Reason against railing, and truth against fiction being an answer to those two late pamphlets intituled A dialogue between a Christian and a Quaker, and the Continuation of the dialogue &c. by one Thomas Hicks, an Anabaptist teacher : by W. Penn.

Some of Tho. Hick's FORGERIES Detected.

I shall now endeavour to give some brief Account of his FORGERY; and notwithstanding the Hole he hopes to escape at, I doubt not to make it appear that he is guilty of it, and therefore a FOR∣GER. My Argument runs thus.

Arg. IV. He that gives that for a Man's Answer to any Question, that is not his answer to that Question, is a Forger; but that Tho. Hicks hath done, there∣fore a Forger, consequently no True Christian.

He agrees to the First Proposition; the Second he denies, as I suppose, which I will prove.

T.H. Anabaptist,

Is it Honest in you to deny the Scriptures to be a Rule to others, when at the same time you make it a Rule to your selves? Dial. p. 24, 52.

Quak.

Thou mistakest us when we make Ʋse of the Scriptures, 'tis only to quiet and stop their Clamours that plead for it as their Rule.

Anab.

Did this Light within create the Heavens

and the Earth, &c. it being proved that it self is but a Creature?

Quak.

Yes.

Anab.

Is this Light within the Immediate Object of Divine Worship?

Quak.

Yea.

Anab.

Doth not this justifie that horrid Act of James Naylor's at Bristol, in receiving Hosannah's with Divine Worship, &c? Dial. p. 64, 65.

Quak,

I think not meet to answer such Enquiries. A wicked Lye; for we disowned what was Condemna∣ble, as himself afterwards did. Again,

Anab.

If this Light be the Rule, who is the Sub∣ject capable of understanding it? Ibid. p 13, 14, 15.

Quak.

Thou art Drunk with Words and Carnal Di∣stinctions, I know not what thou wouldst be at. A very Lye,

Anab.

More the Pitty, if thou so furiously Con∣tendest for this Thing, and yet knowest not what I would be at, &c. He makes us Bad that he may condemn us.

Quak.

Thou art a Wicked Creature; Blackness of Darkness is reserved for thee. This is given in De∣rision.

Anab.

Was not my Question Plain and Familiar; but is this Answer pertinent? Is it not needful we should be informed, who must obey this Light? &c.

Quak.

Thou art a Serpent, and the Curse of God is Eternally upon thee. A Question never so answered that he can prove.

Anab.

This Language is so Natural to you, that it is as difficult for you to leave it, as for the Ethio∣pian to change his Skin, &c. Ʋngodly Man! Who sees

not that 'tis his Design not to be informed, nor inform us; but to Scoff and Deride us?

Quak.

Thou manifests thy Darkness, and that thou art still in thy Imagination.

Anab

What need these Impertinencies? T. Hicks is the Father and Forger of them.

Quak.

I comprehend thee, and see the Serpent's Sub∣tilty in these Questions; thou art out of the Truth, and drunk with Words. What is he that spues out these in∣vented Answers?

Anab.

Either thou canst, or thou canst not an∣swer me; be so free and honest as to tell me so. If thou canst, pray let me know, whether the whole Person, or part, or something else? What is this but to incense People against us, and beget Derision?

Thus Reader, does this Ungodly Anabaptist (the Scandal of his Profession) treat us. We charge it all with Forgery in the Name of God, the Lord of Heaven & Earth; and every Body that is not Blind, may s••e enough Scorn, Ignorance and Prophaness. But hear a little more.

Anab.

Do you believe the Scriptures to be the true Sayings of God? Ibid. p. 25.

Quak.

Yea, so far us they agree with the Light within. An Ar••ant Forgery.

Anab.

How shall I know that?

Quak.

I Witness it.

Anab.

Must I believe thee upon thy own Words?

Quak.

I would have thee do so. Abominable For∣gery!

Anab.

Wer't thou never Mistaken about Persons and Things?

Quak.

This is an Ensnaring Question.

Anab.

Did the Primitive Christians use to answer thus?

Quak.

We deny Imitation; We are to speak as we are moved. O Ungodly Mocker and Forger!

