Truth tryumphing in a suffering time over deceit and falsehood, or, William Prynn's book of Quakers unmasked clearly detected and the innocency of the people vindicated from the grosse abuses and injuries done them by him ... / by G.W.

Truth Tryumphing in a suffering time o∣ver Deceit and Falshood.

COnsidering the mighty power and good hand of our God in preserving and prospering us in his way and work, and how he hath enlarged the borders of his Sanctuary amongst us, and how far short our persecutors have fallen of ef∣fecting their evil designs against us, whereby they have sought our Ruine and Destruction from being a people, which the Lord God hath prevented and frustrated, notwithstanding the many Enemies, Persecutions, Afflictions, and Tryals we have met withall and do undergo: If the hearts of the wicked were not set in them to do wickedly, because Judgement is not speedily exe∣cuted upon them, they might consider their way, and cease joy∣ning hand in hand against the seed of the Righteous, and not smite with the fist of wickednesse, nor so beset the Righteous on every side, as if they would swallow them up quick, and destroy them from amongst men; for whilst Satan is permitted to make use of some of his Instruments to belie, ••lander, and reproach us•• and to render us as odious as he and they can, that they may stir up and Instigate others of his Instruments to persecute and op∣presse us by outward Penalties, Sufferings, Imprisonments, Ba∣nishments, and what not, to the utmost of their power. Now if the Lord God h••d not been, and were not on our side, what would become of us? Who could sustain us in all these troubles but he alone, whose faithfulnesse fails not, and whose Love is continued unto them that fear him and hold their Integrity in him, and walk in his way and path, and abide in his truth which is the same still, and changes not, and such do not gad abroad to change their way, but do confide in his name and power in which is our defence, in the midst of all our Tryals and Affli∣ctions; and in his Salvation we have Joy and Tryumph over all un••lean spirits and lying tongues, and over all the deceits of false hearts, hypocrites, time servers, men-pleasers, and deceit∣ful

workers, who ••eek to curry favour and ingratiate the••selves in with the powers, and such as be uppermost, by railing•• revi∣ling, and belying the persecuted and despised people of God, who are so deeply exposed to suffering at this day (which course of proceeding against the sufferers is a work of as base a spirit as is amongst men) among which Railers and Revilers, I fi••d one William Pryn••e, Esq (so written) not one of the least, as hereafter is briefly made manifest in the sequel hereof, upon exam••nation of his false Charges and Accusations (together with his p••etend∣ed proofs thereof) against us [the suffering people call••d Qua∣kers] which being so very grosse and apparently false, I would be as brief as I may about t••em.

And now mark the Title of Will••am Prynne his Book, and his Charge upon which he grounds his matter against the Quakers (so called) viz. The Quakers unmasked and clea••ly de••ected ••o be but the Spawn of Rom••sh Frogs, Iesuits, and Fra••ciscan P••p••sh F••yers, sent from Rome to seduce ••he i••••ox••ca••ed and g••dd••-head••d E••glish Nation. I answer, how false and slanderous this accusation is thousands in this Nation may judge, as also our Life, Cove••sation, Doctrine, Writings and Testimonies and the suffering of several of our Friends under the Pope both in France and Rome, where some till they dyed did manifest this Charge to be false; and how can any suppose the rest of this matter to be truth which is grounded hereupon, when the very ground of his Book is a ••••ie, which though it hath been detected several years ago, yet i•• is now re-printed and enlarged, and brought forth as if it were still per∣tinent to us and the English Nation; which he saith is ••n••oxica∣ted and giddy-headed, and so he hath not only set hims••lf as a Judge over us, but over the whole Nation, and in his ••irst and second pages tells of multitudes of R••mish Wo••ve••, Locus••s, Ca••er••••l∣lars of all Sects, Order••, as Iesuits, Franciscans, Benedict••nes, Dom••∣nican•• and the like, come f••e••ly over in whole Troops from For••aign Se∣minaries and Cell, that act their several ••a••ts and Pagean••s on the Th••a••re of our d••st••acted English Church and S••ate, to bring both of them to Ruine under al sorts of disguises without any wa••ches or sear∣ches at all, to seclude or detect, &c. Mark here how he hat•• ce••su∣red and reflected upon the English Church and State, and is n••t ••his a di••paragement and reproach to the Government ••hereof,

which had we or some called Sectaries spoken thus much, what would it have been deemed•• would it no•• have been counted Se∣ditious, if not worse? And if this be true that he saith, (which I refe•• to the judgements of both Rulers and People of England.) what reason have we to conform to such a distracted Church, that these he counts Romish wolves, Locusts and Jesuits have so much power over (if his words be true) or any to be compelled there∣to•• for would you not count him a mad-man that would follow a distracted Woman for his guide and leader (especially in mat∣ters of Salvation) or them mad-men that would compel others to follow such a one?

