23 , 24. ) and their President ( i. e. the Quakers President in their Convocation ) being their Light within , p. 38. How then should the Body govern the Light ? Or how should we make any such Decision , as he has told us , That the Light in the particular should submit to the Body , and the Body be without a Head , like a Monster , as F. B. Scoffs blasphemously ! For Christ the true Light is our Light , and he is the Head of the Body , and the Government is laid upon his Shoulders ; who is Lord of Lords , and King of Kings . And none can truly Perswade , Counsel , Judge , or ( in such Gospel-way ) Rule , or Govern for Christ in his House and Family , but in and by his Light and Power , for no other is allowed among us , so that Christ in all things must have the Preheminence . It is also an Impudent Falshood , that any Council among us Resolved , That G. Fox must be the Head of the Body , and not the Light in the particular ( p. 11 , 12. ) Where have we ever so Concluded or Asserted ? But ever the contrary ; namely , that Christ is the Head of the Body ( the Church ) the Light and Lawgiver thereof . Again , F. B. perverts my words , and wrongs me over and over , in saying , ( p. 16. ) So Proud is G. Whitehead , that he tells you , The Jews might as well have carried them to Christ in the days of his Flesh , ( viz. the Ten Commandments ) for him to learn , observe and obey them , as for the Christians to carry them to the Quakers to learn them , observe and obey them . ( And to this effect he has many times over perverted my words , quoting Truth Defending the Quakers , p. 18. ) Where did ever I say , The Jews might as well have carried the Ten Commandments to Christ , for him to learn , observe and obey them , as for the Christians to carry them to the Quakers to learn them , observe and obey them ? I deny the words and Comparison ; and they are not in my Answer he refers unto ; wherein my saying [ The Christians Life and Rule is Christ , who is the End of the Law for Righteousness ; who came not to destroy the Law , but to fulfil it . ] I neither make void the Ten Commandments , nor render Christ to have as much need to learn them as the Quakers . Oh for shame , F. B. repeat these Lyes no more . I cannot but observe , what a Habit of Perversion and Abuse this Adversary is arriv'd unto ! Again , 't is a notorious Abuse and Forgery in F. Bugg , p. 16 , 18. to Accuse the Quakers with making the Commands of God , of none Effect , setting the Ten Commandments of Moses , and Ten Commandments ( which he has fram'd , patch'd up and number'd ) in G. Fox's Name , opposite one to another in two Columns ; his Design therein being , to make the People call'd Quakers as ridiculous absurd and silly as he can . He feigns Ten Commandments in the Quakers Language , instead of the Ten Commandments of God by Moses , and places them in Opposition thereto , to make the Commands of God of none Effect . Though the Man's perverse Invention against us herein , deserves not Repetition ; yet that his profane Forgery in this may appear , I here give the Reader some Instances of the Method he has Invented against us , viz. The Commandments of God by his Servant Moses , &c. Exod. 20. The Commandments of G. Fox , the Quakers Second Moses , &c. I. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me . II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any Graven Image . — III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold them guiltless , that taketh his Name in vain . I. Thou shalt not pay Tythes to the Covetous Priests , nor to the Antichristian Impropriators . II. Thou shalt not Marry by or with a Priest. III. Thou shalt not put off thy Hat in respect to thy Superiours . These F. Bugg forms in Opposition to the other , to shew that the Quakers make the Commands of God of none Effect ; wherein his idle Impertinency , as well as Injustice , appears ; as also in the following : VII . Thou shalt not commit Adultery . VIII . Thou shalt not Steal . IX . Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour . X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House , thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife , nor his Man-Servant , nor his Ox , nor his Ass , nor any thing that is his , &c. VII . Thou shalt not wear Lace , nor Ribbons , nor Skimming-dish Hats , nor short Aprons , &c. VIII . You shall have a Woman's Meeting distinct from the Men , &c. IX . Thou shalt call the Days of the Week , first , second , third and fourth Day , &c. and the Months , first , second , and third Month , &c. X. I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord God , That you Judge not one another , i. e. Those that be in the Unity of the Ministry , and Elders in the Church , lest you fall into the Condemnation of the Monthly , Quarterly , Six-Week , Second-Day , or Yearly Meeting . Amen . Thus F. B's invented Method of forming Commands ; how Idle and Impertinent does the Man appear herein ? And how does he Profane and take the sacred Name of the Lord God in vain ? For which God will not hold him guiltless . And when F. B. will not demean himself quietly towards any of our Friends , but be Challenging of them in the Countries , or else-where , and will be Charging them out of Books , they may Charge him : First , To prove his Trial and Condemnation of our Friends to Perjury and Pillory ( as in his New Rome Arraigned ) to be a Real and True Trial and Condemnation , Judicial and Warrantable by the Law of God , and of the Nation . Secondly , To prove his Sermon , which he calls George Whitehead's Sermon ( in his Pilgrim's Progress , from p. 107 , to p. 126. ) to be a Real Sermon preached by G. W. Thirdly , To prove where G. Fox , or the Quakers , did ever endeavour to make the Commands of God ( Exod. 20. ) of none Effect , by those or such positive Commands , as he has impudently form'd in opposition thereto , in his Pilgrim's Progress , p. 16 , 17 , 18 ? Now , if F. B. will not learn to be quiet towards our Friends , &c. that he might the more quietly go to his Grave ( now he grows Old ) they may very well Charge him on these Three Forgeries last propos'd ( as many more I could charge him withal , and have proved against him ) upon his own Calumnies and Occasions , so manifestly given by himself ; and let him be held to the point in Charge , or any other who dare undertake to Advocate for him therein ( which I could never yet find ) if he and they are not minded otherwise to study to be quiet . And now , that F. B's Falshood , Envy and Contradiction may yet farther appear to his own Condemnation , seeing he hath given plain Testimony and Confession to the Truth of our Doctrine and Ministry ; First , With respect to the Universality and Sufficiency of the Light of Christ in all Men. Secondly , To our Ministry , that it was a Dispensation of the Love of God , sent as a Visitation to Mankind , Thirdly , To our bearing the Cross , and suffering for the Testimony thereof . Fourthly , To our Love unfeigned one to another . Fifthly , To our Religious Meetings , as being blessed with the Comfortable Enjoyment of the Presence of God : According as the said F. Bugg is more fully before recited out of his Book stiled , The Quakers Detected , printed 1686. being Two Years after he had left our Communion , and joyned himself to the Church of England in 1684. So that his Conviction and Testimony for the Truth among the Quakers ( even when he had deserted them ) pursued him into the Church of England . But now being grown more hardy , and so far hardned against Conviction and Conscience , he can out-face both , and give himself the Lye in his fore-cited Solemn Testimony and Confession ; as appears in his envious Contradiction following , in his own words , viz. Having by this time shewed first , how our Teachers , in order to bring us over to them , and to decoy us , told us , The Light within was a sufficient Guide , Teacher and Leader , even sufficient to lead to Salvation ; yea , above Scriptures , above Fathers , above Councils , and above Churches : I have in the last Instance shewed the Fallacy of their so early and smooth Pretences , and that from the beginning they have been a false , perfidious and treacherous Tribe of Deceivers , as ever the World produced , ( Pilgrim's Progress , p. 15. ) To such a degree of Hardness and Insolency is this poor Creature now arriv'd , that he can now thus scribble in Opposition to the Sufficiency of the Light within , and Contempt of the Ministers thereof , expresly contradictory to his own Testimony for the Light ( wherewith Christ hath enlightned Men ) and to the Sufficiency thereof , if obey'd , to lead to Salvation ( without the help of Decrees of Men : ) And to his own Testimony also , for the Simplicity and Plainness which attended our Ministry ; which did not import any Design to decoy or deceive Men , nor any Falshood , Perfidiousness or Treachery , as F. B. has falsly and treacherously Scandalized Us and our Ministry , and thereby notoriously given himself the Lye , and shamefully Belyed his own Conscience , and solemn Confession and Testimony , in his Quakers Detected aforesaid . And the Light , now so much slighted by him , will pursue him ( as it did Judas , and other Apostates ) to his great Vexation and perpetual Torment , if he persists in his Enmity , Perfidiousness and Treachery against the Light , and the Children of it . Oh F. B ! If I may yet perswade thee , Repeat thy Lyes and Scandals no more . His Accusation against W. Mead , That he said to one W. Harris , I will give thee one of George Fox 's Journals , it is a very good Book , yea , better than the Bible : Which Accusation he has many times over ( p. