The Quakers set in their true light in order to give the nations a clear sight of what they hold concerning Jesus of Nazareth, the Scripture, water baptism, the Lords Supper, magistracy, ministry laws and government / historically collected out of their most approved authors, which are their best continuing books from the year of their rise, 1650 to the year of their progress 1696 by Francis Bugg, senior.

SECT. X.

HAving already treated of the Quakers Doctrine, particularly that position which says, That no command in Scripture is any further obliging upon any man, than as he finds a conviction upon his own conscience, &c. which is such a pernicious principle, as Mr. Faldo said, that it carries all iniquity in the womb of it, and indeed is the very floodgate by which Quakerism was first let in among us, which came in as a mighty stream, flowing over all our Banks of Laws, Order and Government, both divine and humane, overturning the very Ordinances in∣stituted by our Lord Jesus Christ; the authority of the Scriptures, to the great scandal of our Christian Religion; and in the mean while valuing their own Papers, Laws, and Orders, as superior to them; And therefore, as I have begun with the first planting of Quakerism, which was in the year 1650. and shewed by what arts they have come on, and advanced their Errors, I am now coming to shew the way of Lucius the first Christian King (as History saith) that the world ever knew, to propagate the Christian Faith: he did not stay at this place and that to write Papers and Books to spread truth; nor did the Bishop of Rome at that time order him so to do; as was the practice of Geo. Fox: no, to the Law, and to the Testimony, this was the way that every planter of the true Christian Faith took, of which I will give you a noble instance: This Royal

King Lucius being mindful of Religion (that dearest part of Government) more than any other consideration, the better to prosper the work so prosperously begun, sent two learned men to Elutherus then Bishop of Rome to be farther instructed in the Christian Faith, who thereupon sent him Fagarius and Damianus, with his Letter in the following words (as saith the Historian) viz. You have received in the Kingdom of Briton, by Gods mercy, both the Law and Faith of Christ; you have both the Old and New Testa∣ment, out of the same (thro Gods Grace) by the Advice of your Realm, take a Law, and by the same, through Gods Sufference, rule your Kingdom of Brittain, &c.

Having such a good example from this Learned Bishop, and Religious King; I shall first set down some Scriptures which have been both by Kings and Subjects thought special commands, and binding and obliging all men, whether all have been so perswaded yea or nay; yet I say the faithful Chri∣stians in all ages and generations have taken them as their Rule of Obedience, and to be of that authority to quell and subdue all those diabolical delusions which will suggest the contrary, viz. Mat. 22.21. Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods. St. Paul to Tit. 3.1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 17. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether it be to the King as supream; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King. Rom. 13.1, 2, 3. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God; whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation; for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power; do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same.

†For God hath made the King in every Realm judge over all, and over him there is no Judge; he that resisteth the King resisteth God: If the Subjects sin they must be brought to the Kings judgment: if the King sin, he must be reserved unto the judgment of God; and as it is to resist the King, so is it to resist his Officers which are set, or sent to execute the Kings commandment; for it is written, let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers: here is no man exempt; but all souls must obey.

Thus I have given a brief account of the Christian Faith. First what Christ, who is the Head of the Christian Church, and Author of the Christian Faith, he said, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars; and his Apostle Paul bid Titus, put the believing Christians in mind to obey Magistrates: and to confirm this point St. Peter is very express, Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake; not so much that he favours us, or is kind, and governs gently, by wholsome Laws, these things indeed are good, and great mercies to a peo∣ple; but our submission ought to be for the Lords sake, who hath ordained Magistracy and Government, for so saith St. Paul, the powers that be are ordained

of God; and whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. Likewise you may read the Doctrine of W. Tyndal, in his Book entitled, The Obedience of a Christian man; and see how the blessed Martyrs espoused and maintained the same delivered by the Apostles.

Notes

• Eng. Chron. by John Heath, p. 19, 20.
• G. F. heed not a Cart Load of War∣rants.
• †

  W. Tyndals works, i. e. of the obedience of a Christian man, p. 111.
• G. W. what think you of this Doctrine.