And now le•• us ex••mine his p••oof for his aforesaid Charge and Accusation against the Quakers•• which is an Information of George Cowl••••••aw of Bristol, taken upon his Oath 22. of ••anuary 1654. which he informeth from one Coppinger (as he saith) a Fryer of the Fra••ciscan Company, who should tell this Cowl••∣shaw that he had been a•• London for some Moneths, and had been at all ••he Churches and Meetings•• publick and ••rivate that he could hear of, and that none came so near him as the Quakers, &c To which I an∣swer, Cowlisha••'s Oath of a bare report (if it be true that such a thing was reported) was no sufficien•• evidence to convict the Quakers (so called) of being guilty of W. P. his Charge aforesaid, nor for him to passe such a severe Sentence and Judgment upon them, nor to go about to instigate the Magistrates to persecute or suppresse them as he hath done: For if another should come and swear that W. Pr••nne affirmed that the Q••akers are but the spawn of Romish F••o••s and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; doth it prove his Affirmation or Charge true? He hath shewed himself worse then the very heathen in this thing, to take a mans Information against people behind their backs, as sufficient for their conviction, whilst the accused were not present to answer face to face before their ac∣cusers: For the Romans Law did not condemn any man before a fair hearing and tryal, and should men proceed thus illegally, or this manner of inveighing against a people, be admitted of, or owned as rational; then who could escape his false censures and unjust judgments. For Christ told his followers, that men should revile them and persecute them, and say all manner of evil of them falsly for hs names sake. Now if any should have sworn

that they had all manner of evil spoken of them, could th••t be sufficient to prove them guilty of all manner of evil? No sure, but the quite contrary, he told them they were blessed ••hen they so suffered. And further, mark his Information from ••op∣pinger; That being at a Meeting of the Quakers, he there met with two of his acquaintance in Rome which were of the same Franciscan Order and Company, that were now become chief Speakers amongs•• th•• Quakers, and that he himself haed spoke amongst them in London a∣bout 30. times, and was well approved of amongst them; To which •• say, these things being known to be so notoriously false, as many in this City know, that little need be said to them; neither need we go about to prove a Negative or denyal of them, for bot•• the weaknesse and fallacy of his matter is very apparent, and had he ••amed these he calls chief Speakers, it would further have ap∣peared that he had notoriously belyed the Quakers, because all ••hose that are owned as Ministers or Speakers amongst ••hem (who have gone forth publickly in the work) are so apparently known, that many would have been able to have confu••ed this false Information of their being either Jesuits or any whit ••ela∣ted to them in their way or Orders; but it seems the conceal∣ing of their names was in pollicy to make the Lying story more credible, which how apparently it contradicts it self, any tha•• are rational may judge: where after Coppinger told Cowli••••aw that none came so near him as the Quakers, and that t••o of the Franc••scan Order was chief Speakers amongst them, and that he was well ap∣proved of amongst them; yet after this, page 4. That this Cop∣pinger told him two or three times, that if he d••d love his Relgion and soul, he should not hear them, &c. Look here what Contradiction here is•• and how plainly the Quakers are hereby cleared f••om being s••ch as before they were Charged to be, and that they do not own ei••her the Fryers or Jesuits; neither are their Speakers such, for if they were, could it be a likely story that a ••ranciscan Fryer should disswade a man from hearing them, and that a•• he loved his Religion and soul; see what is become of ••. Prynn•• story and proof against the Quakers, and whether it be sufficient thereupon to give notice to those in present power to proceed against them under pretence of preventing such dangerous growing mischiefs which unrighteously he chargeth upon the Qua••ers.

