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.

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

A Copy of a Letter to William Smithies, Minister of Cripple∣gate, LONDON. (Book 1)

Friend, William Smithies.

BEcause of the Character and Reputa∣tion thou hast, as a Person of Cha∣rity and Moderation, and also of thy Desire that I might signifie my Mind to thee in Writing, I was the more willing to give thee this following Information and Advertisement.

The Occasion of our late Proposals and Complaint to thy self, concerning F. Bugg, was the Incouragement and Strength, which we understand, he has taken from thee, and some others of the Clergy, to Commit and Persist in his intolerable Abuse and Scandal of an Innocent People, commonly called Quakers; and particularly by his being Reputed thy Convert,* 1.1 as also by thy Privity to, and Connivance at his Reviling and Scandalous Pamphlets and Books

against us as a People, and by thy promo∣ting the Reprinting his Injurious Pam∣phlet, with the New Title of The Con∣verted Quakers Answer: Which (with another Title) he had before delivered to the Members of Parliament, to render us both Odious and Obnoxious in the Eye of the Civil Government; and Consequent∣ly to Invalid the Condition of our present Liberty, and to make void our Liberty it self; which, as it bespeaks great Malice and Persecution in him, so no great Charity nor Prudence in thy self, either directly or in∣directly, to give Encouragement or Strength to such a Counterfeit Convert, whose work is not only purely Malicious and Revengful, but Injurious to the Christian and Civil Re∣putation of others, if he were but a Person of Credit or Reputation therein, as he re∣ally is not, with the Sober and Judicious.

We have pursued him, in a Christian Me∣thod, both with fair and moderate An∣swers in Print; the Substance and Principle Arguments whereof he has given the Go-by unto, and instead of any fair or solid Re∣plications or Rejoynders, he has partially and unjustly Raked up broken Passages, and Pieces, and Words out of some particular Deceased Friends Books, making his own perverse Constructions thereupon to Mis∣represent our Principles, and Scandalize us as a People, without any due Regard to, or Representment of the Author's own Expli∣cations,

or the Harmony or Concurrence of their own, or others of our Friends Te∣stimonies or Writings Demonstrating our Principles, which no ingenious Man will refuse Persons or People their own Explica∣tions and Harmony of their extant or pub∣lick Testimonies, to make out their own Principles.

Moreover, we have not thus left the said F. Bugg, but even since his last coming to London, we have earnestly besought and en∣deavoured to have a sober and suitable Meet∣ing with him, for a fair Dispute and Dis∣quisition of matters, chiefly in Controversie between him and us, and that before mode∣rate and disinterested Persons; and the more, because he pretended over and over that he accepted of my Printed Challenge in the Quakers Vindication, p. 4. and that he came 60 Miles to London to accept thereof, and had waited for an Engagement on e∣qual Terms near Three Weeks; when he himself knows (and others also) how he has been since followed with Letters, Mes∣sages, and fair Challenges in that Interim, even time after time, for such a Meeting as before; but he has, by his divers Dilatory, partial and unequal Terms (as by Letters made out to him, which he may shew thee if he will, about referring the matters in difference to the Decision of others, and for Retraction, &c.) not only protracted and delayed time, but at length, after he was

Argued out of his partial and various Terms, and after induced to grant, viz. If before Disinterested Persons, then no Re∣traction, which he concluded answered my said Challenge.

Yet for all this, a Meeting hereupon be∣ing appointed by some of the Persons Scan∣dalized by him, as Perjured and Pillored in his New Rome Arraigned, of which he had sufficient notice afore-hand, both of time and place; and accordingly some of us met, with divers Disinterested Persons for Wit∣nesses, nevertheless Francis Bugg came not at the Meeting. He has a conceited boasting insulting Humor and Clamorous, Deport∣ment at a Distance; but when he is closely put to it, and pursued for a Trial, and strict Examination of his Clamours, Charges, and Accusations, before Competent Wittnesses and Disinterested Persons, he shamefully Re∣volts and timorously Shrinks, as in this case of Controversie which he has begun against the People called Quakers, and which is as plainly told himself since by Letter; and I am perswaded (with many more) that he will bring no Honour to any of you of the Clergy, or the Church of England, by these his Malicious Attempts; and I wish thou would'st prudently Consider it, both for Truth's Sake, and thy own Reputation, to put a stop to his Injurious Proceedings, Scri∣bling, and Printing against an Innocent Peo∣ple, whom he has shamefully Deserted and

(in his Self-Contradiction, and Self-Con∣demnation) wickedly Reproach'd and De∣famed: A few Instances whereof do here follow.

Some of Francis Bugg's Principal Calum∣nies, and Misrepresentations of the People commonly called Quakers.

