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.

8. But Nothing, so Diverting as to see them sick of their Prophecies, and spue them up again, when they happen to interfere with their Interest. How they endeavour since 1660, to stifle and conceal the Flattering Prophecies they gave to Oliver, and the Cursed ones against the King and Cavaliers. But in the Re-printing the Works of their Prophets since 1660, they leave out these Now un∣savory Passages. Their Infallibility needs an Index Expurgatorius as well as that of Rome: through which, we suppose, George Fox's Works are

to pass, which are design'd as a Second Volume to his Journal. Of this Cleanly Art, they have given us a fair Specimen in the Re-printing of the Works of Edward Burrough, one of their main Pillars or Posts, wherein they leave out at p. 100. the following Prophecies, which he di∣rects thus, To all you who are and have been always Enemies to the very appearance of Righteousness, who are called Dilinquents and Cavaliers. And he holds forth to them, as follows. Thus saith the Lord, my Controversie is against you— And you are become Cursed in all your Hatchings and Endeavours (i. e. to Restore the King) and from time to time my Hand hath been against you in Battel,— Your Kings and Princes and Nobles have been

cut off in Wrath— You are given to be a Curse and a Desolation, and a Prey in Houses and Lands and Persons, to them whom I I have raised up against you, (i. e. Oliver Cromwel) and then he goes on to Prophesie for the Future, in these words. And you and your Kings and Lordly Power (by which you have thought to Exer∣cise Lordship over my Heritage) shall be Enslaved by the Devil in the Pit of Darkness, in Everlasting Bondage, where He shall Reign your Lord and King for Evermore. These are the Mildest words they can bestow! Pillars of Fire and Smoak, like the very opening of the Infernal Pit! In all whose Caverns there lodges not a more Furious and Cursed Spirit than that which Inspires

these Prophets of the Quakers, whose Breath is Fire and Brimstone!

That Book of Burrough's out of which I have Quoted what is above, bears this Title, A Trumpet of the Lord— or Fearful Voices of Terrible Thunders, uttered from the Throne— Declared and Written by a Son of Thunder, &c. 1656.

How does it make ones Hair stand on end! And how ought it to raise the Indignation of every Christian, to see such a Blasphemous Wretch, Pretend that all these his Hellish Thunderings were Uttered from the Throne of God! To see him begin in such a Stile as this. By Or∣der and Authority (says he) given unto me, by the Spirit of the Living God, King of Kings,

and Lord of Lords, the 31. day of the 10th Month, in the Year of the World's Account, 1655. about the 4th Hour in the Morning, when my Meditations was of my God, upon my Bed, in Kilkenny City in the Nation (he wou'd not say Kingdom, that was too Monarchical, at that time of day) of Ireland, at that time, The Word of the Lord came unto me saying, Write my Con∣troversie with All the Inhabi∣tants of the Earth, unto All sorts of People, as I will shew thee; by this same Authority and Commission Declared, this I send unto you, the Tribes of the Earth, and this upon your Heads shall stand for ever, &c. Given under my Hand, and Sealed

by the Spirit of the Eternal God, E. B.

And he Stiles himself thus in the Title Page. By one whose Name is truly known, by the Children of the same Birth, but unknown to the VVorld, though it be call∣ed Edw. Burrough. This was in Imitation of our Saviour, who said that the VVorld knew him not.

And among the Curses with which this Fury-Prophet loads all the Tribes of the Earth, he bestows what is above Quoted, and more, upon the King and Cavaliers, p. 9. where he tells those who suffer'd for the King, it is not for well-doing that ye suffer, but my Hand is a∣gainst you, and my Judgments are upon you. But this whole Chap∣ter of Burrough's Trumpet, not∣withstanding

of its being sounded forth by God's Express Commission, and Sealed by the Spirit of the Eternal God, in the year 1655. was stifled and superseded, by these same Prophets, in the New Edition of Burrough's Works, 1672.

It seems tho' they care not for Fighting themselves, they can blow the Trumpet to others.

As they did to Oliver effectually. Oh Oliver (says G. Fox to him) arise and come out& For thou hast had Authority,* 1.1 stand to it—nor let any other take thy Crown— and let thy Soldiers go forth with a free and willing Heart, that thou may'st Rock Nations as a Cradle— This is a Charge to thee, in the pre∣sence

of the Lord God, &c.

And he further Charges Oliver, not to turn Sober Men and True Hearts out of his Army. So that it seems they esteem'd Fighting a Lawful and a Good thing, (in a Good Cause) because they thought it consistent with Sober Men and true Hearts.

But since 1660, it is an Anti-Christian Doctrine!

One of the Orders given forth by their Yearly Meeting, 1693. Commands, That none shou'd car∣ry Guns in their Ships.

They wou'd take it ill to have their Doctrine in Pensilvania return'd up∣on themselves Here.

For There they Presented G. Keith, as endeavouring to subvert the Go∣vernment, which by their Law is

Death, because that in the 9th and ••oth Articles of a Paper he There Published, called An Appeal from ••he 28 Judges, &c. he Queried whe∣••her it was consistent with their Princi∣••le against using the Carnal Sword, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arm the Indians against one another, ••nd to hire Men, and give Commissions ••o Fight, for recovering a Sloop, ••ome Privateers had taken from them?