And thus a lying•• slandering, and persecuting spirit ha••h uttered forth its Rancour and Venome against an Innocent people; and should the Magistrates be led by him and such malicious spirits, as to be perswaded and ruled by them, what would become of the peaceable Subjects, and of this Nation in general? Though he, and such Time-servers, Hypocrites, and Men pleasers who can turn any way with the times for their own Ends and Pre••er∣ment, are Instruments fit enough (Iudas-like) to serve the per∣secuting spirit, and to do the persecutors work and drudgery against the poor and despised people whom the Lord is with; but they whose work and service is managed by such, let them mark the End of their work in the day of the Lambs wrath, when they that have taken Counsel together against the Lord and his anointed shall have a recompence of reward according to their doings, and when the Kings of the Earth, great and mighty men and chief Captains, and both every bond and free-man, shall hide themselve in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains, and say to the Mountains and Rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the ••hrone, and from the wrath of the Lamb, Rev. 6. Here neither Masters nor Servants, that have a hand in this work, and have but the Mountains to fly to, shall be able to hide themselves.

And as touching the exception that Iohn Audland gave against Cowlishaw's Informa••ion and Oath aforesaid, as proving it un∣true; where ••. A. said, That two of them reproach••ully called Quakers, came from the North in the Moneth of Iune, and came into Brist••l the 12. day of the Moneth called ••uly, 1654. Which plainly enough proves the Information from Coppinger and Cow∣lishaw false; where Coppinger in the Moneth of September spoke of their being to come to Brist••l within a Moneth or three weeks following, and the other denying that any Quakers had been in Bristol before their discourse in September, whereas two of them were there above a Moneth before, in the Moneth called Iuly, and had Meetings, where they did publish the truth. But Wil∣liam Prynne to colour over and glosse this false Information a∣gainst the Quakers, to make the Nation believe it for truth, he saith of these two, called Quakers, being at Meetings at Bri••••o•• on the 13th. of Iuly, That ••hat was unknown to Cowlishaw and most

others, &c. And that they spake to ••h••se people not under the ••ame or notion of Quakers, but only of Anabap••ists and Independents, and that in September•• or at that time they began to take upon them the ••ame of Quakers, &c. To which I reply, now m••rk what silly shuffling he hath ••ere made to prove the former Information an•• Oath true, a•• if its being unknown to Cowlisha•• that they were in Bri∣stol in Iuly, did prove his flatly denying them to have been there before Sep••em••er true: For his not knowing that they were there manifests that he spake both unadvisedly and without know∣ledge, ••nd gave that in upon his Oath which was false, which seems to be done more out of prejudice against the pe••ple called Q••••kers, then either honesty or truth: So as ••. A. is neither guilty of slander nor double Lie in his detecting this Information and Oath of ••owlis••aw, as falsly W. P. hath accused him, for who but one in prejudice and enmity, would have given such a con∣fused and false Information upon Oath against us. [But '••is no strange thing to us to be reviled and sworn against, for as Da••i•• said, Mine ••e••em••es repr••a••h me all the da••, and they that ••re m••d against me are s••orn aga••nst me, Psal 102 8.] And how ap••arent∣ly false is it also to say that they spoke to those people th••n not under the name or notion of Quakers, but only of Ana••aptists and Independents, and that they began to take upon them the name of Quakers at the time of September, which is a double false∣hood; for they were known to go under that name in th•• North long before they came to Bri••••ol, as also Coppinger, as he saith in September, told of being at a Meeting of the Quakers in London, and at all the Churches and Meetings publick and private; and they did not take upon them that name as falsly is said, but it was put upon them at first by persecutors and scoffers, as I. A. hath well said of us whom the world reproachfully calls Quakers•• who were not moved of the Lord to come to seduce the people of Bris••ol, as falsly W. P. accuseth I. A. with averring, pag. 35. Wherein his slander is so apparent that he that runs may read it: And as for Iohn Au••la••d whom he hath reviled•• he was a faithful Servant of Christ and true Prophet, who lived and die•• in the faith, and whose Memorial will be forever blessed•• when Wil∣liam Pry••n•• will be had in contempt and perish among t••e wick∣ed Hypocrites and Men pleasers, whose end shall be a••cording