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 29. ) but various in it , viz. That 't is better than the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles , p. 23. This Accusation W. Mead positively denies , as contrary to his Principle , which is to prefer the holy Scriptures before all other Books in the World : For I asked him seriously about this matter . And I am sure , it is a base and shameful Abuse of F. Bugg , that It is the Heart of Quakerism , in saying , G. Fox 's Journal is better than the Bible , p. 23. This , I must tell him , is a foul , notorious Lye and Calumny against the Quakers ( so called ) 'T is neither the Quakers Mind , Heart nor Mouth , so to speak , but the contrary , i. e. To prefer the Bible to all other Books extant in the World , as hath been often testified . Wherefore F. B. repeat this Lye no more against us . Again , as 't is F. Bugg's common Course to add one Calumny after another , and to accumulate Lyes and Perversions upon us , he falsly saith , The Quakers stand upon the same bottom ( i. e , with the Jesuites ) and therefore they ought to distrust them in all they say , as the Protestants did the Jesuites . We do not expect he will trust us , who has belyed his own Conscience , Conviction and Testimony , as before evinced . And to add to his Iniquity , and aggravate his Calumnies against me , he saith , Many of their Hearers , of the honest sort , begin to think G. Whitehead little better than a Jesuite already ; he hath been so False in Fact , such a Glosser and Defender of every Error the Quakers hold : I have ( quoth he ) a Letter by me , which my Cousin Ann Docwra sent me , dated 26. 12th Month , 1682. viz. G. Whitehead has sent me one of his Books , &c. I was asked by an honest Friend , If he was not a Jesuite ? I answered , Nay , it is not solid enough for them to own , especially when they write to a solid People ( with more Reflections in her Name . ) And then , to defame me , he infers , viz. Thus it appears , how long the honest sort of Quakers have taken G. W. to be little better than a Jesuite , and my Cousin Docwra was of the same mind too , else she would not have given me her honest Friends Judgment , p. 25. I leave A. D. to answer for her self in this matter , she knows me better . But for this Defamation , of being little better than a Jesuite , thus insinuated against me by F. Bugg , he is Accountable , as he is for his Trial , Condemnation and Pillory , forged against us under the Pretence of Perjury , and as a Pack of Perjur'd Persons ; making no Conscience how Criminal and Scandalous he renders us , and highly defames us . But I challenge him and his Abettors , to manifest and produce those many of our Hearers , of the honest sort , who either begin to think , or have taken G. Whitehead to be little better than a Jesuite : Let him bring forth and manifest that honest sort of Quakers , that so think , or have taken me to be such an one ; for I utterly deny the Accusation , as a false Aspersion and Defamation . As I also testifie against his other Calumnies , as these following , viz. That G. W. can vindicate or excuse any Blasphemy , Idolatry , Contempt of the Scriptures , Contempt of Magistrates , of the Ministry , the Person and Sufferings of Christ , &c. p. 26. I am not conscious to my self of any such Vindication or Contempt , but have often testified the contrary in publick , both in behalf of the holy Scriptures , Magistracy , Christ's Ministry , his Person and Sufferings ; and abundantly answered the same in Print . Wherefore ( F. B. ) repeat these foul Slanders no more . 'T is a wonder F. B. should so much , by Insinuation , endeavour to represent G. W. like a Jesuit , or little better , and yet upbraid him , as one so Illiterate , that neither writes true School-Learning , nor one Page good Grammar-English , as well as some part meer Non-sense ( i. e. in Jacob found in a Desert Land. ) Yet he will not call him Fool , nor yet nothing of a Schollar , for perhaps he might be then enter'd in his Accidence , p. 30. Thus F. B. upbraids and detracts against G. W. but to exalt his own Endowments , as having both a Competency of Learning , and Judgment afforded him to deal with the Quakers ( p. 30. ) 'T is a wonder I should be such a Proficient in Learning now , as to be compared to a Jesuit , seeing I never went to Learn at School , since the time I writ that which he deems so foreign to true School-Learning , or good Grammar-English ; although I learned a considerable time after I enter'd my Accidence . But I am sure , all his Writings are not true Syntax , nor true Concord , but sometimes both Person and Number confounded . But how comes F. B. such a Proficient in his Competency of Learning now ? When in his New Rome Unmask'd ( in his Apology ) he more submissively confesses thus , viz. I am not accomplish'd with Parts and Learning sufficient to grapple with such Scholars , as are some of the Chieftains of the Quakers . Against some others of his silly Detractions , please to read the following Ceretificate , viz. Whereas Francis Bugg , in his Pilgrim's Progress , printed 1698. Page 32. after a contemning and detracting manner against George Whitehead , hath these Expressions , viz. You came from Penury to Plenty ; from Labour and Toil , to Ease and Pleasure ; you came from your Father's poor Cottage , which I have been told by them that saw it , that it was not worth 50s . to Houses worth 500l . And in his Quakerism Exposed , printed 1699. he also saith , Do Gentlemen live in a poor Cottage , standing on Mud-Walls , not worth 50s . as G. W. did ; as I am credibly informed by a Person of Note that saw it ? — We , whose Names are hereunto Subscribed , do Certifie the contrary to this Information of F. Bugg's ; namely , That we have been Lodged , and kindly Entertained , both Horse and Man , at the House that was George Whitehead's House ( the Father of this George Whitehead ) at Sunbigin , in the Parish of Orton , in Westmorland , from whence his Son , the said George Whitehead came , and where his own Sister Ann Pratt , and her Husband and Family do now Reside ; and the House is a Large , Substantial and Commodious House , after the manner of that Country , and of Stone-Walls ; and no such thing as Mud-Walls pertaining to it : Neither do we know of any Houses standing on Mud-Walls in those Parts , being greatly replenish'd with Lime-Stone and Quarries , meet for strong and durable Building , both for their Mansion-Houses and Barns ; and therefore no need of Mud-Walls for their Buildings . And also , that the said George Whitehead's Kindred and Relations , and the Families from whence he came , were and are generally People well Esteemed of , and of good Reputation , as we have understood ; and he well Educated , and needed not be expos'd to Penury or Want , either when at his Father's House , or when he was put to Board and Free-School in Cumberland , as ( on credible Information ) we verily Believe . Joseph Baines , George Knipe , John Thompson . I do not think it worth my time to repeat or answer all his Detractions , Aspersions or Calumnies against my self ; however I 'm sure , he wrongs me , in rendering me a Covetous , Worldly-minded Person , as none exceeds , p. 32. and our Ministry the Chargeablest this day in England , ( but to come off here , he says ) to some particulars . But to what Particulars they exceed all other Ministries in being Chargeable , he instances only himself , viz. That the Ministry of the Quakers has cost me as much in Three Months time , nay , much more , than the publick Ministry have cost me this Fifteen Years ( p. 24. ) I do not know what Account he keeps of the Charge our Ministry has put him to ; yet I do not believe , his Hospitality to any of them made him either Break or Fail in the World : However he is very apt , not only to sound a Trumpet of his Hospitality , but also to upbraid such as he has afforded any Entertainment at his House , in the time of his Prosperity , among the People called Quakers ; as he upbraided me in Print , with his Entertainment of me : To which I gave him this Answer , As for being Fed at F. B's Table , I think 't was not very often , whether Three or Four times I remember not ( which was but seldom in 25 Years time ) and I suppose it was not without some Invitations by him . Didst not thou F. B. invite me to thy House sometimes ? Surely 't was not then intended to upbraid me in Print with feeding at thy Table ; thou wast then more a Man , and of more Civility . 