The snake in the grass: or, Satan transform'd into an angel of light. Discovering the deep and unsuspected subtilty which is couched under the pretended simplicity of many of the principal leaders of those people call'd Quakers.

2. Now I did really think that the Pre∣sent Quakers were asham'd of these Gross Delusions, so Palpably De∣tected, past all Contradiction: Tho' they wou'd not own it, nor Publicly Cen∣sure these False Prophets of theirs, because of overthrowing their Founda∣tion, the pretended Sanctity of these their Leaders. And this was the reason that I thought it highly useful to lay open their Horrid Deceit, for this purpose chiefly, That I might, by this

bring our Present Quakers under that Happy Necessity, as I thought, of Disowning the Mad Enthusiasm of these their Adored Guides; and thereby persuade them to return to the Sobriety of Religion; in Odium to which, as a Carnal and Spiritless Dispensation, they had been Betrayd by these Pharisaical Pretenders, to quit the Communion of a Regularly Con∣stituted, and Apostolical Church. But (Alas!) the Issue has quite de∣ceived my Expectations; for our Pre∣sent Obstinate Quakers not only refuse to be brought to disown their own False Prophets (though they cannot deny the Instances wherein they are prov'd to be such) but do still Fearlesly go on, and pretend themselves to the same Extraordinary Commis∣sion, of Immediate Divine Reve∣lation;

and, thereby a Right to affix God's Seal, Thus saith the Lord, to whatever their Rage, their Malice, or their Folly shall suggest.

If they think these too hard words, they shall have harder yet: For this matter cannot be compounded. No! This is nothing short of Blasphemy; Rank, wild Blasphemy! And the Honour of God must take place of any Respect to Men (and I have a great deal for some, who are too much herein concern'd) therefore I must, I cannot help it, yea Wo to me if I do it not, I must freely and openly Rebuke this Proud Blasphemous Spirit, which Seduces the Servants of God, and speaks to them in the Name of the Lord, whereby they are brought to Worship It— What is That? What is It, which pretends to be God,

and is not? Even That which In∣spires Men to think what It Dictates, to be the Immediate Revela∣tion of God Himself; and Em∣boldens them to affix to it, Thus saith the Lord. This is the Prince of the Spirits of Delusion; and this Prince they Worship (tho' Ig∣norantly) for God, who mistake his Inspirations for God's.

Now I am to tell the Reader, That the same day month after G. Keith was Excommunicated, as abovesaid, George Whitehead (one of the Qua∣ker Metropolitans) thought not that Condemnation sufficient; but pur∣su'd him with his Prophetical Curse, in the following words.

Thus saith the Lord:

Because thou hast poured out great Contempt and Reproach upon My Servants and People, I will assuredly pour out and bring great Contempt and Con∣fusion upon Thee.

This is signed, George White∣head, and Dated the 17th of the 4th Month (that is June, 1695.) and was sent to G. Keith. But Copies of ••t were likewise given out amongst the Friends, that they might admire these Prophetical Gifts; and if any thing infortunate should, in all G. Keith••s Life-time, befall him, that it might cer∣••ainly be esteem'd as the Consequence of his Curse; and G. Whitehead be bought as much a Prophet, and to have

spoken from the Mouth of the Lord, as certainly as ever Jeremiah foretold the Destruction of Jerusa∣lem, and the Seventy years Captivity.

But I proceed to a Man of much greater Consideration.

It is told at the end of Sect. 10. from p. 136. how the otherwise high∣ly-valuable Mr. Penn, pronounced a Sentence of Apostacy against George Keith In the Name of the Lord. It is true this was not taking upon him the Gift of Prophecy, like G. Whitehead; but it was delivering his own Judgment as the Positive and Infallible Oracles of God. And if G. Keith does tell us truth (if not, he is in a Man's Hands, that can, and will surely correct him) in the second of his Books above-mentioned, The true Copy, &c. p. 14. Mr. Penn

did own before the Yearly Meeting, That the Glorious Power of God, which he felt; did so Transport him, that he was carry'd beyond himself, and knew not whether he was sitting, standing, or kneel∣ing, when he Pronounc'd that Sentence. This was like St. Paul's whether in the Body or out of the Body, he cou'd not tell— Good God! How great is the force of this Mad Spirit of Enthusiasm! That a Man of Mr. Penn's Known Sense and Abilities shou'd not be able to distinguish betwixt the violent Transports of Passion, and the Immediate Inspiration of the Holy Ghost! O that our Religion, and the whole Scriptures shou'd be thus expos'd to loose and Atheistical Wits, when they shall compare the Inspira∣tions of the Holy Prophets and A∣postles

with these of W. Penn, G. Whitehead, &c. and turn both a∣like into Ridicule!

O that the time were come, when these Quakers shou'd at last bethink them∣selves of this horid Scandal they have given to Christianity! at least, that Mr. Penn, who has a stock of Breed∣ing, and Excellent Natural Parts (too good to be thus Employ'd) may Rescue himself from that Herd of Zealots, sotishly possess'd even to Blasphemy!

And he is thus far towards it (which, to a Man of his Reason, I reckon a great way) that he must either make out his own Inspirations to be from God, in as High a Degree as those which were given to the Prophets and Apo∣stles, or otherwise that he has no Au∣thority to Inscribe the Name of God upon them, as They did.

Nay, he must not only Defend his own Works, but he must likewise Justi∣fie all the False Lying Prophecies hereafter told; or otherwise he must Un-herd, and be no longer of Them, who dare Father the Lyes and Deli∣riums of their own Brain upon the Holy Spirit of God.

He must Answer one of their own Party, John Penniman, who has Printed the Paper he gave in to their last Yearly Meeting, Entituled, A few words of Moment to be Imparted to this Yearly Meeting (at London, 1695.) of the People call'd Quakers. And indeed they are Words of Moment, and to be duly consider'd by the Quakers. They are grounded upon two Quotations out of George Fox, as follows.