to his works, and whose portion will be amongst those spoken of in Rev. 21.8. ••f he repent not. And in his repro••ching them for coming together as he saith like the Franciscan Fryers, And as the Quee••s Franc••s••a••s did here of late. Is this a ••ufficient Ar∣gument against us? Did not the Disciples of Christ for a time go two and two togethe••? And what i•• the Franciscans or any in the Apostacy did or do imitate such a practice, does it follow that all are wrong that do it, or that it is to be condemned in it self when practised by such as are true Ministers? And so comparing his accusing us in several things with what Copp••nger said, whom he makes the Original of his Information and matter against us, they appear to be very like, and both strangers to us and our principles; for if Co••pinge the Franciscan Fryer (as he saith) told his ••nformant (who gave his Information upon O••th against us) that if he did love his Religion and Soul he should not hear us, how like the Franciscan Fryer W. P. is, and how he helpeth them in their work: For it seems they would not have men to hear us, no more would he, but would have us persecu••ed and supprest by the Magistrates.

And farther, mark how after he hath positively from the Ly∣ing story concluded the Quakers to be Jesuits and ••ranciscan Fryers, he saith page 5. Th•••• which gives g••eat Ca••se o•• suspicion, tha•• they are ei••he•• disgu••sed Franciscan Fryers, or their seduced Dis∣ciples, &c. Mark here how poorly he comes off, and how silly and feeble his matter is, is easie to see, who now makes that a su∣spicion which before he had so positively concluded: And if I. A. did not write Grammatical sense in coupling two Verbs singular with [US] a p••ural as W. P. saith, then it appears he is not a Jesuit, nor such a one as he hath accused him for; for such were wont to be deemed great ••chollars by the ••riests and others; but it seems I. A. did stand more upon the truth of his matter then strictnesse in words: And another of William Prynns proofs against the Quakers so called, is, That their coming out of the No••••h is a shrewd Argument of their badnesse, and for it brings that Scripture, Ieremiah 1.14. Chapter 4.6. Chapter 6.1, 22. That out of the North an Evil shall break forth upon all ••he Inhabitan••s of the Land, and great destruction shall be from the North. In which

he hath perver••ed these Scriptures, for this was intended to Ie¦rusalem and the Land of Iu••ah, Ier. 1.15. And proves nothing against us, as to prove us either Jesuits, Popish Priest, or Recu∣sants: But and if that great Destruction spoken of sha••l come upon this Land, and that North from whence it shall c••me be Westmerland, as William P••ynne applyed that Scripture, then how shall he and such as he escape, who hath so much reviled the North, saying, All Evil comes from the North; But he might o∣therwise have con••idered what hath been said and Pr••phesied concerning the North, and how accordingly tydings a••e gone forth of the North which does trouble the beast, Dan 11.44 And now the persecutor and his followers, such as he is, are t••oubled, when those are come forth of the North that shall spoil Babylon, and the Lord will gather his Seed out of the North Countries and all Countries where it hath been scattered, Ier. 23.8. Wil∣l••a•• P••ynne might have stopt his mouth from reviling the Inno∣cent Servants of the Lord, and his faithful labourers whom he hath sent forth of the North, and his Seed which he hath raised up in these Northern Islands.

Again, W. P. Saith Westmerland is well known to have abounded with I••suit••, Popish Priests, Fryers, Re••usan••••, and persons popishly affected, ever si••ce the Reformation; Witness the Rebellion of the Ea••l of West∣merland, and the Northern Pa••ists under h••m, ••o advance the ••opish Re∣lig••on, and destroy Queen Elizabeth, and the Protestant Reformati∣on, Anno 1569. With the late power of the Lord William Edward, Ducket, Legborne,— Fleming; and other Popish Families in that Count••. I answer, This proves nothing against the Quakers, so called, whose innocency and peaceable deportment bo••h in West∣merland and other Counties, doth clear them in that particular: And therefore, to accuse the innocent, because some ••f anot••er judgement (or such as we disown) have been Rebellious, this is no good Argument nor proof against them. And ••s for the power that some Popish ••amilies (or these aforesaid) had or have there, which he mentions, thats no proof against us; for from whence had they their power, and in whose name did ••r do they exercise it, whom he mentions as his proof for Westm••rland a∣bounding with Jesuits, how will W. P. answer this if he be