'T is pity thy Conversion to the Priests and Levites should so much deprive thee both of Compassion , Natural Affection , and Civility ! However , since 't is thy pleasure thus to upbraid Me , I offer thee reasonable Satisfaction ; let me have a true Bill , how oft I have fed at thy Table , and what each Meal comes to ( according to the usual Rates of Ordinaries ) and I will pay it , or cause payment to thee , God willing . How much less the publick Ministry has cost him these 15 Years , ( that is , since his Conformity ) as 't is a Question , so there may be a Fallacy in it , in that some of his Ministers have been some of his Benefactors , and given him considerable Sums of Money ( as we have heard ) since he fail'd , and got the Bishop's Certificate ( to go a begging withal ) 't was not likely the publick Ministry should be Chargeable to him , when he has prov'd Chargeable to them ; I doubt , more Chargeable than Judas was to the Chief Priests . And pray what has the Publick Ministry cost him these 15 Years time , since his turning to them ? May not his Gain by them overballance all that Cost suppos'd , if ever they put him to any all that time ? But is it not to be suppos'd , that the great Joy of some of them , over such a Convert , or Proselyte , might save him that Cost or Charge , which otherwise they might have put him to , under such a Chargeable Ministry ? His Perversions , Lyes , Calumnies , Sarcasms , cruel Mockings , Boastings , frequent and manifold Repetitions of the same things , idle Romances , and gross Forgeries , are so numerous , both against Meetings and Persons ( and particularly against our Second Days Meetings , Chap. XI . which , he falsly saith , all Books Printed and Re-printed pass the Tryal of , &c. ) that I design not to spend much time in the Recital of them , or to trouble my Reader therewith ; but to take notice of a few more of his Abuses and persecuting Invectives in this Treatise . P. 48. He blasphemously brings the Pope of Rome , and the Quakers Light ( as he scornfully calls it ) in their Body assembled in Council , in Comparison , so as to be suspected to undermine the Government , but the latter most dangerous , and thereupon ought to be prevented from holding such Councils ( as he saith . ) And also p. 55 , 56. against our Monthly and Quarterly Meetings he inveighs bitterly , insinuating , What need there is to suppress these Meetings ; that ( he falsly saith ) thus alienate the Obedience of the Subjects from their lawful Soveraign , and his Laws , &c. Here he shews his persecuting Spirit of Envy and Reproach against our peaceable innocent Meetings , which are for the Exercise of Christian Care , and promoting the Practice of pure Religion , Love and Charity ; according as is fully explained in my Examination ( of the Three Norfolk - Priests two Books ) Intituled , Truth and Innocency Vindicated , p. 39 , to 44. & p. 66 , 67 , 68. In his Chap. X. he undertakes to Treat of the Quakers Six Weeks Meeting in London , falsly charging the same with Pernicious Consequences ; of which Meeting he saith , viz. This Six Weeks Meeting of theirs is chiefly to Consult about , and defend their own Members throughout the Kingdom of England , and Dominion of Wales , from the Penalties of certain Laws , &c. 2. This Meeting of theirs is one of the most Ancient Meetings for Government , and is made up of chosen Men amongst them , expert in the Laws and Customs of the Nation , well skill'd in the Courts of London and Westminster , and other his Majesties Courts of Records , &c. p. 65. Herein F. Bugg has grounded his Chap. X. upon false Suggestions , which he is very apt to make ( as he has stuffed his Chap. XI . against our Second Days Meetings , with abundance of false Stories ) For 1st , Our Six Weeks Meeting in London is not a Meeting of such Import , to Consult such Defence , as he relates . 2dly , Neither is this Meeting one of the most Ancient Meetings for Government , neither is it made up of Chosen Men , for many Sober Women are also concerned in it : Therefore this History-Writer is greatly out in his Calculation , and thus foolishly runs on to form History upon false Suggestions , unjustly to make our innocent Meetings Obnoxious to the Civil Government . Upon which Falshood he further goes on , pretending to shew , how our Six Weeks Meeting is Authorized by an Anniversary Epistle , printed 1693. which he recites part of , in which Recital of his , are these words , viz. And being sensible of the great Care of the [ Six Week ] Meeting for Sufferings , still leave it to the said Meeting for Sufferings to continue their Care , &c. p. 66. Obs. Thus he runs on headily in his Falshood and Forgery ; for the words [ Six Week ] are not in the Yearly Epistle and place quoted by him , of 1693. To his often quoting William Rogers against us , and against me in particular , as if he were of great Authority with him , I shall say little now , but am sorry , for W. R's sake , that ever he ministred such occasion for such a persecuting Apostate ( as F. B. ) now to glory in against us . However I have cause charitably to hope , that W. R. is now of a better Mind concerning us , than to put any such Weapons again into the hands of such Implacable Persecutors , as F. B. and his present Abettors , or now to compare us with Rome , or deem us Rome's Sister , &c. as p. 57. And his Commendation for G. Keith , and quoting him so often against us , and upbraiding G. W. with what he wrote lately to him , that G. W. could further expose him , &c. p. 36. I say F. B's Commendation will add nothing to G. K's Reputation , nor redound to his Esteem in the Eyes of any Sincere , Consciencious Friends among us , or Friendly People towards us . But his intimacy with F. Bugg and some Envious Priests , and Confederacy with the Author to The Snake in the Grass , shew how readily he can close with any Inveterate Adversaries against the People called Quakers ; which tends to verifie that Proverb , Nosciter ex Socio , qui non cognosciter ex se. There is one remarkable and severe Quotation , which F. Bugg seems to Summon me , as the Author of — viz. Come , smooth George , I have seen another of your Books , wherein you say , p. 52. Some of the Presbyterian Non-Conformists Preachers are fled beyond Sea ; others lurk in Corners here and there , and keep private Conventicles , where many times they Preach Sedition against their lawful Prince , by Instigation of whom , that Insurrection hapned in 1666. Again , p. 53. And some of them have printed Books in Defence of the Lawfulness of making War against the supreme Magistrates , &c. Again , p. 23. And how many Garments were rolled in Blood , by the Instigation of the Presbyterian Teachers , the whole Nation was a Witness ; so that many Thousands were made Widows and Fatherless by that War , they stirred up the People unto . P. 54. And in very Truth , the Presbyterian Church will never be able to purge her self of the Iniquity of Killing many Thousands in the Three Nations , by the Occasion of a most Bloody War , rais'd up through the Instigation of the Presbyterian Teachers , &c. ( p. 81. ) On which he quotes in the Margent , The Way cast up . Now , pray observe his Fallacy in this Quotation : He names not the Author of the said Way cast up ; but calls , Come , smooth George , I have seen another of your Books , &c. So that the Reader , that knows him not , may take it to be G. Whitehead's : And this looks like a Fallacious Design to incense the Presbyterians against me . He was loth to tell them , his beloved Friend and Associate George Keith was the Author thereof ( as indeed he was ) and of all those severe Charges against the Presbyterians , &c. in it ; for I have the said Book ( entitled , The Way cast up ) by me to shew . Now F. B. how much Envy and Revenge so ever thou hast conceiv'd , and long since harbour'd against me , thou may'st be horribly ashamed of this thy fallacious and deceitful Device and Dealing against me , when 't is thus evidently detected . I would ask thee , ( Francis ) Didst thou shew G. Keith this Passage , which thou hast cited out of his Way cast up , before it was printed ? And if thou didst , did he approve of thy thus exposing it in Print in this Form thou hast done , without letting the World know who is the Author of the said Way cast up ? Again , it is a manifest Falshood , That they ( i. e. Quakers ) will not pray for King William III. p. 79. And again , That they refuse to pray for King William III. p. 80. And the Reasons he gives for this Lye , are : 1. Unless they make them Justices , or Commanders . 