A sober expostulation with some of the clergy against their pretended convert Francis Bugg his repeated gross abuse of the people called Quakers, in his books and pamphlets, viz., his New Rome arrainged, History of Quakerism, Second summons, Picture of Quakerism, and other pamphlets which may serve to invalidate the authority of the snake in the grass, as it refers to his books.

A Brief Advertisement to the Impartial Reader, upon Francis Bugg's last Book, falsly Stil'd, The Picture of Quakerism Drawn to the Life.

THat it may appear, that as to Matter of Doctrine, and divers other things contain'd in the said Book, he has frequent∣ly Repeated and Impos'd the same Notorious Calumnies and Perversions, Unjustly upon the People called Quakers, (with other A∣buses) which in the foregoing Treatise, and other of our Books in Answer to him, have been, and are fully Detected; please to take a Brief Catalogue of some of his Noto∣rious Calumnies, Lies and Abuses, with short Notes on them, as followeth.

1. In his Dedication to the Bishops of the Church of England, whom he flatters thus, viz. My Lords, I have not leisure to trace them (i. e. the Quakers) in all their By∣paths from the very beginning of their Rise, and to shew, how they branched forth from the Seeds of the Ranters, Levellers, and other Latitu∣dinarians.

Observe pray, herein he Imposeth a No∣totious and Scandalous Falshood upon the Bi∣shops, it being well known, that the said People, call'd Quakers, as to their Rise, sprung and branched forth from and out of Religious Families of the Puritans, (so called) and of the most sincere among those called Independent, Anabaptist and Presbyte∣rian Churches and Families, and others, and not from the Seeds of Ranters, as he has grosly defamed them, thereby Abusing both Bishops, and other Readers.

2. Their Contempt of the Scripture, as Beast∣ly Wares, p. 2. Calling them Beastly Ware, p. 42. That the Quakers have Condemn'd the Holy Scriptures, p. 48. That our Teachers tell us, that the Scriptures are Dust, Death, Beastly Ware, &c. p. 61. That their Chief Work in their Meetings, as well as Writings, was to lower the Power of the Magistrates, Re∣proach the Ministers, &c. and the Bible, Beastly Ware, &c. p. 97. He further saith, I know, if I had recommended the Scriptures, ye would have rejected them, as Serpents Meat, Beastly Ware, your frequent Epithets, p. 121. And Beastly Ware again, p. 125. Hist.

Obs. Thus he still shamefully Abuses the Readers, Bishops, and others, by these most gross repeated Blasphemous Calumnies, manifestly Detected both in the foregoing Expostulation, and other Answers to him.

So that he shamefully pleases himself with frequent Repetition of his old, stinking, loathsom Stuff to defame the Quakers.

3. That possibly our Women learn'd of my self (i. e. of G. W.) to call the Scriptures Dust, Death, Beastly Ware, &c. p. 122.

Obs. My Conscience bears me Witness, he hath suggested a horrid Calumny against me herein, having had a high and reverend Esteem for the Holy Scriptures, from my Youth upwards.

4. That they (i. e. the Quakers) sprung out of the Dregs of the People, as Ranters, &c.

Obs. Both which are Abusive Aspersions, before Detected. Query, Didst thou F.B. spring out of the Dregs of the People, as Ranters, when first thou turnedst Quaker? For shame, for shame leave off such sordid Stuff.

5. That the Quakers deny Christ, and that their Doctrine teacheth to deny him to be Christ, who was Born of the Virgin, and their Contempt of Jesus of Nazareth, (Contents, and p. 25, and 37.

Obs. We have often clear'd our selves of this repeated Calumny, abhorring the Blas∣phemy thereof.

6. That they deny Christ to be in Heaven above, at God's Right Hand, p. 26.

Obs. This Perversion has been often De∣tected: And our Confessing Christ IN us, by his Spirit, Light and Grace, is no Proof thereof.

7. That they (i. e. the Quakers) Encou∣rage each other to wait in the feeling of the Spi∣rit of a Deceas'd Brother, and call it, the Comforter; [therein comparing them to the Papists] p. 27.

Observe his Dulness and Stupidity in this Lying Perversion: He distinguishes not between the Saints Comforter, or Spirit of Truth in a Deceas'd Brother, and his own Spirit; i. e. between the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of a Man.

8. That it's very plain, that they (i. e. the Quakers) put the North of England for the T••wn of Bethlehem, and the Branch, the Star, the Sun of Righteousness, they most Wretchedly and Blasphemously attribute to G. Fox, p. 52. And that the Quakers did BELIEVE, the North of England was the Town of Bethle∣hem, &c. p. 53. That the Quakers give Testimony to G. Fox, as the Branch, &c. p. 57, 58.

Obs. What an Abominable Perversion this Story is, though frequently repeated by him, and detected by us, as hath been made

Evident. His Stageing us in his Mock-Tryal, Arraignment and Pillory, for So∣lemnly Denying the same, is not sufficient Abuse for us; but against all Truth and plain Demonstration, he insolently insists upon the same to defame us, like one har∣dened in his Iniquity, and Injurious Work of Darkness and Envy.

9. That Christ, that was Born in the City of David, the Quakers plainly say, This is not the Christ, p. 58. [For which he quotes the Christian Quaker, and his Divine Test. p. 98.]