called in question; yet I do not believe but that he wrongs West∣m••rl. in accusing that County with abounding with Jesuits, Popish Priests, &c. ever since the Reformation (as he calls it;) And as for his concluding that they may justly fear an Emanation of Jesui••ical, Franciscan Frogs, and Emissaries from Westm••rland. Now ••o ••his, I say his groundlesse fear proves nothing against us, no more ••hen his ••ormer frothy stuff a••ainst u••, and his Fears and Jealousies he pretends against the Quakers arise but from his own evil ••eart, whose confusion and the groundlesnesse of his stuff is evident, whilst one while he concludes the Quakers to be such, at another whi••e he does but suspect or fear them to be (as he pretends,) And his saying that Mr. Tillam a Popish Priest (as he saith of him) avers in Print that these Quaking Agonies were a••∣rived from the Fran••iscan Fryers, &c. Mark what silly proofs he brings again•••• us, this Tillam is a man that hath writ against us, and hath been always opposite to us and our principles, which if he be a Popish Priest (as he saith) then this proves that we are no Papists, nor in any of their Orders, as he slanderously accu∣seth us; but rather W. P. is very much addicted to Popery, he hath so much taken up their work with Coppinger and Tillam a∣gainst us. And as touching Quaking and Trembling, or Sha∣king which W. P. in page the 7th makes his chief proof against us, and saith, Tha•• no••hing in his judgment more clearly detects the Po∣pish Fryers, Priests, and Iesuits to be the principle Inventors, Erectors of Acters, Rulers, and Speakers amongst our Quakers, and other new Sects.

Answer.

Here again without any ground or reason he hath slan∣dered us, and hath shewed himself ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God, who regards such as are poor and of a con∣trite spirit, and trembles at his ••ord, Isa. 66.2. (Which we are real witnesses of) and how many of the Prophets and holy men of God did quake and tremble, the Scriptures do evidently testifie.

And in page 20.21. One of W. P. His main Arguments a∣gainst the Quakers to prove that the Jesuits, Priests and Franciscan Fryers have a principal hand in erecting and promo∣ting

them, is, that Ignatius Loy••l••o the Father of Jesuits, and first Founder general of their Order (as he saith,) P••e••ended a Divine call from God, and cast off his costly Ap••arel, which he gave to the p••or, Cloa••hed hims••lf in cou••se sackcloth, wandred up and down professing the study of poverty, pennance, mortification, and co••∣tempt of the world, leading a most Aus••ere life for a time; mostly eating little else but course bread, and drinking nothing but cold water, and p••eaching often Gratis in the open Streets, and without any Ordi∣nation or License at all from the Bishops or Clergy, exhor••ing them to Repentance, &c. And is not this the very practice of our Qua∣kers and Shakers now, who exactly imitate him herein (he saith.)

Answer.

What of all this, what ever Ign••t••us was in himself, we ••eed not dispute that: But were these things evil in themselves that he professed, as Mortification, Contempt of the world, Pre••ch∣ing Gra••is in the open Streets, Exhorting to Repentance, &c. If they were not evil, but Lawful in themselves, what does it prove against the Quakers that they are Jesuits or Deceivers; No sure, for then it will reflect upon all that professe and ••old the truth in Righteousnesse, and so it proves as much against all the Servants of God as us; because some hath professed and withheld the truth in unrighteousnesse: And then all Christen∣dome that professe Christ are Papists, because the Pope and Jesuits professe him, is this William P••ynns Logick, he might have spared his Labour of such silly work as this: Much more might be 〈…〉〈…〉 she•• ••i•• Absurdities herein, but let the Judicious judge o•• his Ma••ter. And what a silly busi••esse is it for ••im to ••ell us of Igna•••••••• hi•• Pre••ching o••••en Gratis in the open S••ree••s wi••hout Ordi••••tion from the ••ishops, for needed he Ordination from the•• to Preach Gratis; No sure, for it is those Priests that seek fat Benefits and Living••, Tithes and filthy Lucre for their Preaching, th••t must have Ordi••ation from ••he Bishops; but did not this man ••••••merly speak and write agai••st B••shops? And in his 8th. page accuseth our Books of Invectives against their Minis••ers, Church, Presbyterian Government, &c But it seems as if he were not aware of this, it being w••it

