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.

Of the horrid Blasphemies of the Quakers against God and his Christ.

George Fox, the Father of the Quakers of these parts, hath a∣vowed himselfe over and over, to be equall with God; being ask∣ed by Doctor Marshall, in the presence of Master Sawro, Colo∣nell Tell, and Colonell West, Justices of the Peace in the County of Lancashire, at a private Sessions in the Towne of Lancaster, whether or no he was equall with God, as he had before that time beene heard to affirme: his answer was this, I am equall with God.

This Blasphemy hath been attested upon Oath by the foresayd Doctor Marshall, and Master Altam, Schoolmaster of Lancaster, before the Justices at the last Sessions, held at Appleby, Ianuary the 8. 1652. and before Judge Puleston at the last Assizes held at Lan∣caster, March the 18. 1652.

This Fox, in a Booke intituled Sauls Errand to Damascus, en∣deavours to purge himselfe of this and other such cursed speeches layd to his charge, but he doth it so woodenly and ambiguously, that if there wanted sufficient witnesses, his owne bungling answers would to a rationall man, declare him guilty.

And well may he affirme himselfe to be equall with God, when he in the foresayd Booke, Page eight, Line nine and ten, layes downe this blasphemous Proposition indefinitely. Hee that hath

the same Spirit that raised up Iesus Christ from the dead, is equall with God.

The said Fox hath also avowed himselfe to be the Christ, yea, to be the way, the Truth, & the life. George Bickett, Isaac Bourne witnesseth.

At the last Assises above-mentioned at Lancaster, Mr. Sawro, a Justice of the Peace in that County, and an honest Gentleman, told Judge Puleston in the open Court, that he could produce many would witnesse, that Fox had affirmed himselfe to be the Christ. The same also he said in the hearing of an honest Minister in West∣merland, who will be ready to attest it when called to it.

This Fox hath also professed himselfe to be the Judge of the World. George Bickett, Adam Sands, Nathaniel Atkinson wit∣nesseth. Yea, the Eternall Judge of the World: George Bickett wit∣nesseth.

Iames Nailer, another of Satans Nuntioes, and principall spokes∣man in these parts, affirmeth that he was as holy, just, and good, as God himself. This was, I heare, attested at Kendall by two witnesses. There is a man of good Repute, an Inhabitant of Underbarrow, in the Barony of Kendall, who sayeth, many heard this Blasphemy be∣sides himselfe; but he thinks, being all followers of this Nailer, and Fox, they will be unwilling to testifie it.

Iames Milner, one of Foxes Disciples, in the County of Lan∣cashire, professed himselfe to be God, and Christ. Thomas Shaw, Gerard Shaw, George Inman witnesses. This mans Advocate, I mean that Pamphleteer, that took the pains to put forth, and procure the printing of that Book, called Sauls Errant to Damascus, or he that undertook to answer in his behalfe, to Salve this his execrable Blas∣phemy, and some wretched Prophesies which are already turned in∣to lyes, hath minted this miserable Excuse. As for Iames Milner (saith he) though his mind did run out from his condition, and from minding that Light of God which is in him, whereby the world takes occasion to speak against the Truth, and many Friends stum∣ble at it, yet there is a pure Seed in him.

It seems if a man be of their way, though a Blasphemer and false Prophet, by their own confession, yet with them he is excusable.

One Williamsons Wife, a Disciple of Milners, when she came to see him at Appleby, said in the hearing of divers there (whose names might be here inserted, if it was needfull) that she was the Eternall Son of God; And when the men that heard her, told her

that she was a woman, and therefore could not be the Son of God; She said, no, you are women, but I am a man. These last words I insert, that the Reader may see how strongly the Spirits of some of these people are transported, and how ready they are to affirm any thing how ever impious, or absurd.