2. If he would not stand by and support Quakerism , &c. The contrary is well known ; for K. William and the Government has been often prayed for among us , as well as the preceding Kings ; though F. Bugg has often had this false Accusation against us , thereby designing to make us Offensive , contrary to the Primitive Christians Practice , Of making Supplications , Prayers , Intercessions , and giving of Thanks for all Men , for Kings , and for all that are in Authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life , in all Godliness and Honesty , 1 Tim. 2. 1 , 2. That many of the People called Quaker's , both Ministers and others , drew up a Paper against Hellish Plots , and Traiterous Conspiracies , as Works of the Devil and Darkness , even since the late Plots against the present King and Government , as well as against all Plots and Conspiracies in the time of the preceding Kings Reigns , may be truly declared ; though , like a furious Incendiary , F. B. eagerly endeavours to stir up Jealousie in the Government , not only against particular Persons , but against Us , who are ( and I hope , ever shall be ) a People Innocent and Quiet in the Land , whatever mischievous Devices are , by such Incendiaries and wicked Ones , devised against us . Only he has done us some Right , in reciting the Ancient Testimony and Principle of the People called Quakers renewed , with respect to the King and Government , Against all Plotting Conspiracies , and contriving Insurrections , against the King or the Government , and against all Treacherous , Barbarous and Murtherous Designs , as Works of the Devil and Darkness , &c. p. 93. But F. B. has devised a false Information again , That at their Second-Day Meeting , March 23. 1695 / 6. their Teachers assembled together , and no doubt , great Consultings there were , and particularly about these words , Lawful and Rightful King , p. 92. What Ground has he for [ No Doubt ] in this Case ? I know no such Consultings among our Teachers , or that they assembled together to consult about those words . Thus F. B. vents his own false Imaginations , to expose us to the Displeasure of the King and Government , if he could . But , thanks be to God , F. B. and his Confederates are disappointed of their invidious Designs and Ends. And suppose the Name of King William was not mentioned in the said Testimony , ( yet in p. 95 , 96 , it is twice mentioned in another , as 't is recited by himself ) and there is enough in it to shew , that King William was really intended , particularly in these words , viz. And we sincerely Bless God , and are heartily Thankful to the King and Government for the Liberty and Priviledges we enjoy under them by Law ; esteeming it our Duty to be true and faithful to them . Whereby we could mean no other King than K. William III. because no other King confirmed to us that Liberty by Law , which now we enjoy , as that of our Consciences , in the free Exercise of Religion and Worship , as we are perswaded of God. However this Toleration and Liberty of Conscience , legally Confirmed , appears greatly grudged by our Persecutors , such as F. Bugg , and a few Priests , who are his Abettors . For in opposition thereunto he assumes the Boldness to promote in Print , an Abstract of Two Letters from Two worthy Clergy-Men ( as he calls them ) to their Acquaintance in the City , wherein ( as related by him ) is this Passage , viz. I pray God open the Eyes of our Governours , and cause them to take into Consideration this too much and too deplorable , unlimited and unbounded Toleration ( especially as the Quakers both claim and use it ) which , notwithstanding all the Care and Indefatigable Labour and Pains of the Watchmen of Israel , will certainly ( if not timely prevented ) be the Overthrow of our Church , and Christianity it self , &c. p. 84 , 85. Was it not a piece of Insolent Confidence , to expose this in Print , and thus openly to oppose the Liberty granted and legally Confirmed by the King and Parliament , and thus to render our Governours Blind in allowing it , and praying God to open their Eyes , &c. and inveighing against this Liberty , as too much and too deplorable , unlimitted and unbounded ? Are not these bold Aspersions , reflecting on the Wisdom and Conduct of both King and Parliament , to term the said Liberty Deplorable ? &c. But why so ? The Watchmen are afraid it should be the Overthrow of their Church ; they should rather have said , Of their gainful Trade : For their former Severities and Persecutions against Consciencious Dissenters ( which now it seems some of them would have renew'd again ) have been more Prejudicial and Injurious to Them and their Church , than ever either the Toleration was , or any Moderation or Lenity shewn by the more Moderate among them ; there being many now ashamed of Persecution , that were formerly concerned in it . To his Accusing me with Malice , and calling me Mercenary Whitehead , ( p. 98. Margent . ) This is like the rest of his scornful , abusive and false Detractions : But I shall not need to insist much further on Bugg's Abuse and gross Scandals cast upon Me , and many of Us , to Reproach the People called Quakers with his invented Figures , as that of a Pillory , The Quakers Synod , and his Cage , to represent us among every unclean and hateful Bird , as in Babylon , with 34 Names in it , set cross-wise , p. 130. ( the greater part of them being deceas'd ) which Cage he has in many of his Books : Which is all sorry Stuff , meer idle Mockery , Contempt and Folly , and as Contemptible in the Eyes of every Serious , Religious Reader , and Sober Spectator . And he is in the very Way himself , to be left in the Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird in Babylon , the Habitation of Devils , and Hold of every foul Spirit ; which he unjustly applies against us . It is a loud and horrid Calumny to say , That we are in a most Damnable Plot against the Christian Religion , p. 166 , 167. When we seek daily to promote it , in its Purity , both in Faith and Practice , Life and Conversation : For it stands not in empty Talk , and barren Profession . And as foul a Calumny it is against the People called Quakers , That such Hellish and Damnable Plot is the main Business of their whole Body , in their Convocations , both in their Monthly , Quarterly , Six-Week , Second-Day and Yearly Meetings , which ( he saith ) ought to be taken Care of , at least Inspected , p. 168. The Poor among us , if they understood these his wicked Invectives against our said Meetings , might see cause to Exclaim against this Incendiary , for seeking to Incense the Government against those very Meetings , wherein our Poor are taken Care of ; as in the most of the said Meetings . And as for the Growth of what he calls Quakerism , which he excites all Christians to take Care of , he undertakes to prescribe Methods to prevent it : Wherein he presumes to dictate to Authority such Restrictions and Limitations , as he and his Two or Three Norfolk-Priests have aim'd at , in Soliciting their late Petitions to the Parliament ; and yet Hypocritically pretends , he would not have us persecuted ; he would not have the Government fall upon us to destroy us ; no , by no means , he would not be understood so : For ( quoth he ) this I solemnly declare in the Fear of God , and as I hope for Mercy at the great Day of Account , when both they and I shall appear before the great Tribunal , I do desire neither ; ( i. e. Fire from Heaven to consume them , nor the Government to fall