when that Government was up, or how it might reflect upon his present interest with the times; which though it be now come forth with his Additions as Frothy, Vain, and Foolish as his first part of his Book; but considering how much talk we have heard of this our Opposer, and of his former suffering with Bur••on and Bastick, and having his Ears cut, he might have shewed more tendernesse to us, and such as are under suffering then he hath done; and not so have slandered and reviled us: But this we have seen, that such as play the Hypocrites in turning with the Times, and seeking to gratifie them in power upon every turn, by persecuting the Innocent, they grow the most hardned and benummed in their Consciences, and the fitter to do Iudas his work; And in page 15.16. William P••ynne tells the Magistrates of suppressing all Heresies and Errours, By Law and penalties, and of the Civ••l Magistrates Coer••ive power and Iurisdiction in Matters of Religion, and bids them search after, restrain, secure, and pers••cute all romish Foxes, Wolve••, &c. A••cording to our Laws and Statutes in force against them, &c. And be as vigilant to secure Gods and our Churches cause and interest, &c.

Answer.

But he intended this against us called Quakers, and we do not own him to be any Competent witnesse or Judge against us, (••hough he hath assumed both,) neither is his Evidence true, but altogether false against us; and he a slanderer and forger of meer Falsehoods, and hath also shewed a very malicious and inve••erate spirit, in going a∣bout to cause men to be persecuted, or compel••ed by pe∣nal Laws for matter of Conscience or Judgement; for that way of Compulsion is neither the way to suppresse Er∣rours or Heresies, nor to convince the Judgments either of such as are Papists or others, but the way to make them Hypocrites like himself: (And its more meet to endeavour to convince an•• reclaim Jesuits, and such as be in Errour to bring them to Repentance, then to destroy them, for thats the way to bring them sooner to Hell, if they be de∣stroyed,

and perish in their Errour) and how is their Chur∣ches cause secured by this way of Compulsion or prosecuti∣on of penal Laws against men that di••sent in matters of Conscience or Worship (though such as are crimin••l Offen∣ders, as Plotters and Conspirators the ••ivil Law reaches) when he confesseth the English Church is distracted, page 21. And that Ignatius his Disciples (or the Jesuits) have made most Christian Kingdoms Churches (especially our own of late years saith he) both to quake, and tremble, and shake them in pieces, as in his 22. pag. Now mark here also what a sad Church this is which he would have men forced to; a Church thats made (by those he himself counts de∣ceivers both to quake and tremble (this is he that hath so much Reviled for quaking and trembling as being derived from Rome, and the Popish Priests and Jesuits because there∣of) and such ••hurches as are shaken in pieces in thi•• manner are not built upon the Rock, nor such as against which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail: And such Churches as these that cannot stand without carnal force a••d Compulsion, we have no cause to Conform to; for it appears plainly that their Weapons, and Arms and Defence are no•• of God but of man, not Spiritual as the Saints and true Churches were, but Carnal. And how is it in the Magistrates Coercive power to suppresse Errours and Heresies, and to secure the Churches cause, when they do not pretend to Infallibility of judgment in spiritual matters; And was there not great persecution under the Presbyterian Government, how did that secure their Church? And did not we greatly suffer by them? And how hath our opposer contradicted himself in this matter, where he in the same 16. p. gives 4 Cautions recorded in the Gospel (as he saith) as the best preservatives against se∣ducers quoting Rom. 16.17, ••8 2 ••••m. 3.13, 14. Eph. 4.14. 2 Ioh. 10.11 2 ••hes. 2.9 Now mark, if these Scriptures must be the best preservative against seducers, which do not tell of the Ma∣gistrates Coercive power in Religious matters, nor of their suppressing Errours and Heresies. (See also pag 32) How 〈…〉〈…〉own himse••f, as also conside∣ring

what this W. P•• saith pag. 27. of Gregorius Baderus•• provin∣cial of the Jesuits, &c. and their Counsels, and seconded with their practises in Ejecting, Imprisoning, Banishing, Suppressing and Persecuting all the Protestant Ministers in Bohemia, in the years 1602, 1607, 1621, and 1652. So it appears the Papists used this manner of proceeding, and would not W. ••. do the same, as Imprison, Banish, &c. This might convince him what Spirit and Church it is that is guil∣ty of persecution, & is maintainted by it, and by such manner of proceeding as Imprisoning and Banishing men for thei•• Consciences; that 'tis not the true Church nor Spirit, as also all that professe to be Protestants may take notice of these proceedings, and what a blemish and disaragement it brings upon both their Church and State, to follow such harsh and cruel proceedings against men for their Consci∣ences.

