A brief relation of the irreligion of the northern Quakers wherein their horrid principles and practices, doctrines and manners ... are plainly exposed to the view of every intelligent reader : together with a (brief reply) to some part of a very scurilous and lying pamphlet called.

To my Christian Readers.

I Here present you with a brief Relation of the exe∣crable Irreligion of a sort of people lately started in some parts of the North, commonly called Quakers. When you have read it, you will be ready to dream (if you be acquainted with the History of the last Century) that you behold the turbulent Exorcists of Germany, redivive in England, and acting their old Tragick parts over again, though on another Stage: and you will plainly see what ill use these men make of that Libertie, permitted to dissenters in Religion (pleaded onely for, and I believe intended to be conceded only to tender Consciences:) and that is not Liberty, but Liber∣tinisme, that some men seek after: viz. That they may be as wicked as they will without controul. In the mean while the uncurb'd Licentiousnes of many evil men, and blasphemous heretical Seducers through the Nation, makes many honest christians now look upon the present times as ill boding times, who a few years ago were raised in their expectations, to see better dayes then any age ever produced, since the time that our Savior Christ and his Apostles were living on earth. But to add no more to this purpose, I will only put you in mind, what use every Christian that reads or hears this or such like relati∣ons of the crying Evils of these present times, ought to make of them. The more therefore the blasphemy against the God of Heaven abounds among the Apostates of this Generation, the more we should (and if we fear God indeed, we shall) labor to glorifie him, the more we should be grieved for the dishonour done to his soveraign Majesty, and the more earnestly should we pray, that this bloody sin may not be imputed to the Nati∣on. The more lightly they esteem of the written Word of God, and the more contemptuously they undervalue and deride the sacred Ordinances of Jesus Christ, the more should we love and

reverence and prize them, and the closer should we cleave un∣to them. The more Heresies spread themselves and eat like Cankers, and the sweeter they are to the Pallats of deluded multitudes that are gredy after them, the more should we labor to decline the contagion, to ballast our vessels, and settle our selves in the Truth, so, that if an Apostle from the dead, or an Angel from Heaven, or all the Seducers on Earth should preach unto us another Gospel, they may not be able to remove us from that which we have already received, & which is preach∣ed to us in the Word of God. The greater the number is of those that fall away, the more should we that think we stand take heed least we fall. The morre violently the teachers of fals doctrines, and their supporters do oppose the Truth, and labor to exalt and propagate their Opinions, the more earnestly should we contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints against all the Adversaries of it: and to add no more the more tumultuous, factious, impious and barbarous the spi∣rits and practises of these men are that have entertained the Errors of the times, the more they curse and rail and threaten, and intend mischief, the more holily, and humbly, and peace∣ably ought we to demean our selves, and the more watchfull ought we to be over our Conversations: that we may be as unlike to them, as the children of the day are to those that are of the night. The Lord grant we may make this good use of the impieties of those that fall away.

If any of those honourable Gentlemen that are in Authori∣tie, or that it shall please the Lord in his providence to call to the Government of this Nation, shall vouchsafe to read over the lines of this Book; I humbly beseech them to look upon them not as lying lines, but such as do plainly and faithfully relate the Truth: and if they shall doubt of the veritie of this Narrative. I humbly request of they think it expedient, that by them Authoritie they would cause the truth to be brought to light. The God of Heaven make us all willing, and able to move in our proper Orbes for the interest of his Sonne Jesus Christ, and his glorious Gospel.