This they inferred to be, by conse∣••uence, a subverting of the Govern∣••ent; because, without using Force, ••pon occasion, their Government, in∣••eed, cou'd not be supported. And there∣••ore they Seiz'd and Imprison'd the Printers and Publishers of the said Appeal: And had not the Change of Government, which happen'd soon af∣••er (Coll. Fletcher being sent Gover∣••our thither, and superseded the

Quaker Governor) put an end to that Prosecution, it might have cost them their Lives; for their Mittimus (which is Printed with the said Appeal) wa•• for designing to subvert the Govern∣ment. And it is signed by sever•••• of their Ministers, who are Justice•• of the Peace there.

But now, is not Force of Arms a•• necessary to support the Government 〈◊〉〈◊〉 England as in Pensilvania?

And is not the consequence as Da••¦gerous Here, of Decrying the use o•• Arms as unlawful to Christians?

But it is plain that they are not ••¦gainst Force of Arms, when the•• like the Quarrel. For they did not on•••• Encourage Oliver and the other Re¦bels, but they fought themselves again•••• the King, if you will believe G. F. wh•••• in his Letter directed To the Coun••••

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Officers of the Army, and the ••eads of the Nation, and for the ••nferior Officers and Soldiers to ••ead, 1659. Complains of many Quakers, being Disbanded out of the ••rmy, and that for being Quakers, tho' ••bey were good Fighters. These are his ••••ords, p. 5. And many Valiant Captains, Souldiers, and Officers, ••ave been put out of the Army (by Sea and Land) of whom it ••ath been said among you, That ••hey had rather have had one of ••hem, than seven Men, and cou'd ••ave turn'd one of them to seven Men; who because of their Faith∣fulness to the Lord God, being Faithful towards him, it may be for saying Thou to a Particular, and for wearing their Hats, have been turn'd out from amongst you.

Here it is plain that they were Qu••∣kers while they were in the Army because, by this, they were turn'd o•• from being Quakers, for saying The•• and not taking off their Hats.

And that they were willing to ha•• continu'd longer in the Army; becaus•• G. Fox, here, complains of their bein•• Disbanded, as wrong done to them and to the prejudice of the Army, an•• the Good Cause.

And p. 6. says he, Oh! Ho•• are Men fallen from what whic•• they were at first, when thousand of Vs went in the Front of you and were with you in the greate•••• Heat, who looked not for the Spoil, but the Good of the Nation and now thus shou'd be served by those that are set down in th•• Possession of the Spoil of our Ene∣mies,

that they shou'd requite ••s so in the end!

And p. 2, 3, and 8. He encoura∣••s them to set up their Standard at ••ome, and then to fall upon the ••urk, and pluck up. Idolatry, &c. Here is using the Carnal Sword some purpose!

But if you wou'd know in whom ••ey make it unlawful to use the Sword, tells p. 4. where he threatens that God. ••••ill overturn the World, and all ••••e Powers of the Earth, and all word-Men, that be not in his ••ower. that is, the King and the ••avaliers, whom they Damn to the sit of Hell, as I have shewn.

So that instead of their disowning ••e use of the Sword, their true mean∣••g is, That none have a Right to it ••••t themselves.

Only they are not to pretend to till it may be of use to them.

But that they have not given their Right to it, is plain by A Decl••∣ration from the People call•• Quakers, to the present Distract Nation of England, Printed 165 This was Wrote by Edward Bu••∣rough, in the Name of all the Qu••∣kers, and it is Subscrib'd by Fifte•• of the Principal Leaders of the•• There, at the end of p. 8. They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us fair warning; We are dread•••• (say they) to the Wicked, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must be their Fear; for we ha•• Chosen the Son of God to be o•• King, and he hath Chosen us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be his People; and he might Com∣mand thousands and ten thousan•• of his Saints at this day, to Fig•••• in his Cause, he might lead the

forth and bring them in, and give them Victory over all their Ene∣mies, and turn his Hand upon all their Persecutors. But then they say p. 9. We cannot yet belive that he will make use of Vs in that way; though it be his only Right to Rule in Nations, and Our Heirship to Possess the uttermost parts of the Earth; but, for the Present, we are given up to Bear and Suffer, &c.

This is plain Language. They will not yet take Arms; not For the present, not till they see their time. But they have enter'd a Caveat to se∣cure their Right and Title to it, till they think fit to set up their Claim for their Heirship to the uttermost parts of the Earth. But this is a Secret, and to be kept under their

Thumb, for the present: And therefore, in their New Edition of Edward Burrough's Works, Anno 1672. This Passage is left out (with others against the King, &c.) But no ways Disclaimed, or Cen∣sur'd by them.

Which is now Requir'd from them; or otherwise they must give us leave to believe, that it is their Principle to take Arms, and to Fight, to set up their Heirship to any Kingdom they please; when their King (the Son of God) Commands them. And they be∣lieving that their Light within is that very Christ, the Son of God (as is fully shewn in what follows) the Con∣sequence is, that they are free to take Arms, whenever they say it is the time. Or if the Mission of a Prophet be necessary to signifie the Command of

their King, to Fight for Him, and for their own Heirship; that can ne∣ver be wanting to them: because they do pretend to keep up a continual Suc∣cession of Prophets among them.

And the Word of every True Prophet, being the Command of God Himself, consequently whoever believes such a one to be a True Prophet, must, at his Command, think them∣selves oblig'd to pull down any King, and to set up whomsoever that Prophet names in his Place. As Hazael was made King of Syria, and Jehu of Israel, by the Command of Elijah, 1 Kings 19.15, 16.

Now the Quakers do pretend to have still Prophets; and with as great a Power.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Quakers Ʋnmask'd p. 4.