upon them , &c. ) I would not have a Hair of their Head hurt , p. 169. Has not F. B. here made a great Asseveration , As he hopes for Mercy , &c. to shew himself thus demure and innocent towards the Quakers ? No , he would not have a Hair of their Head hurt . And yet bitterly Asperse their Convocations , or Meetings , Monthly , Quarterly , &c. as if their main Business were for carrying on a hellish and damnable Plot , consequently to be suppressed . O horrid Falshood , Hypocrisie and Envy , that a Person should thus presumptuously Swear , with Imprecation included , As he hopes for Mercy at the great Day , he desires not our Destruction ; he would not have a Hair of our Head hurt ; yet would have our said Meetings put by , which are to promote Christian Charity , and the Exercise and Practice of pure Religion and Christianity , ( and wherein we have Divine Worship also ) and yet he reckons Suffering the ready way to increase them , ( i. e. the Quakers ) for they glory in nothing more ( saith he ) than to be thought great Sufferers , ( p. Ibid. ) So that he pretends to be against that Cause : No ( saith he ) let them have Liberty in their Licensed Meeting-Houses , to preach , pray , and exercise their Talent , equal with others , if the Government think fit , ( p. Ibid. ) So that these are no Meetings to carry on any horrid Plot ; they are Licensed Meeting-Houses to preach , pray , and exercise our Talent in . But F. B. does not think fit we should have our Monthly , Quarterly Meetings , &c. though they be in the same Meeting-Houses , and have both Preaching , Praying , and Exercising our Spiritual Talent in them ; as also our Care of the Poor , Fatherless and Widows : But F. B. will have the main Business in these to be the carrying on of a hellish , damnable Plot against Christ and Christianity , &c. consequently the Quakers to be limitted only to Preaching , Praying , and Exercising their Talent in their Licens'd Meeting-Houses ; at this rate our Poor must starve , and our Christian Profession be scandaliz'd by any loose and disorderly Walkers , and false Pretenders to it , without Reprehension : No Care nor Christian Discipline in such Cases to be exercised , if no Meetings may be allow'd for these good and necessary Ends. And I dare say , he wrongs other Dissenters , in saying , This is all they desire or expect , namely , Liberty in their Licensed Meeting-Houses , to Preach , Pray , and Exercise their Talent ; for I am perswaded , many of them are so Consciencious , as to allow the Extent of Religious Exercises to Practice Acts of Charity , Discipline and Order among them , as well as in Preaching and Praying , &c. Again , in his Pretence to let us have Liberty equal with others , he appears very Insincere and Contradictory to himself : For p. 171. he dictates this Restriction for a firm and lasting Cure , To admit each Congregation of Quakers to have their Teacher , or Two , if One will not do ; and likewise , that those Teachers may attend only their own Flock , and not to range all the World over ; at most , not above Five or Ten Miles , to hold forth , &c. Thus he dictates to Authority for Restrictions to be put upon our Ministers , not only to confine them to several Congregations , but also from Travelling in the Work of the Ministry above Five or Ten Mines ( somewhat like the Oxford-Act , upon which many suffered Imprisonment for six Months , &c. ) So that this presumptuous Dictator's Work still tends to renew Persecution , and to confront the Liberty of Conscience already Graciously Granted by the King and Government . And I don't believe , that other Dissenters from the Church of England are contented with such Restrictions as F. Bugg has dictated in this Case , viz. That their Ministers should at most not Travel above Five or Ten Miles to Preach , as he would insinuate , ( p. Ibid. ) His dictating to Authority against us , to stop the Growth of Quakerism , ( p. 169 , 170 , 171. ) appears empty , silly and boasting , as well as envious and interfering with the Liberty granted . For as one swelling in his Pride and empty Boasting , First , ( he saith ) Let G. Whitehead , and some other of the Quakers chief Leaders , and Fr. Bugg , be summon'd by Authority to Appear ; as if he were such an Eminent Champion , that none were fit to appear to meet him , but some Chief Leaders ( as he calls them . ) One would think the Man should be asham'd of such Dictating and Boasting ; as also of his Challenging of G. W. and others , when he knows in his own Conscience he has been so often detected of horrid Falshoods and Forgeries , particularly in that part of my Charge against him , ( which he leaves out in his Challenge ) viz. That in his late Book , New Rome Arraigned , he has forged notorious Lyes in other Men's Names , to ridicule , defame and scandalize divers Citizens of London , and Men of good Repute ; condemning them also to the Pillory , as Perjur'd Persons , in his pretended Trial , in a way of Judicature , unwarrantably acted by himself , &c. as 't is charg'd in Quakers Vindication against F. Bugg 's Calumnies : Which part of the Charge he skips , and is afraid to touch with it in his Challenge : And the other part of his wronging the People called Quakers , both in Charge , Citation and Observation , is abundantly prov'd against him , not only in that Sheet , but in other Answers of mine ; and therefore his Cracking , Vapouring , Boasting and Challenging , looks most silly and insolent , and deserves to be slighted and contemned by all Peaceable , Serious and Religious Persons . His Norfolk-Priests , who abetted him , have greatly labour'd to acquit themselves from being the Challengers of our Friends , and labour'd to cast the blame of first Challenging upon the Quakers in Norfolk , as if it were a Crime to Challenge ; but let them read what an insulting , vapouring , daring Challenge their Tool and Agent F. Bugg makes in his Appendix , ( p. 171 , 172. Taunting against the Quaker Teachers ( as he calls them ) viz. You may Challenge them long enough , but cannot get them out of their holes ; they see and know they are discovered , this makes them timorous ; Fearfulness surprizes the Hypocrite , &c. p. 171. And , The way to deal with such cunning Sophisters , G. W , &c. is , still to pursue them with Challenges , to call them into the Field ; and thereupon I will pitch my Standard here , in behalf of the Christian Religion , and Protestant Profession , against Quakerism , head and tail , & C. and let us Dispute it out fairly , and above Board ; and thereupon I shall renew my Challenge , and let it stand here as a Monument of the Quakers Cowardise and Self-condemnation , & C. p. 172. Now F. B. may'st thou not be ashamed , thus to brag and vapour , and thus basely to fling Fearfulness and Cowardise upon us ? What Earnings didst thou make in our late Discourse before the Bishop of Norwich , and Four Members of Parliament , at the Bishop's House , near Jame's Square , Westminster ? Do'st thou not remember how soberly thou wast answered , both by me and the other two Friends present ? And how I discovered thy repeated Falshoods , Forgery , Deceit and Wickedness , in divers matters wherein thy Quarrel much depends against us ? And how thou wast confounded , when Matters were closely urg'd and argu'd upon thee , both about the Holy Scriptures , and thy charging the Quakers Prophets with giving Witness to G. Fox instead of Christ , and calling him ( G. F. ) the Branch , the Star , the Sun of Righteousness ? &c. Which notorious Falshood often charg'd upon thee , thou could'st never produce Proof for , though thou hast often repeated it against us after an insolent manner ; as in p. 121. and as thou hast partly done , by way of Question , in this thy Pilgrim's Progress , p. 135. viz. Do they not all agree in the main , That G. Fox was the Quakers Branch and Star , yea , their All in All ; the Bottom , and Corner , and Top-Stone of their Building ? Answer . We deny any such Agreement ; and thou couldst never yet prove it ; nor hast thou shewn us any Book of ours , wherein G. Fox is so called or esteemed by us , no more than thou canst prove , that the Quakers speak so contemptuously of the Scriptures , as to call them Beastly Ware , &c. which old refuted Lye thou hast again repeated over and over , ( p. 172 , 173. ) as also , that they say , The holy Scripture is Carnal , Dust , Death , &c. as in thy New Rome Unmask'd , see Cr. 6. p. 78. And also thy fictitious Sermon , which again thou falsly termest George Whitehead's Sermon , p. 168. wherein thou hast grosly