Here's your Anabaptist, a Preacher, a Perverter, a Forger, and a Prophaner of wholesom Words. Who moved him to this Romance, but the Father of Lyes? What Quaker can this be besides his; I mean, that Ʋnchristian Tho. Hicks? God will avenge the Qua∣kers Cause upon his Head, as sure as he is God, if he for these things repent not. But yet a little more upon Perfection.

Anab.

Will this convince me, or any other, of your Perfection? Ibid. p. 72, 73.

Quak.

Though it do not, yet thereby we shall render you so Odious to our Friends, that they will believe nothing that is spoken by you against us.

Anab.

Then may I not conclude, that the Reason why you so freely Rail against, and Reproach your Opposers, is only to secure your Credit with your own Proselytes?

Quak.

I cannot deny, but that there may be something of that in it. O Unreasonable Man!

Anab.

Will you be so liberal of your Revilings, whether your Adversaries give Occasion or no?

Quak.

It concerns us to render them as Ridiculous as we can, and to make our Friends believe, they do nothing but contradict themselves; And if this fail, we will insi∣nuate something by way of Question that may be Reproach∣ful to them. O Horrible Impiety! God, our God

vindicate our Innocency from these Hellish Slan∣ders.

Anab.

But doth not this signifie a very Dishonest and Malitious Mind in you?

Quak.

We care not what you think, provided our Friends think not so. Again, We will give it out, that we have both Answered and Confuted our Adversaries, and our Friends will believe us, which is enough to us.

Observe Reader, what a very Villain this Ana∣baptist has made of a Quaker; But where will it light, when the Anabaptist shall be known to be the Ma∣ker both of the Quaker and the Villain too? If this be not Forgery, there is no such thing in the World? O my Heart trembles within me to think of this detestable Piece of Cheat. He writes as if he were hardened against God, desperate against us, and resol∣ved to the Abuse of the poor People, to make them be∣lieve his Fictions to be Truths. But the Devil al∣ways spoils his own Business: For who (not quite distracted) can think it to be more our Interest, to please our Friends, that we are already sure of, then those who are not yet such, with Design to make them ours?

I charge these things with abundance more, rela∣ting to both our Doctrine and Practice, upon him, as abominable Forgery; And the Weight hereof shallly upon his Soul in the day of his Death. And the Righ∣teous God of Heaven and Earth will terribly plead our Cause in his Conscience to his great Amaze∣ment, and perpetual Anguish, if he repent him not of these Undertakings.

But he objects, what Fierce and Impertinent

Language he has given in Answer to several Questi∣ons E.B. furnisheth him with, in his Answer to one Phili•• Bennet •• Priest; As these: Thou art a wicked Creature, Blackne••s of Darkness is reserv'•• for thee. Thou art a Serpent▪ and the Curse of God is eternally upon thee. T••o•• Beast, to ••hom the Plagues of God are due; with which he makes •• great B••ast in his Continuation of the Dialogue written, in part, to prove the first no Fi••••ion: But till it be better done, he will remain a Forger in the Minds of all Impartial People; For that i•• not the ••wentieth part of what he ha•• given under the Quaker's Name. Should that be admitted for a Proof so ••ar as it ex∣tends? We have little Reason to believe that to be a sufficient Proof of the Reality of the f••rst, whose ve∣ry first Question ••nd Answer is a downright Forgery in G. Whitehead's Name and that with no Quotation, though he promis'd it; at once proving himself Ly∣ar and Fo••ger too. But in Defence of that wor∣thy Sufferer, and d••ceased Prophet of the Lord, I have this to say.