I. F Bugg charged us (i. e. at least Twelve of us) as being A Pack of False Witnesses, and Perjur'd Persons.

And this from his own Scandalous Mock Trial, Conviction, and Condemnation; un∣warrantably acted by him, in his New Rome Arraigned, Epistle to Bereans, p. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and p. 33. And all this for our Ne∣gative Testimony against the matter of his Charge, contained in the Four following Articles of his false Accusations against us, the said People, viz.

2. That they (i. e. the Quakers) deny Jesus of Nazareth: See The Converted Qua∣ker, p. 5.

3. That they call Geo. Fox * 1.2 the Branch, the Star, the Son of Righteousness, and put the North of England for the Town of Bethlehem; hereupon Bugg also falsly saith, That they did not mean Christ, but G. Fox.

4. And that the Quakers Prophets give witness to Geo. Fox, instead of this Christ, p. 82. and Chap. 3. p. 16. they say, That God Man, the Man Christ Jesus (who was

Born of the Virgin) was But a Garment, a Vail, a Vessel, [which is expresly con∣trary to our Principles] as Answered in Print: His Converted Quaker, p. 2.

5. F. Bugg Accuses the Quakers with Contempt of Scripture (i. e. the Holy Scrip∣ture) and (as intending) down with the Holy Scripture, affirming that they say, the Holy Scripture is carnal Dust, Death, and Killeth; * 1.3 tho' we find not that saying in any of our Friends Books quoted by him, and are sure 'tis contrary to our Principle, as the foregoing are, yet Bugg is not ashamed to say, viz. I have not set down one Line or Word as theirs, that is not theirs, New Rome Arraigned, p. 22.* 1.4

Note, That these Precedent Accusations are, not only expresly contrary to our Principles, and Concurrent Testimonies, ex∣tant in Print both for Jesus Christ, the Ho∣ly Scripture and Divine Authority thereof, but also to F. Bugg's own Testimony, in his Book Of Christian Liberty, the Second Part, Chap. 1st.

Where he confesseth our Prin∣ciples, Received in the beginning, to be Principles of Truth; and, in our Name and Person, Testifieth unto the Holy Scrip∣tures that they are good, and a true De∣claration of those things which were most

surely believed by the Apostles, and by us ought to be believed [thus far F. Bugg,

when a kind of a Quaker.]

Besides his Contradiction herein to him∣self, he Confesseth that here we agree (i. e. G. Whitehead and himself) namely, What the Holy Scripture is, That we do not Ascribe Holiness to the Paper and Ink, or Dead Characters, but to the Holy Doctrine and Blessed Precepts therein contained, which therefore is called the Holy Scrip∣tures, New Rome Arraigned, Apol. Intro. p. 6, 7.

Qu. Where then can he Prove, either that the Quakers Condemn the Holy Do∣ctrine and Blessed Precepts; or Say, that the Holy Scripture is Dust, Death, &c. We Challenge him, or any of you, his Abet∣tors, to prove such Contempt, or that Say∣ing, as the Quaker's, or their Principle.

6. F. Bugg's Charging the said People, called Quakers, with Contempt of Governours,* 1.5 Reviling Christ's Magistrates, account∣ing Magistracy a Cumbersome Tree, and their Principles as being* 1.6 Antimagistratical, and Antimonarchicate.

Note, Herein F. Bugg appears Mischeive∣ously Malicious, unjustly to render us Ob∣noxious to the Civil Government, like Ju∣das and the Jews, against Christ, and ren∣dering him an Enemy to Caesar.

7. His Reproachful Characters to Scan∣dalize the People called Quakers, viz. New Rome, Rome's Sister, Rome their Elder Si∣ster, and calls those, their Brethren, that pre∣tend to Sell-Pardons, and pray Souls out of Purgatory, and saith, that these (i. e. Quakers) follow The Steps of the Jesuits.* 1.7 And withal F. Bugg, in the Title of his Book, in Print, New Rome Vnmask'd, Scornfully and Reproachfully Termeth G. Whitehead one of her Chief Cardinals.

Remark. Now pray, let it be considered, Whither Bugg's thus wickedly Misrepresen∣ting the People called Quakers as Papists, does not greatly tend to gratifie the Popish Interest, by thus Magnifying of it, and to lessen and injure the Protestant Interest, and Consequently to Contradict and Affront the Government, which hath been pleased Legally to Recognize us as Desenting Pro∣testants.

Qu. Whether F. Bugg's Affront and Con∣tradiction hereunto, be not Seditious? [i.e. to Sow Discord, Strife, or Contention.]

