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 the Reader.

THere is an unlicensed Pamphlet, called Sauls errand to Damas∣cus, lately procured to be Printed, wherein diverse Ministers of Westmerland, and Lancashire are falsly aspersed, and malici∣ously belied and traduced. Had it not been for the clearing of their Inno∣cency, and the discovery of the falsities contained in that Book too apt in this credulous age to be believed; (as whatsoever is spoken against a Mi∣nister) there had not been one word written in answer to it. And for the rest of that Book that concerns us not, I should be loath to betray my in∣discretion so far as to attempt a full answer to such a heap of words, or to trouble any judicious Reader with such fruitless contests. Good Readers, you have that Book by you, or can think it worth your buying or perusal, let me intreat you to read it with some observation of the Contents. And if you be men, whose inner man hath been indeed illuminated by the good spi∣rit of the Lord, and the knowledge of the Truth, or whose reason hath been at all refined or polisht by learning or good education: you will easily per∣ceive by what they have to say for themselves, that they are men, whose knowledge is science falsly so called, that these men are blind Leaders; that while they pretend to be full of the Spirit, full of Light and Revelati∣ons, they are led a captive prey to the spirit of lies, that spirit that workes in the children of disobedience, that they walk in thick darkness, that they go they know not whither, and speak they know not what. Something they would say to clear themselves of those blasphemies and cursed speeches they have been overheard to utter, and have bin deposed upon oath against them, both in Westmerland and Lancashire, if they could tell how. Flatly deny them they cannot, they do not, & you wil even wonder to see how they bungle out an answer. You wil admire at their impertinencies, inconsisten∣cies, irrational, insensate, misty expressions, as ambiguous sometimes as the devils oracles: and stand amazed to see their impudence, and how magisti∣cally they can revile & censure to the pit of hel, & how boldly they dare a∣vouch an error, and offer a rape upon the holy Text, wrest and misapply it, and father their heretical, absurd tenets & assertions on it, & that in Print even to the face of the world. While they would defend themselves before you, they bewray themselves, and if you be intelligent Readers, will stink in your nostrils. Nor wil you need that any man should take the pains of any reply the book is big with folly & madnes. It is self-accused and carries its confutation with it. Here is therfore notice taken chiefly of the calumnies charged upon some Ministers in Westmerland, as to matter of fact, (lest they should triumph in our silence, and the world look upon their relations as Truth) to which you may expect an answer so true, that if need be, it may be attested on Oath, by a multitude of witnesses.