1. First, God having raised him with others by his Eternal Power which was very dreadful, & lived as a flaming Fire in the bosome of them against the Formality, Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Persecution and other Wickedness of that Generation of Covenant-Break∣ing Professors, both with God and Men, from whom they under-went bitter Mockings and cruel Sufferings. He and they have been drawn forth of the Lord to check, rebuke and strike dumb that Ʋnclean, Ʋnregenerate and Serpentine Spirit and Nature which was predominant, and that under the shew of Worship, and Forms of Reli∣gion, acted in a Mystery against the Life and Power of

Godliness. Wherefore, when this Priest in his Sub∣tilty and unclean Wisdom of the Tribe and Trade of the Ungodly Pharisee proposed these De••p and Weighty Queries (not so much to be inform'd as to ensnare; that's God's Word of Truth) whose State was to come to Judgment for Sin, and into the deep Fear, Aw and D••ea•• of Allmighty God, because of Iniquity, that through God's Righteous Terrors and Judgments, he might learn the true and experimental Knowledge of what was convenient for him to know (For they that do the Will of God, can only know the Life and Truth of his Doctrine) I warrant it from God, and by the Sence of his Eternal Spirit do declare, that it was the Portion, and only fit Answer to be given to those trapanning Questions. And had E.B. gone into a familiar Opening to his Vulturous, Unclean, Ser∣pentine Eye, all the deep Things of the Spirit of God, and Mysteries of his holy Kingdom, who was in that Nature that crucified the Lord of them, E.B. had brought the Wrath of the Eternal, Allwise God upon himself instead of the Priest, whose righteous Judgments were come, and at that time abroad in the Earth; And I do believe they struck him home, or we had heard of him ere this; For Hypocrites and Disob••dient Men sometimes are soo∣ner struck with Judgment then Argument.

2. Nor did the Priest enquire so harmlessly, as Th. Hicks would falsly insinuate.* 1.1 It is the Language of a white Devil, on∣set to Carp, Cavil, Catch and Ensnare the Innocent, for the Promotion of the outside and formal Re∣ligion; then cryed up, and secretly to smite at, and withstand the Lord's Spiritual Appearance

then breaking forth in the Nation. But the Priest queries smoothly? And what then? Is it ever the farther from being Serpentine for that? Was it not Then the Jews sought to entrap Christ by their Questions, when they came with a seeming Vene∣ration and Acknowledgment, calling him Master, and the like? Are sharp Words a greater Provocation, then a subtil Twining and Dec••itful Spirit. If Tho. Hicks can no better discern Spirits, than to believe every thing fairly spoken, to be true, his Judgment is like to be little minded; he is dead to all right Feeling. Every Spirit and Question is not to be answered; And can he so basely misconstrue our planest and most upright Assertions, and yet put so high an Estimation▪ upon every thing writ against us? He shews he would have us misrepresented at any rate. Let it suffice that E. Burrough gave no har∣der Names then the Scripture by Rule allows, we read of Dogs, Bears, Wolves, Swine, Serpents, Vi∣pers, Foxes, Children of the Devil, and such like; and as that Nature to whom they were then gi∣ven, thought them hard, so does T.H. now; but the same Power that then gave them, has now us'd them, to the same End and Purpose, and I abide by it.

3. Whereas Th. Hicks insinuates, that what E.B. said was to the Man, especially as to determining his Eternal State; I say, he has in a great part mi∣staken both him and us; For it was not so much to the Person, as that accursed Seed which was trans∣f••rmed in him, by whom the Soul was deceived, and the Heel of the true Seed bruised: Therefore it was an Answer of Love to the Priest, though a sharp and

heavy Answer of Judgment upon that Mind in him, which never did, nor never will, nor can please God in any.

4. 'Tis very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and wicked with a Witn••ss, in T.H.* 1.2 that he should run 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with two o•• thr••e leaves of a large Fo∣lio Book of about nine hundred pages consisting of so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so••id T••stimonies, pertinent An∣swers, heavenly Epistles, his P••eas of Liberty of Con∣science, his Letters, Prophecyes and Messages to the Pow∣ers (some of which his party is concerned in) and overlook them all; yea, and like a most Irreligious Miscre••nt indeed (for 'tis but a Misbeliever) and with as much Hard-heartedness and Inhumanity, as could be shewn by one Man, trample upon all his Valiant Acts, Tedious Labours, Great Sufferings, and Testimony unto Death it self for the free Exercise of a Good Conscience to God and all Men: And as if it were not enough, to rob him of the Praise due to his Life, and to speak Evil of him, now he is dead, he endeavours what in him lyes, to invalid his Reward, by rendring him unworthy of any Portion but what's to be had in Hell. God is my Record this day, I would not, to inherit more Worlds then there are Stars in the Firmament, have so viol••••ed the Law of Cha∣rity; against the most violent of our deceased Oppo∣sers; and God is a••l-sufficient both to find out, question, and recompense this Ungodly Traducer, whose Envy, I doubt not has Fire enough in it, to burn that good Man's Bones with his Books, as the Blood-thirsty Pope did honest Wic••••••ss; But Thanks be to almighty God, 'tis not in his Power, nor any of his old Covenant-breaking cankered Adherents:

