The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Punishment for their going naked; that what sometimes they affect of Fancy, should alwayes be enjoyned them by Authority; till the Cold converted them into more Civility.

In vain do they plead for their Practise, the Precedent of the Prophet* 1.1 Isaiah, going naked for three years, Whose act was extraordinary and mystical, having an im∣mediate command from God for the same. As well may they in Imitation of* 1.2 Hosea, take a known harlot to their wives, which I beleeve they would not willingly do, though they have made Harlots of other mens wives, if all be true reported of them.

Their other Opinion is, that THOU and THEE is the Omer of Respect to be measur'd out to every single person; (allowing the hiest no more, the lowest no less) be he (to speak in their own* 1.3 Phrase) either King, Lord, Judge, or Officer.

We will take their words asunder (as the wheels of a watch)only scowre them, and then put them together again.

King) though none at this present in the Land, yet, because these pretend to a Prophetical spirit, and there may be one in due time, their words are considerable.

Lord) here your Honour with those many persons your Peers are concerned

Judge) in this place the shooe pinches them, be∣cause they* 1.4 bear the Sword to punish Offendors.

Officers) I suppofe either Civil or Military, if they allow of the destinction.

No mention here of Ministers: It seems THOU and THEE, is too good language for us; who are Cains, and Ba∣laams, and Dogs, and Devils in their mouths. The best is, the sharpest railing cannot pierce, where Guiltiness in

the person railed on, hath not first wimbled an hole for the entrance thereof.

Their Principall Argument for their Practice, is drawn from many places in* 1.5 Scripture, where THOU and THEE are used by God to Man, and Man to God; and Man to Man, which cannot be denid.

In Opposition whereunto we maintain, that THOU from Superiors to inferiors is proper, as a Signe of Command; from equals to equals is passable, as a note of Familiarity; but from Inferiors to Superiors, if proceeding from Ignorance hath a smack of Clownishness, if from Affectation, a tang of Contempt.

But in answer to their Objection from Scripture, we return foure things.

First, THOU is not so distastful a term in He∣brew and Greek, as it is in the English, custom of every Country being the grand Master of Language to appoint what is honourable, and disgraceful therein. The Jews had their* 1.6 Racha or terme of contempt un∣known to us; we, our THOU, a signe of slighting un∣used by them.

Secondly, It followeth not, because THOU and THEE only are set down, that therefore no other Additions of Honour were then and there given from Inferiors to their Superiors. A negative Argument cannot be framed in this Case, that more respect was not used, because no more exprest in scripture; it being the designe of Histories, chiefly to represent the substance of deeds, not all verbal Formalities.

Thirdly, What Inferiors in Scripture wanted in words, they supplied in Postures and Gestures of Submission; even to* 1.7 Prostration of their bodies, which would be con∣demned for Idolatry, if ussed in England.

Lastly, There are extant in Scripture, expressions of respect, as when Sarah termed her Husband Lord, which (though but* 1.8 once mentioned in the text) was no

doubt her constant Practise, or else the holy Spirit would not have took such notice thereof, and commended it to o∣thers imitation.

But they follow their Argument, urging it unreasonable, that any should refuse that Coine in common discourse, which they in their solemn Devotions pay to God himself. THOU and THEE are Currant in the Prayers of Saints clean thorough the Scipture, as also in our (late admired) Liturgy, we Praise THEE, we Belss THEE, we Worship THEE, we Glorifie THEE, we give THEE Thanks for THY great Glory.

It is answered; those Attributes of Greatness, Good∣ness, &c. given to God in the Beginning of every Prayer do Vertually and Effectually extend and apply them∣selves to every Clause therein, though for Brevities sake not actually repeated.

Thus OURFATHER in the Preface of the Lords Prayer, relateth to every Petition therein; OURFA∣THER hallowed be thy Name; Our FATHER thy Kingdom come; Our FATHER thy will be done &c. And this qualifieth the harshness and rudeness of THOU, THEE and THY, when for expediti∣on and expressiveness sake they are necessarily used.

Your Honour will not wonder at the Practise of these QUAKERS, having read in the Prophetical Epistles of* 1.9 S. Peter, and* 1.10 S. Jude (last placed, because last to be performed) that towards the end of the world some shall NOT BE AFFRAID to speak evil of Dignities. These Feare, where no feare is, and QUAKE where they need not; but feare not, where feare is; being bold and impudent where they ought not. They are NOTA∣FRAID, not only to speak against Dignities (which in some case may be done, where they are Vitious men) but against Dignities, the lawful, useful, needful, Ordinan∣ces of God himself.

God grant these may seasonably be suppressed, before they grow too numerous otherwise such who now quarel at the Honour, will hereafter question the wealth of others. Such as now accuse them for Ambition for being higher, will hereafter condemne them for Covetousness, for being broader then other; yea and produce Scripture too, proper and pregnant enough for their purpose, as abused by their Interpretation. In a word, it is suspicious such as now introduce THOU and THEE, will (if they can) expel Mine and Thine, disolving all propriety into confusion.

And now, my Lord, how silly a thing is that Honour, which lies at the mercy of such mens mouths, to tender or deny the same. The best is Mens Statures are not extended or contracted, with their shaddows; so as to be stretched out into Giants in the morning; shrunk up into Dwarfes at Noone, and stretch'd out at Night into Giants again. Intrinsecal worth doth not increase and abate; Wax and Waine, Ebb and Flow, accord∣ing to the Fancy of others. May your Lordship there∣fore labour for that true Honour, which consisteth in Ver∣tue and God's Approbation thereof; which will last and remain how furiously soever the wicked rage, and imagine vain things against it.

Here I presume, to present your Honour the Lives and Deaths of some worthies, contrary to those QUAKERS in their Practise, and Opinion; I mean the Martyrs in the Reign of Queen Mary. These despised not their Superiors, giving due Reverence to those who condem∣ned them, honouring lawfull Authority, though un∣lawfully used: These cast not off their Cloaths, but modestly wore their Linnen on them at their Suffering. These counterfeited no Corporall QUAKING, (stand∣ing as firme as the stake they were fastned to:) though in a Spirituall sense working out their salvation with

Feare and Trembling: Whose admirable Piety and Patience is here recommended unto your Lordships con∣sideration; by

Your humble Servant to be com∣manded in all Christian Offices, THOMAS FULLER.

Notes

• * 1.1

  *Isaiah 20. 3.
• * 1.2

  Hos ea. 1. 2.
• * 1.3

  Pamphlet called the Language of truth. pag. 2.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 13. 4.
• * 1.5

  Exod-33 12, five times in one verse
• * 1.6

  Matth. 5. 26.
• * 1.7

  Gen. 33. 3, King. 1. 16, & 23. as also 1 King. 18. 7.
• * 1.8

  1, Pet, 3. 6.
• * 1.9

  2 Pet. 2. 10.
• * 1.10

  Jude 8.