abused and belyed him and W. B. and profaned the Sacred Name of God , ( with other Abuses and Defamations ) as it was evinced before the said Bishop of Norwich and Members of Parliament , to thy shame and confusion . What Ground hast thou then to Boast of our being Timerous to meet thee ? Or to Accuse us with Cowardise ? I told thee there before them at the Bishop's House , That I would not go over the Door-Threshold to meet thee , nor spend so much time then in Discoursing with thee , if it were not for their Sakes and Information , who were present , ( i. e. the Bishop and said Members of Parliament . ) Thy dictating lastly , That they ( i. e. the Quakers ) may not be permitted to teach School publickly , ( p. 171. ) This still shews a Spirit of Envy and Persecution in thee , like those Papists that would not suffer Protestants to Educate their own Children , or to discharge their Duty , as Parents , towards them , according to their Consciences . Thy many bitter Invectives , and false Clamours , against us , as also thy ambitious , presumptuous way of Dictating to the Government , to Incense them , does all bespeak a foul Persecuting Spirit in thee , and that thou art fallen , and caught in the Cage which thou hast feignedly formed a Figure of , unjustly to represent the State of those Persons , whom thou hast defamed and branded therewith . As I am not bound to trace all thy numerous Lyes , Calumnies and Perversions in thy Pilgrim's Progress , ( not herein touched ) so I therefore refer the Reader to other Answers of mine extant in Print , Entitled as followeth : 1. Judgment Fixed , Printed 1682. Chap. 7. from page 203 , to page 259. 2. The Quakers Answer to a Scandalous Libel , stiled , A Letter to the Quakers , in 1690. One half Sheet . 3. Innocency against Envy , 1681. Two Sheets and a half . 4. The Contentious Apostate , and his Blow Refelled , 1691. Four Sheets . 5. The Contentious Apostate Recharged . One Sheet . 6. A Charitable Essay , in order to Allay the Out-Rage of a Contentious Apostate , 1693. One Sheet . 7. The Quakers Vindication against Francis Bugg ' s Calumnies , 1693. One Sheet . 8. Innocency Triumphant , over Insolency and Out-rage , 1693. Five Sheets . 9. A Just Enquiry into the Libeller's Abuse , 1693. Two Sheets . Which Answers much of Bugg's Stuff , though that has not his Name . 10. The Counterfeit Convert , a Scandal to Christianity , 1694. Six Sheets and a half . 11. An Answer to Francis Bugg ' s Presumptuous Impeachment , 1695. One Sheet . 12. A Sober Expostulation with some of the Clergy , against their pretended Convert Francis Bugg , his repeated gross Abuse of the People called Quakers , 1697. Twelve Sheets : In Answer to several of his Books . Now , Reader , whoever peruses these Books , or but Six or Seven of the last of them mentioned , and compares F. Bugg's Books therewith , may find that they contain full Answers to his principal Objections , frequently repeated in his Books against us ; and what chiefly concerns Doctrine is comprehensively Answered in the 6th and 7th , viz. A Charitable Essay , and The Quakers Vindicated ; which , though but one Sheet a piece , I could never yet find any Reply to either , from F. Bugg . And the 8th , i. e. Innocency Triumphant , is so plain a Discovery and Confutation of his Forgeries , Perversions , Falshoods , and notorious Self-Contradictions , that the same is made obvious to every Impartial Reader . So that our Innocency stands still Triumphant ( in Christ Jesus ) over our Adversaries Outrage , Boasting , Scorn and Contempt . Glory to our God , and to the Lamb , who shall have the Victory , and Reign in Glory , and Triumph for Ever and Ever . A Brief Answer to Francis Bugg 's late Book , falsly stiled A Modest Defence , &c. HAving trac'd and observ'd the numerous , bitter and accumulated Calumnies , in the said pretended Modest Defence , and in many more of the same Author's Books , Scurrilous Pamphlets and Fictions against the peaceable People called Quakers , to incense the Civil Government against them ; and he being therein often Refuted , I am concern'd herein to take notice only of a few of his notorious Abuses , Misrepresentations and Perversions , viz. 1st , In his Dedication to the High Court of Parliament , ( p. 10. ) he tells them ; The Quakers tell you , They own the Scriptures to be given by Divine Inspiration , but mean not a word of it , like other Christians . 2dly , They tell you , they own a Scripture-Trinity , but mean not a word of it ; and that Your Honours will find it as difficult a thing to gain the true Meaning of the Quakers , touching the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures , and their Belief of a Scripture-Trinity , as Constantinus the Emperor found it in the Examination of Arius , the Heretick , to get his true meaning , touching the Faith of one Substance . And he would have them believe , The Quakers are such Enemies to the holy Scripture , as that they say , It is a rotten Foundation , Ibid. p. 11. And that with them it is Beastly Ware , &c. part 2. p. 29. And that they render the holy Scriptures to be of no more Authority than Aesop 's Fables , part 3. p. 40. Such abominable Falshoods this Incendiary presumes to Dedicate and Present to the Parliament , expresly contrary to our sincere and publick Confession to the Divine Authority of the holy Scriptures , as Eminently given by Divine Inspiration ; and our Estimation and Preference of the Bible to all other Books extant in the World ; though many of them may be given by a Degree of the same Divine Inspiration , yet the holy Scripture , contain'd in the Bible , have not only the Priority , but more Eminently and Signally Confirm'd by Divine Authority , more Comprehensive , and more Generally accepted , than other Books or Commentaries thereupon ; the holy Pen-Men of the Scriptures of Truth having also a higher Degree of Illumination and Inspiration , in many things , than other Writers in after-Ages : And Christ himself , whose blessed Testimonies are from him Recorded , received the Holy Ghost or Spirit not by Measure , but in Fulness ; and to be sure , we are bound in Conscience highly to prefer the Authors of Holy Scripture , i. e. Christ , his Apostles and Prophets , above our selves , or any other Writers whatsoever ; therefore we have cause to allow the Bible the Preference ( as well as Priority ) before other Books . But our embittered Adversary , to render us the said People Incredible , or not to be Believ'd , and such a difficult thing to gain the true Meaning of the Quakers , he thus treats us with his wonted Course of Defamation and Calumny , giving this pretended Relation , viz. That the honest Quakers ( for some such there are amongst them ) have suspected G. Whitehead to be a Jesuite , at least like them : This Witness is true , ( quoth F. B. ) Pref. p. 18. And farther , he proceeds with this Out-cry , viz. By which Evidence we may know , that the Quakers , like the Cretians , were always Lyars , evil Beasts , slow Bellies ; but not only so , but Lyars , Forgers ; and , to speak comparatively , Knights of the Post , Jesuits , and dangerous to the Government , &c. Pref. p. 19 , 20. Thus furiously he runs on , and clamours , like one without Eear or Wit ; he is Accountable for such odious Defamation ; and the Righteous Judge of all ( I doubt not ) will rebuke him for such his Folly and Outrage . He strives , in his Persecution against us , as if it were for Life , even for our Lives , in not only defaming G. Whitehead for a Jesuit , but the Quakers in General ; and yet some of them Honest Quakers too : Such Confusion Envy produces . But who these Honest Quakers are , that suspect G. W. to be a Jesuit , at least like them , we are to seek ; he tells us not who is his true Witness in this Case . G. W. utterly denies the Defamation against himself , and the rest of his Friends , called Quakers ; being known to be as wholly and absolutely Averse to Popery as any People in Christendom , and more than all Persecutors whatsoever ; Persecution being a principal Prop and Pillar of Popery , commonly raised by such Clamour and Outrage , as , Away with them , Hereticks and Schismaticks , they are Seditions , and Dangerous to the Government ; and then Imprisonment , Havock , Exile or Death , must follow , &c. To his other odious Calumny , viz. That the Quakers Church agrees with the Papists , That our Bible is a Brazen-fac'd Book , an unjust , corrupt and perverse Bible , part 1. p. 4. Oh Horrible ! The righteous Lord rebuke this Lying Spirit , which possesses this Poor Creature ! How like a furious Incendiary , in his boundless Outrage , does he Defame , and most unjustly Asperse the Innocent ! Are not the Bibles we frequently use in our Houses and Families , the same used by other Protestants , and allow'd by Authority ? Pray let this be observ'd , and further inquired into , that the notorious Lyes of this Adversary may more manifestly appear to the World , to his own and his Abettors shame and disgrace . And as I have often urg'd plain Proof from him , that the Quakers call the Scriptures Beastly Ware , but never yet could obtain it : So I now demand Proof , that they say , The Scripture is a rotten Foundation , as before ( Ded. p. 11. ) For Proof of this Lye , he has quoted a little Pamphlet , or Book , which he has rak'd up and Reprinted , Entitled , Ishmael and his Mother cast out , ( first printed in 1655. ) Upon the Margent , on the 14th page , he repeats the same gross Lye again thus , viz. The Holy Scriptures , they say , are a rotten Foundation : This is their ancient Testimony , from which they have not varied . This is F. B's Annotation against the People called Quakers ; but where is his Proof still ? 