And moreover both the Government and people of this Nation of England may farther take notice how W. P. doth reflect upon them, and consider whether or no his matter tends to the peace and good of the Church and State thereof. Mark in his 4. & 5. pag he tells us of Multitu••es of Rom••sh Emissaries and Vermin, Franciscan Fryers and Iesuits, &c. That they have their several m••ssions and directions into all parts from their Generals and Superiours, residing commonly in London, where they have a Consistory and Cou••sel sitting that rules all the affairs of the things of England, besides fixed officers in every Dic∣cese, &c.

Answer.

Both Magistrates and people of Englan•• may here mark what a sad State he represents them and this Nation in, if all the affairs of the things of England be ruled by the Council of the Romish Emiss••ries, &c. And whether this doth not tend to raise troubles and dis••ractions in this Nation; and his quoting Cr••mwells Speech in the painted Chamber, Sept. 4. 1654. As if Cromwel was a man of great Credit and E∣steem with him: But if he should say that this was writ in the time of the former power, then why doth his Book come out now, being printed in 1664. with Additions to it of like

nature, and hath he not owned t••e Presbyterian Govern∣ment, what Confusion is he fallen into? But in his Post-script, pag. 32. He speaks to our present Governours and Sword men, and their Posterity against tollerating these Je∣suitical Fiery Treacherous Agents, which unjustly he would make them believe us to be; so as its evident he reflect•• upon the present Goverment in this particular; And in page 25.26. W. P. in his Post-script, tells of the Jesuits sending forth their Emissaries and Agents, &c. To be present ••n the Senates, Parliaments, and Councils of those of the Reformed Religion, &c. And in page 32•• of their predominating in most Councils and places, &c. To which I say, if this be true, that the Emissaries of Rome predominates in most Councils and places of those of the Reformed Religion, or those called Protestants; then this proves that we called Quakers are no Papists, nor Jesuits, nor Romish Emissaries, nor derived from thence; for if we were, we should not suffer as we do, if his words were true that they have so much power and predominancy; and if the Church, Religion and State of Englan•• will soon be utterly overturned, and all disunited one from another by the Popes Emissaries, if they be not speedily repressed (as he saith) page 5. & 32. (it seems then their Church is not in the unity of the Spirit) and what a weak miserable estate doth he here represent the Church and State of Engl. to be in: And whether or no this his representing the Pope and his Emissaries to have so much power and pre∣dominancy in the Church and State of England doe•• not plainly tend to encourage them to proceed and endeavour the obtaining of the sole power and Government i••to ••heir own hands; do but mark the tendency of his matter, and whether it can rationally be deemed safe for this Natio•• or Government to admit of such as this W. P. ••o be in any place of tru••t, either in Parliament or other, or to divulge ••uch principles, who doth represent them in such a sad S••ate, as if they were almost all over-swayed by the Pope: And thu•• gives encouragement to him and his Emissaries, which tends to incense a great part of the Nation who are dis-••ffe∣cted

with that way of Popery, and to make Commotions, Tumults, and Divisions, which unjustly he would Charge us with; howbeit we who are called Quakers are clear and Innocent from owning the Pope or his Supremacy, or power, or having any such union ••r correspondency with his Emis∣saries, Priests, or Jesuits, as to know any such things of them as their having such Councils, order and sway in this Nation, as W. P. signifyeth, which intimates that he hath more correspondency or privacy with them then we, for we know no such things, therefore is it not fit that he should be called in question before Autho••ity to discover what he knows of such things; and those whom he accuses to come face to face, that things of this kind may be made manifest and brought to Light, and whats wrong be disproved of according to Equity and Truth, and the Nation better in∣formed if he hath mis-represented the State thereof in these matters•• and that he may give forth a recantation thereof: And note that throughout W.P his Pamphlet I find many more grosse slanders, lies, stories, absurdities, and abuses against ••s called Quakers and others, some of which are as followeth.