8. Because of our Solemnly Declaring to the King and Parliament, That we believe the Holy Scriptures, of the Old and New Testa∣ment, were given forth by Divine Inspiration. And they have accepted this our Declaration, (and Legally made it a Condition of our Liberty) Bugg passeth this Judgment on us, the said People, viz. The more shame for

you to be so Deceitful, to give in a Testimony so contrary to your Belief: And that the Qua∣kers Pretending to the Parliament they believed them (namely, the Holy Scriptures) to be given forth by Divine Inspiration, was to serve a Turn, New Rome Arraigned, p. 40, 42.

Remark. Herein Bugg hath not only most grosly. Belied our Belief for the Holy Scriptures, but also Contradicted the Par∣liaments Charitable Acceptance and Belief of our Testimony therein. What Insolency, and Audacious Attempt is this? Dost thou approve or disallow hereof?

Bugg also very unjustly accuseth the Qua∣kers, that they Revile Christ's Ministers, Undervalue* 1.8 his Death and Sufferings, Condemn his Laws, Despise his Ordi∣nances; [all which is Expresly contrary to our Principles, and how proves he those to be Christs Ministers, whom our Friends have Testified against, viz. The Covetous Cruel Persecutors] Here he Imposeth and shamefully begs the Question.

10. Moreover he Treats the said People with these Characters, Black-Guard of Lyers,* 1.9 Horrible Blas∣phemers, Impudent Imposters, Cowards,* 1.10 Cunning Sophisters, Juglings Legerdemain, Great Deceivers, Horrible Blasphemers, Wretched Imposters. That surely Simon Magus never exceeded

these Imposters, Acts 8. With much more such like Outragious Railery and Defaming Treatment (too tedious here to recite,) being far Louder in Clamours than Proof; Barking loud at a Distance,* 1.11 but fearful fairly to Ingage.

NOW, Friend Smithies, seeing thou hast refused to Personate thy Convert F. Bugg, or to be his Advocate, or Vindicate him in his Charges and Books against the People called Quakers, as I Proposed to thee, and Offered thee a Meeting for that End, I de∣sire to know of thee, If thou wilt please to give a Check to him, and put a Stop to his defaming the People called Quakers in Print, or if he refuseth thy Advice there∣unto: If thou wilt give publick Testimony against him, by disowning his perverse Work, and tell the World he is Heady and Wilful, and no real Convert, If neither it will Reflect upon thee. Note, But to this Enquiry or Letter, I never received An∣swer from William Smithies as yet. I Hear he is again Printing against us (supposed as one Bent in his Malice to Scandalize us) which we resolve, with God's Help, not not to lye under; for we are assured, he has wickedly Wronged and Misrepresented our Christian Religion and Principles, and Shamefully and Undeservedly Scandalized particular Persons, both Living and Dead, and an Innocent People also; As we hope

in Christ ever to approve our selves, both in in the sight of God and Men, with due Honour to Jesus Christ in all his Works and Sufferings, and tender Respect to the Holy Scriptures: As by the Harmony and Con∣currence of our Ancient Friends Testimon∣ies is publickly Demonstrated, and we can make appear contrary to thy Con∣verts Unjust Pretences and Misrepresen∣tations; and therefore if thou dost not put a stop to his Mischevious Attempts, which severely Affects both our Christian and Civil Reputations, in Rendring us both Blasphemous Imposters, and Perjured Persons; his Malicious Mischievous Work, will Affect thee, and some others, who have Abetted him, and the Cry will be loud, and ascend higher than to thy self: I hope thou wilt Charitably accept this Information and Ad∣vertisement, and prudently Consider, and make Use of the same.

London, the 1st of the 1st Mouth, 1693-94.

FROM thy Friend and Well-wisher, Geo. Whitehead.

Expecting shortly thy Ingenuous Answer, &c. But no Answer yet.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Some Reasons for this Adver∣tisement to W. Smithies.
• * 1.2

  New Rome Vnmask'd. E∣pistle to Ber. p. 2.
• * 1.3

  New Rome Arraigned E∣pistle to Ber. p. 12. New Rome Vnmask'd. Re∣mark. on Creed, 6. & p. 78.
• * 1.4

  Which is proved notori∣ously False in our Answers in Print.
• * 1.5

  Converted Quakers, p. 6.7.
• * 1.6

  New Rome Arraeigned, E∣pistle to Ber. p. 12, 13.
• * 1.7

  New Rome Vnmask'd. p. 51.
• * 1.8

  Converted Quaker, p. 8.
• * 1.9

  New Rome Vnmask'd, p. 58.
• * 1.10

  Converted Qua∣ker, p. 8. New Rome Arrained, p. 11, 15, 18, 47
• * 1.11

  Canes Timidi vehementius Latrant.