God has swept them off the Stage; And I declare it to be both my Faith and Prayers, that they may never come on it more; For it is scarcely to be doubted, but if that Day were come, rather then not root out the Quakers, Th. Hicks would first forge Faults, and then Evidence to prove them. No Man can be secure of him in common Converse, who to compass his End, upon such as oppose him, will SELF-CONTRADICT, PER∣VERT, LY, FORGE, beyond which in this World is nothing but direct Murder, and that's a Question, since in some Cases it were less irksome to dy, then to be defamed.

Is this Doing as Men would be done to? Was D. Patricks Friendly Debate betwixt the Conformists and Non Conformists so Unrighteous in the Account of the Non-Conformists, because he made their An∣swers? and doth Tho. Hicks pursue that Example; yea, to a Continuation also, as he did before him▪ Nay, did not T. Hicks once, upon a time, condemn the Disingenuity of that Way of Writing? Yet himself the Man. Let us but consider the Early and great Care of some called Anabaptists, to de∣tect the Forgery of the New-England Bloody Baptism, lately cryed and vended in this City. Could one think that a Chieftant of them should be so Guilty of the same Injustice? and which is worse, hardened in it too? and which is worst of all, at that very Instant when they were testifying their great Abhor∣rence to all such Actions, and using all possible Means to check and interdict the Forgery? But we may learn from hence how hard it is for Th. Hicks and some of his Abettors, in the midst of all their

pretended Zeal for the Christian Religion, to do as they would be done by: They can fly to the Council-Board for an Order against it; to the Lord Major for a Prohibition of its Sale; To the Arch-Bishops Chaplain, both to recall his License to the For∣gery, and give them one to detect it. What have they mist to clear themselves? But this had less sus∣pected to be done meerly out of Reputation, if they had taken that Vile (yet their Brother) Anabaptist, T. Hicks into hand, for his Envious, Lying Pam∣phlets against us; whose Greater Pretences to Re∣ligion renders him far the worse Forger of the two: For the Author of that Pamphlet did not so much make it the Principle of those People to destroy, as to recount under the Relation of a Bro∣ther to the Party murdered, the Lamentable Tragedy acted by a Member or two of that People, which if it had been true (as perhaps it is a Lye) the whole Body had not been concern'd to answer for the Pas∣sion and Fury of two or three particular Persons, further then to renounce that Action. But T. Hicks hath publickly avowed Lyes against us, the Grossest imaginable, rendring us Inconsistent with Christani∣ty, and Destructive of the Government under which we live, and that by OUR PRINCIPLES too; then which no greater Charge can be given, as well as no greater Lyes told against us. Well! God will be even with them for these things; and will rid both Himself and us, of that Generation of Vipers and Hypocrites, who make Lyes their Refuge, and glory in their Warfare against the Lamb, and his Followers; who will assuredly have the Victory: But the Tender-Hearted God will

gather, and that speedily, I do believe as well, as that I do very greatly desire it.

To conclude, In both Books he has given those Answers in our Names, which never were our An∣swers at all; And that little he has quoted out of our own Books, he has given as those Answers to o∣ther Questions, & many times to other Matter; there∣fore not our Answers, but his own: And conse∣quently Th. Hicks is guilty of Forgery, and so a Forger. Thus much of this Subject, to his eternal Infamy, if not wip'd away by unfeigned Sorrow and Amendment of Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cont. P. 18.
• * 1.2

  Ibid. P. 27.29.32, 33, 34 38.