'T is upon these words , viz. With the Light thou art seen to be a Wrester of the Scriptures ; and thy rotten Foundation being ready to fall thee , &c. Here is no such word , as the Quakers saying , The Holy Scriptures are a rotten Foundation ; but the contrary , viz. Against that Adversary for Wresting the Scripture , and that he was judged thereby . And that the Scriptures of Truth proceeded from the Life and Power of God , were spoken by holy Men , as mov'd thereby ; as also , a true Declaration of God , the Words of God , who with his dear Son Christ Jesus , and Holy Spirit , and the Baptism thereof , are also confess'd in the said Book quoted ; but falsly noted on the Margent , as before , quite contrary to these Confessions unto the Truth , and Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures . They that writ the said Book , Ishmael , &c. did judge that pretended Pastor , S. Townsend ( their then Adversary ) neither to be built upon Christ , nor upon the holy Scriptures , and that therefore neither of them was his Foundation , but a Spirit of Enmity , when he enviously writ and aspers'd those of us , that were then Prisoners for Conscience sake in Norwich Goal , which was in the year 1654. being 45 Years ago : He then , more like a busie Incendiary . than a Minister of Christ , with his envious , defaming Pamphlet , did Persecute us by Reproaches , to add Affliction to our Bonds , which then were severe , and we under Hardship in the depth of Winter , wherein my self ( with the rest ) had my share : Though I then was but weak and young , being but about 18 Years of Age , yet was in my Heart truly tender and sincere to God , and his Presence I often felt to strengthen me in that and divers other hard Imprisonments ( in Cromwel's time ) and by his Special , Divine Providence , I was supported in his Work and Service , blessed be his Name for ever ! Who also hath made me to Triumph in Christ , over Reproaches and Aspersions of This , and all other my most Implacable Adversaries . F. B. may think , he has found out a deadly Weapon against me , by his raking up , and reprinting the said Ishmael , &c. ( printed in 1655. ) But he does very ill , and very dis-ingenuously , in upbraiding me and my Friends , with some unwarrantable Expressions , which I have positively disown'd and disclaim'd in Two Books , as he knows . And yet from thence he unjustly asperseth the Quakers , That they dissemble the Doctrine of the Trinity , when they pretend to own it ; whilst in their Books , they damn it to the Pit and Lake , Ded. p. 11. And part 2. p. 22. ( Margent ) This is their ancient Testimony , to damn the blessed Trinity to the Pit of Hell , ( the like in Part 3. p. 35. ) I say , This is not true , 't is neither the Quakers Ancient nor Modern Testimony ; and the passage , upon which he makes this Note in the Margent , though never intended against either God , his Son , or Holy Spirit , or this Scripture-Trinity ( as I may say ) Yet I say , as to the said Passage , noted upon on the Margent , I have positively disown'd , those offensive Expressions , publickly in Print , in Two Books : The 1st Entitled , The Christianity of the People called Quakers , Vindicated , 1690. p. 28. The 2d , Truth and Innocency Vindicated , 1699. p. 51. Besides many Years since I corrected them , where I met with that Answer . And though I writ some Passages therein , yet I still affirm , I was not the Author of the said Unwarrantable Expressions , nor of divers other sharp ones ; but C. Atkinson , who miserably fell into Pollution and Condemnation , after my self and my other Fellow-Prisoners had left him in Prison , being discharg'd before him . I was sorry my Name was to that Answer , without distinction between my own Words and his . For though I was then but Young , Weak and Low , yet I still believe , and am satisfied , I had a Measure of Understanding given me of the Lord , and a Sense of his Power and Presence . And I do not deny but I writ some Part , or Paragraphs , in that Book aforesaid , by reason whereof ( I suppose ) my Name was to it ; and the Substance of what I writ , I cannot disown to this day , namely , 1. Asserting the Word , which was in the beginning , to be God , Christ , the Light , and the Foundation of Faith. 2. And that the Word was before the Scripture , or Writing , or Letter thereof was . 3. That Jesus Christ was the true and only Foundation , 1 Cor. 3. 11. This was in Opposition to our then Adversary's Asserting the Scripture to be the only Foundation of Faith , &c. And I cannot in the least believe , that there ever could be any Intention of Contempt , or Contemptible Expressions , design'd against God , or his Dear Son , or Holy Spirit , among us , or that we could be so grosly dark and ignorant , as to think to confine him in Darkness , who is an Omnipresent God , and he being Light , in whom is no Darkness at all ; this hath been our Principle from the beginning . But to fasten the whole Book , Ishmael , on G. W. F. B. saith , he owns the Book , viz. in Truth Defending , 1659. 1. From Tho. Smith's calling it G. Whitehead's Book . 2. From the words , Our Book . Part 1. p. 31 , 32. Answ. How far I then own'd it , I have signified : 1. As having writ some part of it . 2. But not then espousing the very words chiefly objected by F. B. and disown'd by me , as before ; but my own Construction then given , partly in these words , viz. And he that Dreams , and tells Lyes , contrary to the Scriptures of Truth , which we own , he with his Imaginations and Dreams is for the Lake , Rev. 21. 8. Yet what the Scripture saith of the Godhead , the Father , the Word , and the Spirit , which are one , 1 John 5. 7. we own ; Truth Defend . p. 1 , 2. Tho' I confess , I there questioned the Notion of Three Distinct or Divided Persons , as not Scripture , but an Imagination . And in our Disputes at Cambridge , in the same Year , 1659. My Opponents then Arguing , They ( i. e. the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost ) are Three Hees , therefore Three Persons ; and that because Christ was under the Water ( when baptised ) and the Holy Ghost then descended upon him like a Dove , therefore Three Distinct or Separate Persons ; I then thought such Arguing as much beside true Scripture-Divinity , as good Logick . However I cannot call to Mind , That ( at those Disputes I had with Tho. Smith , the Library-keeper , &c. in Cambridge , 1659. ) I either did own or defend that very Passage , now objected against us out of Ishmael , which I have disown'd and disclaim'd , as before : If I were now Conscious thereof , I should be sorry for it . To conclude this Point about the Trinity , I refer the Reader , 1. To a Catechism , in the Words and Phrases of Scripture , with this Imprimatur ; Guil. Sill. R. P. D. Henr. Episc. Lond. â Sacris Domesticis , printed 1693. wherein are these Questions and Answers , viz. Q Is there any more than One God ? A. There is none other God , but one , 1 Cor. 8. 4. Q. What is said of the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghost ? A. It is said , That these Three are One , 1 John 5. 7. Note , Here they confine themselves to Scripture-Language . 2. 