• ...

  Page 2. As false it is that the Quakers are derived from prophane Belshazar, Dan. 5.9. and those that David prayes against, Ps. 6.9, 2••.

  False it is that they are brought into and set up in Eng∣land by Franciscan Fryers and Jesuits.

• Page 3. False it is that they are the chief Speakers among the Quakers.
• Page 4. False it is that the Romish Emissaries and Ver∣min are the chief Speakers and Rulers in most separate Congregations: And this is intended to set the Magi∣strates to persecute them, which shews a malicious Spirit.
• Page 5. False it is that the Quakers have done much hurt in Bristol: False it is that they endeavour to draw peo∣ple into Parties, Factions, Sects, &c.
• Page 6. A falshood and slander it is that they perswade people to desert their lawful calling and imployments, and

• to embrace an idle monkish lasie life, &c. False it is that they refuse to shew any honour or humble deportment towards Magi••trate••, for our harmless deportme••t and subjection to them either actively or passively, shews the contrary, though it stand not in the vain and foolish ceremonies and comple∣ment•• which men in the lust of the eyes and pride of life use: but in reality and substance. False it is that it is the Quakers Doctrine that the Saints are able to stand perfect in their own power, for their perfection is in Christ who is Gods power, and this perfection we must own, though An∣ti-christ and his followers deny it. Pag. 8. And an old lie and slander it is that the Quakers use inchanted potions, Bra∣clets, Ribbonds, Sorcery and Witchcraft to intoxicate men. Pag. 10. False it is that some of the Quakers going 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a time (which was a sign against Hypocrites and wicked persons) was derived from the Pagan Idol Priests or the De∣vil (see Isa. 20.) And as for Iohn Gilpin who turned into ly∣ing Imaginations and wickednesse wherein he was denyed and rejected by the Quakers, he and his relation and conver∣sion (or being reclaimed) to the Priests was sufficiently ma∣nifest in and about Kendal and that Country, as also the Priests of N••w Castels book against us, Called the p••rfect Pha∣risee, hath been answered and confuted long since, and what is become of Samuel Hammond and the rest of those Priests now? Seeing W. P. gives such great credit to them for his proof against us. Page. 11. Also a grosse slander it is that the Quakers are guilty of blasphemous erronious opinions deri∣ved from the very Devil himself, or that they are Hereticks, Schismaticks, or Seducers. Pag. 18. Also his rai••ing against some Women amongst us that hath sometimes spoken the truth publickly, instancing Pope Urbane the III his excommu∣nicating and totally suppressing by his Bull, Anno 1631. some Women who did preach publickly in England an•• elsewhere•• this manifests how like or near a-kin he is to the Pope; how∣beit this doth not overthrow Womens proph••••ying or preaching the truth when led thereunto by the Spirit, accor∣ding to the promise, Ioel. 2.28, 29. And the Apostles not per∣mitting

• the Women at Corinth to speak in the Church, 1 Cor. 14. was upon a particular occasion of their forwardnesse and usurping, and not for a general rule to bind all to, pag. 20 & 24. Also a grosse abuse it is to call us Imps of Satan, and say that we study and practice the art of Magick, Sorce∣ry, and consult with the very Devil himself. Pag. 38. Also that Heaven, Hell, and the Resurrection of the dead is deny∣ed by any Quakers (or any that are really of us) we look up∣on as a meer Forgery to render us odious, and that which in it self in not owned by any of us; and his quoting the Di∣urnals for his proof (it is not the first nor last lie in the Diur∣nal) and many more slanders and falshoods are cast upon us which I omit mentioning, with many rambling impertinent stories in his book, gathered out of Popish books and Histo∣ries which do not touch us.

Now W.P. it is a wonder that thou shouldst so much accuse us with Railing, and didst not see thy own Railing and Revi∣ling of us like one in out-rage, whose matter against us clear∣ly appears to be grounded neither upon reason nor truth, but meerly proceeding from a malicious Spirit which it is high time for thee to repent of, if any place of repentance be to be found for thee; for thy injuries and abuses done to us, all sober people that sees them are ashamed of.

Eccles. 10.1. Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour, so doth a little folly him that is in Reputation for Wisdom and Honour.

London the 7th. Moneth 1664.

THE END.