Obs. I have Examin'd the Page 98. in both the first and second part of our said Book, Christian Quaker, quoted by F. Bugg here, in neither whereof do I find the Qua∣kers saying, That this is not the Christ that was Born in the City of David; but his Divinity Asserted, and his Pre-existence before that Outward Appearance or Coming of Christ in the Flesh, that he was the Divine Word, the Seed, the Light, the Life, &c. before he took upon him that Body prepar'd for him. See now how plainly and perversly F. B. has Abused the Quakers in this Mat∣ter.

10. He scornfully repeats a known Vn∣truth against me in these words, Dear George, to save thy Bacon, can now do it, [i. e. Swear] and that an Oath was read to

G. W. in open Court, April 9. 1695. and the Book being put to his Mouth, he submitted to it without gainsaying. p. 93.

Obs. In good Conscience, I deny this Sto∣ry again; and many can Witness the Con∣trary, as to what Testimony I bore in Court. Whoever was F. B's Informer, I shall not be much Inquisitive, I know my own Innocency, and can demonstrate it, if it were not to an Enemy, that labours to Asperse me.

11. That their Teachers in their Travels to and fro, to seduce the People not only from the Christian Religion, but from their Allegiance to their Governours, p. 101.

Obs. Which is a Malicious Lying Story, unjustly designed to render us Obnoxious.

12. He tells a false Story concerning a Bishop and Mr. Whitehead, that the Bishop said, they must insert a Clause for the Payment of Tythes, &c. meaning in the Bill for our Relief in the Case of Oaths. Upon which F. B. falsly Drols, But O Poor George, me∣thinks I see him how he rubb'd his Elbow, and scratched his Head, and look'd up as demurely as a Puritan, &c. Hist. p. 117, 118.

Obs. This whole Story, with the subse∣quent Passages depending upon it, is wholly false; for the Clause to Recover Tythes, was past in the House of Commons before it came up to the House of Lords.

I have not time now to go through his Repeated Calumnies, Lyes, and Abuses both in his Monstrous deformed Picture (as I may call it) of Quakerism; and his pre∣tended Brief History thereof, for they are numerous.

One thing more I may observe, how F. B. presumes to prescribe and dictate to the Government, from the Example of the FRENCH KING, towards the French Protestants, in the Year 1644. which he takes out of John Quick's History.

1. As to his Permitting the Protestant Mi∣nistry to hold a National Synod, and ordering them a Commissioner to assist and be present with them in their Synod. He cites the Writ Signed LEWIS, and the Commissioner's Speech, and Synod's Answer. P. 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102.

From whence F. B. takes upon him to prescribe and dictate to the present King and Government here, viz. That if the Go∣vernment think good to bestow that favour of them (as to have Anniversary Synods) it would be very proper, that there should be a Commissioner or two, ordered by His Majesty to Reside in their Counsel. And about 13 Precepts of F. B's to the Government to Restrain and Limit our Anniversary Meet∣ing, P. 122. to P. 126. Whence 'ti ob∣servable, how he strives and insinuates to perswade our Protestant Government, to

imitate the French King's Example here∣in. As if the King and Government here were as much fearful and jealous of his peaceable Protestant Subjects, as the French King was of the Protestants in France; and what Reputation or Honour has he in thus prescribing and dictating shewn to a Protestant Government in England, to in∣duce them to learn of a French King, and to imitate him in their Conduct?

2. He also dictates, how to call us in Question before Authority for our Books, &c. P. 121. O busie Dictator! will nothing serve him but Persecution (which he does but sorrily define) or some Popish Limita∣tions or Inquisitions over us, to introduce a new Persecution?

Ah! poor Francis! my Soul pities thee, tho' I have been plain with thee, may'st thou yet be humbled unto Repentance be∣fore thou dyest; for thy great Enmity, thy manifold repeated Calumnies, notori∣ous Perversions, and Persecuting Inve∣ctives!

And you his Ministers, Approvers, and Congratulators, (Expostulated with) J. A. W. S. &c. what think you of your Convert F. B. his Work? Will it quit the Cost and Pains, and be for your Reputation, or Church's Service, to encourage him thus to proceed in Scribling, and making Books, stuff'd with Repetitions of his old, over∣worn,

thread-bare stuff, made up mostly of the same reiterated, envious, and scorn∣ful Aspersions, and Perversions, frequent∣ly Refuted, without any direct or rational Reply from him; but instead thereof silly Histories of the same repeated Calumnies, &c. imposed upon the World by your Convert F. B. Alas! poor Man! what a Whirl-pool is he fallen into? Do you think he spends his Time or Estate well in such invidious fruitless Work? Or do you help him in the Charge? Pray consider of it, if you please. I have observ'd, he is very Industrious for you and your Interest, as he may think. I have in one Sheet An∣swer'd a Book of his, (as I may) and with that set his Windmil going again, to bring forth another Book, of some Bulk and Charge. But if he still thinks his said Picture of Quakerism is drawn to the Life, it should then be his Master-Piece, and save him more Labour and Charge of Limning against us. But if he can draw Pictures no better than this, or his Picture of Quakers in the Pillory, he had better give over the Trade, and Study to be Quiet, that he may Live and Die the more Quietly.

London, the 20th. of the 3d. Month, 1697.

FINIS.