'T is worthy of Observation , what Dr. Burnet , now Bishop of Sarum , in the Life of John , Earl of Rochester , p. 104. speaking of the Trinity ; saith , Which for want of Terms fit to express them by , we call Persons ; and are called in Scripture the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost . Besides the false Printing , and bad English in the said Ishmael , ( as F. B. has expos'd it ) there 's another Defect ; after the words [ The Lake is thy Portion , which is the Portion of Lyars ] the words [ except thou speedily Repent ] are omitted there , and in some other places . The Old Impression I have not seen for many Years , nor do I know where to find it , tho' it seems F. B. hath industriously sought it out , and reprinted it ( after a fashion ) with his perverse Annotations in the Margent , to reproach Quakers withal . And now , let 's a little observe F. B.'s Definition of Person , part 1. p. 18 , 19. viz. From the words [ God , Christ , the Light , the Word , the Spirit , the Truth , the Kingdom of God within me , and these are one ] F. B. infers ; viz. Reader , here is in the Quakers Essence Septem Personas . — Also from the words [ Stumble not at the Light , for if thou dost , thou stumblest at God , at Christ , at the Door , the Way , the Truth , Life , the Rock , the Elect Stone ; and all these are but One ] Here again ( quoth he ) is One added ; here is Octo Personas in the unity of their Essence . Hence observe ( by the way ) what rare Syntax he makes , viz. Here is Octo Personas , instead of , Here are Octo Personae ; but chiefly , how he has defined Person , which is not our Term for those Names given to Christ , for to make so many Persons of Christ , as Names are given to him , as those in Metaphors , Parables and Similitudes , which are numerous in Sacred Scriptures ; may he not then , by such Logick or Dofinition , render Christ to be an Hundred Persons in One Essence ? What silly Conceits float in this Man 's giddy Head ! What think his Friends of the Clergy of him ? Is he a fit Champion to undertake to defend both Theml , their Church , and the Protestant Religion ? Moreover , I do confess , That altho' I have often seen it my Duty , to explain some of our Christian Friends Meanings , when mistaken or perverted by our Adversaries , I really believe , I have truly Construed their Intentions , and that I have cause to understand the same better than our Adversaries , or Enemies . And as for my own part , I have learn'd that Humility and Self denial , that I am not Conscious of being Pertinacious against Light , true Conviction , or holy Scripture Testimony . And I hope also this Advertisement may satisfie every Charitable and Ingenuous Reader , having been Sincere and Consciencious towards God from my Youth upward to this day , according to the Measure of Light and Understanding he hath bestowed upon me ; humbly hoping , and verily believing , he will so preserve me in Christ unto the End. 'T is observable how insulting and boasting this F. Bugg is in his Dedication to the Parliament , comparing himself , in his Work of Darkness against the Light , with Daniel his bursting in sunder the Baby lonish Dragon : Even so ( quoth Bugg ) have I been instrumental , and burst in sunder the Quakers great Idol , their Darkness within , which they call the Light within . Thus presumptuously he Boasts and Blasphemes , contrary to his former Confession to the Light , which we ( called Quakers ) profess , according to John 1. 4 , 9. There is a Wo to such as put Light for Darkness , and Darkness for Light. He proceeds in his empty Boasting and Insulting thus , viz. I have cut down the lofty Weeds and tall Cedars , Pref. p. 27. The Sting of Quakerism being taken out , and the Bowels thereof ript up , and their Inside turn'd outward , Part 2. p. 31. And having taken this Snake , Quakerism , out of the Grass , and laid her on the Table , and taken out her Sting , Ibid. p. 27. But Reader , I have not done with this Snake , but must have the other blow at her , and smite off her Head , lest she get into the King's High Court of Parliament to do mischief ; for she is a mischievous Beast , and full of deadly Poison , and begins to stink all the Nation over , Ibid. p. 30. Thus far F. B. Now let the serious Reader judge , what a presumptuous , reviling Boaster this is , as if the High Court of Parliament were much beholden to him , for his Defence of them , by thus shamefully Reviling the Quakers . But how helpless , mean and indigent , does he Imply the Parliament to be , to have need of such a Physitian to prepare them Antidotes ! And then , what lofty Weeds and tall Cedars has he cut down among the Quakers ? What great Execution has he done , by his bitter Invectives , Scorn , Railery , and Profanation of the Sacred Name of God and Christ , as before is manifest ? Have not his mischievous Attempts ( tending to a New Persecution ) made him stink in the Nostrils of all Moderate , Serious and Unprejudiced Readers , and Observers of his Works of Revenge and Malice , thereby making himself ( and Abettors ) Infamous , while he seeks to make himself Famous ? But God will debase his Pride and Presumption ! Altho' he would render himself an Eminent Champion , as having Cut down and slain Quakerism , yet eagerly endeavours to Influence both King and Parliament against us ; he presumes to Dedicate his bitter and scurrilous Invectives against us to the King 's High Court of Parliament , superlatively stiling himself , Your Honours most Humble and most Obedient Servant ; and arrogantly presumes to write an Address to his Majesty King William the Third , therein also stiling himself , One of the Meanest , yet most Dutiful Subject , Francis Bugg ; therein notifying G. Whitehead in particular ; and in pretence , Most humbly Praying in the Name of the Church of England , and other his Dissenting Protestants , that Care may be taken to suppress the same ; i. e. the Quakers Doctrine and Books , ( viz. such as he writes against . ) In which he would also encourage the King to Judge , who is in the Wrong , and to punish accordingly . And in this Case ( saith he ) let not the King respect Persons in Judgment , &c. Hence observe the Presumption of this silly Creature , thus to presume to be the King's Dictator , and that in the Name of the Church of England , and other Protestant Dissenters too , to Influence and Incense him against his Peaceable Subjects , called Quakers , as if nothing short of Punishment , Persecution and Suppressing , would pacify his Revenge against us ! But how comes F. Bugg thus confidently to Address King William in the Name of the Church of England , and other his Majesty's Dissenting Protestants , as if they had set him on Work , so bitterly to Inveigh against the People called Quakers , as he hath done ? Seeing in his Dedication to the Parliament he tells them , He can with good Conscience say , That from first to last , no Clergy-Man in the Kingdom ever asked or desired him to write one Book , Page or Line , against the Quakers ; nor have any one Man , Clergy or Laity , seen this Book , till printed . If this be true , then both the Clergy , Laity , and all others , are so far Excusable , as to this Book of his , unjustly stiled , A Modest Defence : But then , hath he not wronged the Church of England , and Dissenting Protestants too , by his Addressing the King in their Names against the Quakers , seeing they neither asked nor desired him to write one Book , Page or Line , against the Quakers ; no , not one Clergy-Man in the Kingdom ? &c. If none of the Church of England , nor any other , set him at work , how durst he Address the King expresly in their Names ? If he writ Truly to the Parliament , how could he so write Truly or Honestly to the King ? What an officious Agent was he then , so peremptorily to Address the King against the Quakers , their Doctrine and Books , in the Name of the Church of England , and other Dissenting Protestants , and that for Punishment too ? He seeks to Incense both King and Parliament , and Church of England , and other Dissenting Protestants , against the peaceable People called Quakers , as if he aim'd at their sole Ruin and Destruction . For which End they shall not want his Exclamations of Heresie and Blasphemy , Cheats , Impostors , Jesuits , &c. ay , to Incense the World against them , if he could . But God's Power is above the Devils ! Glory to our God , and to the Lamb , that sits upon the Throne for Ever and Ever ! I conclude with this Scripture , as applicable to our Persecuting Adversary . Psalm 36. 1. There is no Fear of God before his Eyes . ( v. 2. ) He flattereth himself in his own Eyes , until his Iniquity be found to be hateful . ( v 3. ) The words of his mouth are Iniquity and Deceit . ( v. 4. ) He deviseth Mischief upon his Bed , &c. FINIS .