The Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, reason, and authorities against the injurious attempts that have been lately made by several adversaries, with manifest design to rendor him odiously inconsistent with Christianity and civil society : in II parts. / The first more general by William Penn ; the second more particular by George Whitehead.

ct. XXIII. The Baptist's Abuse against G. W. about a Meeting with them at Devonshire House, the 18th of the 7th Month, 1672. and T.H. taking part with a Socinian Pamphlet.

HIs accusing me of so much Partiallity as renders me Guilty of very Great Imperfection, p. 54. about a Relation of what happned betwixt him and me, at a Meeting in Devonshire House, the 18th of the 7th Month, 1672.

This is of little value to me, while I and many others know the contrary: and while he neither proves his Accusation; nor gives either a true or impartial Nar∣rative thereof himself.

But his chief pretended Proof against me, is our saying, the Baptists seemed more like Beasts then Men, several at once making a bawling and hideous noyse, &c. The truth whereof many were eye and ear. Witnesses; and he cannot clear them herein: But instead thereof, falsly says, the Quakers manifested as much Rudeness, as the worst of men are wont to do to their Opposers.

But in this also, he hath very grosly belyed the Qua∣kers: And he may know in his own Conscience, that he himself was a pattern of Incivility towards us; stirring up his Proselytes into Rudeness by his Passion and ill Lan∣guage, as Knave, deceitful fellow, audacious fellow, impudent fellow, &c. whereas he had no such Language, nor Behaviour from me, or my Friends.

Besides, there were many of his Friends, and but very few of mine had notice; Because some of the Baptists pre∣tended before, to me, that there should be but a few of their friends, and therefore I acquainted but very few of mine; otherwise, I should have made it more publick, if they had but dealt ingeniously by me, which I must say, they did not herein.

And for him, thus to charge the Quakers with mani∣festing as much Rudeness, as the worst sort of men. He doth not so much herein, as ex e pt common Revilers,

Drunkards or Persecutors; so that his slander is the more gross and notorious.

He saith that they called to speak directly to the Question (viz.) Whether this Body of Flesh and Bones shall arise again? To which Whitehead answered, he saith, that this Body of Flesh and Bones, shall not arise again.

Herein again he hath wronged my Answer; sor it was not stated in these words, but in the very words of the Apostle Paul, 1 Cor. 15. 35, 36, 37, 38. as in the Narrative is fully related; for being aware of their carping, caveling, spirit, I kept close to the plain Words of Scripture in my positive answer,

How be it when W. Kiffin, said, That the Seed, that's sown, is this same Body of Flesh and Bones which shall arise, though otherwayes qualified, viz. more glorious, &c. This being upon my Question about the Seed, to which God gives a Body as it pleaseth him: I did deny that the terrestrial Body, or Body of Flesh, Blood and Bones, as dead and buried, is the Seed in∣tended by the Apostle, to which God gives a Body, as it pleaseth him; And that the very same Carnal Body, should arise again: I say, it hath not yet been proved to me; nor am I satisfied therein, from any who have obtruded this Question and Controversie upon me. To which I now add, nor am I re∣solved by these men; but the Question may be further examined hereafter.

Again, after I am accused for leaving out of the Narra∣tive the a•…•…oresaid Answer, viz. About this Body of Flesh and Bones, falsely obtruded upon me, the pretended Omission is supposed to be either from a bad Conscience, or a defective Memory, p. 54. wherein my own Conscience doth clear me; and my Innocency concerning the first, and Experience of the latter is better known and judged of in my self then by an envious and salse Accuser, that neither knows my Conscience, nor Capacity.

And yet after thus doubtfully he hath accused me, ei∣ther for an evil Conscience or bad Memory, he presently saith, hence I conceive it to be more proper for him to be angry with him∣self, for being deceitful, then sor another to tell him that he is so, p. 35. See here what a positive Judge he makes him∣self

over my Conscience, when as before he is so doubtful and wavering in his Charge.

For suppose any Omission through defect of Memory; Is this sufficient ground to conclude a man deceitful? Mark the Inconsistency of this mans Work of Envy against me: And I do not only reflect his false ill Language upon him; but also testifie against his Malice and slandering of me, (as he doth divers others) And particularly his Outrage against G. F. most malitiously and falsly reproaching him as a Blasphemer and Deceiver; and for instance tels us, he has been publickly detected, as namely by a Book called, The Spirit of the Quakers tryed, p. 55.

Concerning which I would have the Reader to take notice, that the Book he here cryes up, is a Socinian Book, wherein the Divinity of Christ is denyed; and that G. F. is chiefly opposed sor asserting the Divinity of Christ, and particularly, for his confessing, that Christ was in being, and in Glory with the Father before the World began. See here, from hence it is observable, this Adversary of ours makes little Conscience, whom he takes part with, so he finds them to be Enemies to us.

He now questions whether to attain to Perfection, be the Priviledg of any on this side Death, p. 55. When before he hath op∣posed its being attainable here, and put it off till he be in Heaven, p. 50. But now he is uncertain whether Perfecti∣on be attained by any on this side Death. He should have appeared thus ingenious at first; and not positively op∣posed that which afterwards he questions; But this is accor∣ding to the Tenour of his uncertain confused Work.